Inspector Morse: Last Bus to Woodstock

The very first Inspector Morse novel adapted for radio, plus two bonus short stories

A must-listen for fans of Colin Dexter’s famous detective, this never-before-published 1985 dramatisation marks Inspector Morse’s first ever appearance on radio – preceding the hit TV series by a full two years. It is accompanied by two captivating short stories, one featuring Morse and the other a standalone thriller.

Last Bus to Woodstock – Tired of waiting at the bus stop, two girls decide to hitch a lift. But one of them, Sylvia Kaye, will never make it back home, for later that night she is found brutally murdered in a pub car park. With no obvious leads, it will take all of Inspector Morse's deductive skills to track down the killer… Starring Andrew Burt as Inspector Morse and Christopher Douglas as Sergeant Lewis.

‘The Burglar’ – When the old lady across the street observes a suspicious stranger peering into her neighbour’s living room, Morse and Lewis find themselves faced with a new puzzle. John Turner reads this short tale, specially written for the 1995 Bouchercon World Mystery Convention.

‘Monty’s Revolver’ – Hearing that Field Marshal Montgomery’s service revolver has come up for auction, one gun collector knows its reserve price is more than he can afford. But little does he imagine that he will soon end up looking down its barrel... Read by Joe Dunlop.

NB: Last Bus to Woodstock was written in 1975 and reflects the attitudes of the time.

Text copyright © Colin Dexter 1975 (Last Bus to Woodstock), 1993 (‘Monty’s Revolver’), 1995 (‘The Burglar’)

Last Bus to Woodstock
Insp Morse – Andrew Burt
Sgt Lewis – Christopher Douglas
John Sanders – John Hartoch
Sylvia – Deborah Appleby
Mrs Jarman/Matron – Patricia Gibson
Jennifer – Deborah Cranston
Sue/Sarah – Jane Bickerton
Bernard – Alan Thompson
Palmer/Peter – Graham Blockey
Margaret – Maggie Tarver
Dramatised by Melville Jones
Directed by Brian Miller
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 June 1985

‘The Burglar’
Read by John Turner
Produced by Ned Chaillet
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 September 1995

‘Monty’s Revolver’
Read by Joe Dunlop
Produced by Sarah Kilgariff
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 September 1993

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