Crime Radio

Alexander Morton stars as the roguish detective Mr Cullender in two original radio dramas by Ian Rankin, and as Inspector Rebus in Let it Bleed – plus a selection of original stories Best known for his Inspector Rebus novels, Sir Ian Rankin is one of Britain’s most successful and acclaimed...

The original 1941 radio dramatization of Inspector Bonaparte Mystery—featuring Bony, the first Aboriginal detective. The discovery of a stolen red monoplane on the dry flat bottom of Emu Lake meant many things for different folks. For Elizabeth Nettlefold, the chance to nurse its strangely ill passenger meant renewed purpose in life. For Dr. Knowles, brilliant physician and town drunk, it meant the revival of a romantic dream. For some it meant a murder plan gone awry, and for Bonaparte, it meant one of the toughest cases of his career.

Michael Shayne, "the reckless, redheaded Irishman", was a popular hard-boiled detective created by crime novelist Brett Halliday. In the novels, Michael Shayne settled in Miami just after WWII, making crime pay by fighting it with a license and an attitude. Like Mike Hammer and Philip Marlowe, Shayne was a loner. The backstory on Mike is that he was happily married, but it hit him hard when his wife was tragically murdered. Grief stricken, Shayne loses himself in his work as a private eye, prowling the dark streets of the city.

Director, actor, genius. Orson Welles was all these things and more. But talent can sometimes make people afraid. And Hollywood was very afraid of Orson Welles. So Welles went indie, making his own works on the proceeds of various jobs that required a big name and that very distinguished voice - perfect for radio. Here, in The Black Museum, he sets the scene as true life crime is retold. Mr Welles, we’re ready....