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I've just finished watching The ABC Murders, a 3 part mini series from 2018.

It starred John Malkovich as Poirot and Rupert Grint (yes! Ron Weasley!) as Inspector Crome. It was interesting but really didn't feel like an Agatha Christie. It was adapted by Sarah Phelps (who also adapted And Then There Were None in 2015) and it was much darker and grittier than the book.

It's 1933 and Poirot is no longer a celebrated detective. He is alone and lives a solitary life. He receives letters from "ABC". Strange and taunting letters. When he takes them to the police, he discovers that Japp has retired and Inspector Crome is not interested in listening to him. And then the murders begin.


The book and mini series stick to the same basic plot:, a series of murders are committed by "ABC", who sends letters to Poirot about the murders he will commit. The first victim is Alice Ascher (Asher in the mini series) in Andover, the second is Betty Barnard in Bexhill, and the third is Sir Carmichael Clarke in Churston. The fourth murder takes place in Doncaster. An ABC Rail Guide is left beside each of the victims.

Spoilers under the cut.
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I've just finished watching Agatha Christie's A Murder is Announced which boasts an impressive cast list.

Aside from Joan Hickson as Miss Marple, there's John Castle as Detective Inspector Craddock, Kevin Whately as Detective Sergeant Fletcher, Ursula Howells as Miss Blacklock, David Collings as Reverend Harmon, and darling Joan Sims as Miss Murgatroyd.

The story runs thus: Miss Blacklock is astonished to read in the local newspaper that a murder is announced and it will take place in her sitting room that night at 7pm. Friends are urged to accept this, the only invitation.

Accordingly, her friends and neighbours turn up at her house, expectng a game of murder.

What they get is the lights going out at 7pm, a light being shone in their eyes, and three shots from a gun. The lights are turned back on and they find two bullet holes in the wall where Miss Blacklock was standing, Miss Blacklock covered in blood from a nick in her ear, and the masked assailant dead on the floor.

Did he trip and shoot himself? Did someone hire him to kill Miss Blacklock? Why would anyone want Miss Blacklock dead?

~'~

It's a good book, and the Joan Hickson version is an excellent adaptation. It's well acted, rather enthralling, and kept me captivated all the way through. But I have a major issue with the story, or rather with one of the characters that really annoys me.

Massive spoilers under the cut.
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dimity_blue: (Sun)
Ghosts.

Has anyone else been watching this? I've just finished season 1 and it's hilarious.

It's written by and stars the Horrible Histories team.
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I had to do this. Those of you who haven't seen it have to know how truly weird this show is.

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I've just watched Jumanji: The Next Level, the 3rd film in the franchise.

I really like the 1st Jumanji (with Robin Williams), but I found the 2nd (with the Rock) to be far funnier. Link to my review.

This one was a sequel to the 2nd, but not as good, IMO.

Spoilers ahoy!
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dimity_blue: (InsideOutJoy)
Episode 1.

"What's Only When I Laugh?" I hear many of you say.

"Only one of the best sitcoms set in a hospital!" I reply.

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dimity_blue: (BookQuill)
Today, I'm tagging [personal profile] swordznsorcery and [personal profile] amedia to do the challenge.

For 10 days, post the cover of a book you like and challenge someone else to join in.


My second book is The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow, which is based on Pride and Prejudice.
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As I've previously said, it was the Downton Abbey of its day, but far, far better. I posted about season 1 here.

I'm partway through season 2. This particular storyline is about Elizabeth's marriage.

At the end of season 1, Elizabeth (Nicola Pagett) is disappointed to find that her poet beau, Laurence Kirbridge (Ian Ogilvy) is acceptable to her horribly old-fashioned family. To the extent they're all in favour of wedding bells.

Elizabeth wasn't but gave in, possibly to her eternal regret.
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dimity_blue: (BookQuill)
I've just watched one of the most annoying episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs, a British TV series from the 1970s.

I wrote about the first season here. It has pictures too!

Basically, the series was the Downton Abbey of its day, and was about the Bellamy family, their servants, and their lives from 1903-1930.

This episode, The Key of the Door, centred around Elizabeth Bellamy, the only daughter of the family. Basically, Elizabeth is an absolute pain in the arse.
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dimity_blue: (InsideOutJoy)
Have any of you guys seen this? I watched it last night and I howled with laughter.

I really like the original Jumanji film but this one, IMO, is far funnier.

Warning: spoilers.
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I had trouble sleeping (again) last night so I read this book.

Written by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen, it's based on the true story of Mona's mother, Lisa Jura, who was sent  at the age of 14, from her home in pre-war Vienna on the Kindertransport to England.

The book covers Lisa's years during the war. At first her concern was to find a sponser for her 12 year old sister, Sonia. Without a sponsor, Sonia couldn't board the Kindertransport for England.

Lisa stayed in London during the war. For most of it, she lived at a hostel in Willesden Lane for Kindertransport children. During the day, she worked at a factory which made uniforms for Britain's armed forces. In the evening, she studied music so she could become a concert pianist.

~~~

I really enjoyed the book. It depicts what life must have been like for those children, so far from home, who had no way to find out what was happening to their parents, siblings, and family who were trapped in Europe and unable to escape Hitler's grasp.

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