And it became clear to me a couple of weeks ago: Agatha Christie's mysteries, specifically the movie and TV adaptations with Peter Ustinov and David Suchet. I've been watching the movies again this month and decided to reread Evil Under the Sun and Death on the Nile. Unlike the movies, her books are simply OK.
Ah, but then I discovered that the audio versions are narrated by David Suchet, and I was very happy.