018 Mystery – Old
VI Warshawski is just the epitome of cool. Everything she did in Killing Orders was cool. I was really pleased to see that a second
Sara Paretsky novel had been adapted as I enjoyed Deadlock. This story was
complex and extremely un-put-down-able (is that the right term with radio
drama?) until the fifth and sixth episodes, which deflated the mystery slightly. The performances here are great, using all
the best American accents in British acting.
Maurice Denham was unrecognizable as Uncle Stefan, the forger who VI
engages to help her tease out her felon.
The story starts when VI’s Aunt Rosa (she’s half-Italian, didn’t you
know?) calls her to ask for help; the Priory where she is the Treasurer has
forged stock certificates in its vault and she has been called to order. The deeper VI delves, however, the more
trouble she gets in—attackers throw acid on her, try to burn down her
apartment, attack Uncle Stefan, and kill her friend Agnes who is investigating
Ajax, an insurance firm who employs her boyfriend (this time Roger Ferrante,
played by Martin Shaw). Her friend was
actually her one-time lover in the permissive ‘60s, a fact Agnes’ mother, Mrs
Pachorek, can never forgive her for. As
ever, Warshawski is brave, funny, and classy, and Kathleen Turner just excels
at playing her. Originally from 1991, this adaptation by Michelene Wandor was
chockablock with acting talent from the likes of Eileen Way, Miriam Carlin,
John Bennet, Avril Clark, Helen Horton, Don Fellows, Kerry Shale, Colin
Stinton, Colin Macfarlane, and Norman Jones.
It was directed by Janet Whittaker.
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