Spider's Web by Agatha Christie, Novelization by Charles Osborne

 Clarissa loves her quiet life with her diplomat husband, but sometimes longs for a little adventure.  It arrives in the form of the new husband of Clarissa's husband's druggy ex-wife.  He wants to gain custody of Clarissa's step daughter, Pippa, something Clarissa cannot allow.  After an argument the ex leaves in a huff, but a little while later Clarissa finds his dead body in the drawing room.  Fearing the impact the murder investigation will have on her husband's career, she convinces three friends to help her move the body.  Before their plan can be enacted the police arrive. Clarissa has to use all her wits to discover who killed the despicable man before she or others she loves are implicated. 

This story was originally written as a stage play which has run continually in London's West side since 1953.  Charles Osborne adapted it as a short novel, and the sound recording by Harper Audio is really well done.  Agatha Christie was such a master.  The plot was intricate, and the ending was surprising enough to be satisfying. Christie included enough clues in the story that you think, "Oh, yeah, I should have seen that."  I have seen Mouse Trap two times on the stage (Christie's only play that has run longer than this one) and I think I like this one better.  It didn't have the cliché final scene where everyone's secrets are revealed like Mouse Trap does. This would be a great audiobook to listen to on a car ride with a spouse. (4 hrs, 2012)