The Man in the Brown Suit

By: Agatha Christie

Narrated by: Nicola Barber, Graeme Malcolm

First published in 1924, The Man in the Brown Suit is a thrilling adventure and murder mystery by Agatha Christie. The protagonist is Anne Beddingfield, the orphaned daughter of a famous archaeologist, who goes to live with her father’s solicitor and his wife in London. Anne is searching for an adventure and something exciting to occupy her time when she is witness to the sudden death of a man at Hyde Park Corner tube station when the man falls onto the electrified train track and is killed instantly. Anne’s suspicions are aroused when a man claiming to be a doctor quickly examines the body, pronounces him dead, and then leaves suddenly. Anne sees that he has dropped a piece of paper on the ground, and Anne takes the paper, insistent on investigating the matter further. Anne’s detective work takes her on board a ship sailing to South Africa, and soon she is caught up in a deadly mystery of stolen diamonds, bloody murders, kidnapping, government secrets, and violence at every turn. Christie’s engrossing tale is full of intrigue, a complex mystery, and a surprising romance, in one of the famed author’s most entertaining novels.

This edition includes a biographical afterword.

Public Domain (P)2020 Multiple

My First Agatha Christie Novel

I fully understand how Ms. Agatha Christie's writings are classics. A woman way ahead of her time, the main character is not only adorable but she is daring and adventurous! Before I even realized it I was sucked in, a great mystery with many plot twists but a quick and surprising love story. The narrators did an excellent job of bringing each character to life and giving them personality.

Just good fun

I loved it. just the right amount of adventure and mystery. Maybe a bit too rushed in the romance , but so cute and lighthearted. great characters all around.

Easy to Listen

Great narrators! Thanks audible for making this free and available to all. Agatha Christie is truly the best!

Never a disappointment

I’ve not found anyone who writes just as well as Agatha Christie. I’m never disappointed by her stories and characters. The narrator was phenomenal.

Delightfully Different Christie!

A quick and delightful listen to an unusual Christie novel! Enjoyed the South Africa setting, too.

Fun Trot Around the Globe

I really enjoyed listening to the readers narrate this fun romp to South Africa to solve a mystery. Anne Beddingfield is a delightful young sleuth who is desperate for adventure. She finds it when she observes a man fall to his death at the tube station in London. The local authorities rule it accidental, but she has other thoughts. She picks up a mysterious note dropped by “the man in the brown suit,” and pursues her leads and intuition. She’s bold, if not foolish, but it gets her information and into the lives of criminals and real detectives, as well as reveals the whereabouts of stolen diamonds. At times, it’s an innocent step into crime solving, at other times a bit over the top, but I liked the narration and characters so much that I didn’t mind. The story has everything that a good action thriller needs, a dead body, a mysterious man, a boat trip to the mysterious African peninsula, a bit of romance, an eager young sleuth, and stolen diamonds. The story alternates between Anne’s first person narration and the diary entries of an older gentleman who loathes early mornings and incompetent servants. He takes a shine to Anne. There’s a bit of sexist reference, but I think it’s intentional. I believe Christie used prejudices to set up her stories and characters.

An Unusual, Romantic Agatha Christie

I always enjoy a good Agatha Christie! This early example is more romantic than her later works.

The surprise twists and the excellent narration.

Surprise twists! Great narration! fun storyline. The attitudes of the herione are surpsingly modern, for a stary that isboverb100 years old.

Fun villains

I enjoyed this story very much it tricked me several times and I loved the two sided POV. It's fun when you can't hate the villain.

One of Agatha Christie's best, performed to perfection!

I love all Agatha Christie's work; it's such fun, low-stress fiction. I don't want to call it "fluff", but it's a great break from visceral, provoking, complicated stuff lol. This one in particular is a wonderful time-capsule of a bygone era, and the protagonist is a thorough woman of her time! It reminds me that basic human nature doesn't really change as much through the centuries as it sometimes seems. Ann's hopes, dreams, thoughts, and narration of her story remind me very much of most of the 18-25yr old women I know today, but sweeter and less bitter haha, it IS "old" fiction after all! The actress who plays Ann fits her to a T. Ann feels fresh and immediate, not outdated or dusty. The actor for Sir Eustace is charming and believable, again a perfect fit for the character. I highly recommend this one for a fast paced guilty-pleasure, for a vacation beach read or a cold winter night.