Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? (aka, The Boomerang Clue) was first published in 1934. It is not a Miss Marple so the folks at PBS will have to do another retrofit to turn this novel into a Miss Marple mystery. The original novel features likable Bobby Jones, just mustered out of the British Navy, who during a round of golf discovers a body. The dying man says, “Why didn’t they ask Evans?” and then expires. Shortly thereafter, an attempt is made on Bobby’s life. The fetching Lady Frances Derwent becomes Bobby’s partner in investigating the strange happenings. I found the plot outlandish. Christie seemed to be more in the romantic mode than the mystery mode in this one. It will be interesting to see how the presence of Miss Marple changes this conspiratorial mess. GRADE: C
I remembered that Miss Marple wasn’t in this one, as it was one of the early ‘young adventurers’ ones that Jackie liked a lot more than I did.
Is this the last Marple in the current group?
Yes, Jeff, this is the last of the Miss Marples of this season. Agatha Christie hated Hollywood’s tampering with her work. If she were alive, she’d be hopping mad about what PBS did with WHY DIDN’T THEY ASK EVANS? The cute young couple investigate the murder. Adding Miss Marple to the mix might not jell.
I listened to this one as an audio book, borrowed the cassette tape from someone at work years ago and listened in the car going to and fro. I don’t remember much about it. Truthfully, I generally recall less about audio books than books I read, for some reason. Perhaps I’m distracted by what I’m doing and seeing while listening.
So, why DIDN’T they ask Evans?
Because Evans changed her name, Rick.