Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

I read the book prior to the release of this, and I have to say it isn't a favourite of mine, nor was the awful Marple adaptation some years ago.

Laurie has managed to make the story into a really enjoyable, watchable whodunnit. The acting was great, I thought most of the characters came to life.

The best element, the visuals, it looks incredible, great fashions and cars, plus some sublime ___location work, surely one of the most picturesque places in The UK.

Nowadays, it's advisable to approach Agatha Christie adaptations with a degree of caution, you have no idea whether you'll find Poirot taming lions, or Jane Marple making ice sculptures, but credit where it's due, it's a faithful adaptation, without any massive changes.

If I'm honest, I thought it dipped a little in the middle, but overall it was very watchable.

Let's hope we get more quality adaptations soon, this was very good, 8/10.

Hugh Laurie has done a fabulous job deftly infusing humour into this script. The cinematography is delightful, with gorgeous costumes, lovely architecture and rugged scenery brought to life. A strong cadre of actors with the wonderful character of Frankie (Lucy Boynton) pulling all the strings, Boynton is in her element with this persona.

It is drawn out at some points, it would have benefited from shorter episodes, also some plot elements are overly contrived.

I have always loved Why Didn't They Ask Evans and I loved that this adaptation stuck more closely to the book. Yes, there were some changes but the heart was there.

Bobby and Frankie have held a place in my literary heart for years and they lived up to my expectations and hopes.

Is the mystery a bit confusing? Yes, it also was confusing in the book but it's a great ride, good fun and the characters, costumes and scenery make it a thoroughly enjoyable watch.

On a slightly related note, loved seeing the golf course and castle at Three Cliffs!!

O.k. I gotta fess up. I'm giving this mini-series 7 stars for having the smarts to hire and feature Lucy Boynton as its female lead. She is everything you want and infrequently get from a lead. The viewer falls for her. And once fallen the viewer cares and cares a great deal about her welfare. And the more peril her character - Lady Franky - is in, the more involved the viewer is. I might not have fully understood everything that's going on, but I fervently hoped that the series would keep Lady Franky safe.

A man is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. Another is found hanged in his home. What is the connection, if any, between these two apparent murders? There is, in fact, an answer. And along the way to that answer there are (a) other deaths (b) look-a-like-ladies (c) photos purloined and (d) hospitals for the mentally unfit.

All well and good. But the problem (for me) was this.

Huh? So much happens and happens so fast that I simply could not keep up. Worse still the climactic scene(s) happens in the dark, an ill-advised decision when the complex story would be hard enough to follow in broad daylight.

And, yes, I could have re-watched the 3-part series before writing this, I could have made notes and put the pieces together. I could have. But isn't that asking too much? Yes, I think so.

So then, I'm saying, See this series if only for the sake of actress Lucy Boynton. And stick around for the story. Maybe you'll be luckier, and more astute, than I.

Maybe you'll 'get it'.

This Agatha Christie story has a gripping, instant hook but a rather underwhelming resolution; by the time you finally learn who Evans is and why they didn't ask him, you may wish that you never wondered in the first place. Hugh Laurie aka Dr. House, who writes, directs and plays a supporting role, does not bring very much new to the table, apart from a flourish here and a photographic trick there, and Will Poulter is merely OK as Bobby Jones. But Lucy Boynton is magnetic as Frankie: beautiful, playful, witty (especially in the first of the three episodes), she really brings the character to life. On the basis of this performance, she totally deserves a regular spot in a possible future Agatha Christie series - one that, hopefully, will resolve its cases in fewer than 175 minutes. *** out of 4.