The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio | Danger with Granger: "Paula Crane is Threatened" (EP4911) — Detailed Summary

Episode Overview

In this atmospheric installment of "Danger with Granger," private detective Steve Granger is drawn from city life into intrigue at a lakeside country estate when Paula Crane, a glamorous socialite, claims her life is in danger. What starts as an idyllic weekend invitation rapidly becomes a suspenseful tangle of attempted murder, secret passions, poisoned milk, and a fatal case of mistaken identity. As Granger investigates, he peels back layers of deception amongst the Crane and Loomis family, resolving a dramatic crime of love, jealousy, and revenge.

Key Discussion Points and Plot Breakdown

1. Paula’s Desperate Call for Help

• [02:44] Paula Crane telephones Steve Granger, urgently inviting him to Fairhaven for the weekend.
• [03:39] Upon arrival, Paula reveals the real reason for her call: "Twice so far this week, somebody's tried to kill me." (Paula)

2. The Shooting Incidents

• [04:41] Paula recounts the first attempt—someone shot at her while she was swimming across the lake to an island.
• [05:20] The second attempt follows when she swims back to shore; another shot is fired.

3. Meet the Family and Initial Suspicions

• [06:12] The cast at the "cottage" (actually a mansion): Paula, her mother Mrs. Loomis, stepsister Anne, and brother-in-law Richard Terrace. (Her stepfather is away on business.)
• [07:07-07:38] After dinner, Paula and Granger retire. Paula soon wakes Granger in panic: her cat has died after drinking milk left in her room.

4. The Poisoned Milk

• [08:01–08:21] Granger determines the milk was poisoned with arsenic; Paula was likely the intended victim, her cat the unfortunate proxy.

5. Nighttime Tension and Richard’s Confrontation

• [09:45–11:42] Granger’s late-night search for poison is interrupted in the garage by Richard, gun drawn, who suspects Granger is a prowler. Tensions ease after Paula confirms Granger’s identity.

6. Motives Surface: Jealousy and Resentment

• [13:02–13:38] Conversations reveal a fraught romantic triangle. Family members note Paula’s changed, unhappy demeanor; Anne is jealous and convinced Paula wants Richard.

  Notable Quote:

  • Anne, bitterly: “She’s been trying to cause trouble between Richard and me ever since we were married. She hates me… And I’m gonna keep Richard, even if something happens to Paula, and I sincerely hope it does.” (Anne, [14:35])

7. The Fatal Morning

• [16:24–16:40] On the lakeshore, Paula pressures Richard to ask Anne for a divorce. Their conversation is overheard by Anne, who is devastated.
• [17:46–19:05] The next morning, Granger and Paula both feel ill—someone drugged the water left in their rooms.

8. The Murder Discovery

• [19:44–20:18] On the island, they find Anne dead, shot through the heart. She’s wearing Paula’s bathing suit: “Somebody thought it was me.” (Paula, [20:28])
• [20:58–21:14] Richard, frantic, blames Paula for Anne’s death, believing the killer mistook Anne for Paula.

9. The Investigation Closes In

• [22:07–23:14] Granger finds Mrs. Loomis attempting to burn a red bathing suit. She confesses to the murder, claiming she wanted to protect Paula.
• [23:37–23:58] Granger disproves Mrs. Loomis’s confession: she couldn’t have swum to the island (her hair isn’t wet, suit wouldn’t fit).

10. The True Killer Exposed

• [24:01–24:52] Granger accuses Paula:

  • “You tipped yourself when you mentioned your mother couldn’t get into that suit. But you could.”
  • Granger pieces together Paula’s setup: orchestrating the poisoned milk, engineering the confrontation, ensuring Anne wore her suit, and attempting to frame Richard.

  Memorable Confrontation:

  • “All right, I killed her. Put that gun down.” (Paula, [24:49])
  • “That’s another mistake you made. You should have dropped the gun into the lake.” (Granger, [24:52])

11. Aftermath and Justice

• [25:08–26:40] Paula is arrested. In the epilogue, Granger and Richard discuss the case's resolution. Paula is sentenced to life in prison—“the punishment she would hate most.” (Granger)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Paula’s desperation:
  “Twice so far this week, somebody’s tried to kill me.” — Paula ([03:43])
• On Paula’s allure:
  “In shorts on the top, she could cause the average professional swimming suit advocate to go back to the old fashioned night dress.” — Granger ([03:49])
• Tense family dynamics:
  “Before you two were married...you married Richard while Paula was abroad on a trip. Are you intimating that I took Richard away from her?” — Anne confronts Mrs. Loomis ([14:35])
• Accusation and confession:
  “You tipped yourself when you mentioned your mother couldn’t get into that suit. But you could.” — Granger to Paula ([24:02])
• The killer’s break:
  “All right, I killed her. Put that gun down.” — Paula ([24:49])
• Granger’s reflection on punishment:
  “Paula loved freedom more than anything. Life imprisonment is the worst sentence she could get.” — Granger ([26:24])

Important Timestamps

• 02:44 — Paula calls Granger, pleas for help.
• 03:49 — Paula details the murder attempts.
• 07:33 — The cat is discovered poisoned.
• 09:45 — Granger confronted in the garage by Richard.
• 14:35 — Anne’s hatred of Paula revealed.
• 16:24–16:40 — The toxic family triangle explodes.
• 19:44 — Discovery of Anne’s body on the island.
• 22:07 — Mrs. Loomis confesses, Granger investigates further.
• 24:01 — Granger unmasks Paula as the murderer.
• 25:08 — Paula’s arrest and case wrap-up.
• 26:24 — Final reflection: justice and the nature of Paula’s punishment.

Host Commentary by Adam Graham

• [27:10] Adam Graham praises the dense web of suspects and clues, noting the “good reveal at the end.”
• He points out the clever role-reversal of city and country noises—as Steve Granger is discomforted by rural quiet after urban living.
• Graham reflects on the moral dimensions of the case and Granger’s strong code: “He can really have a strong reaction to people that he finds distasteful… but he is not anywhere near the most severe [detective].”
• Listener feedback highlights and humorous insights close his section.

Summary

This episode delivers a classic radio detective drama with all the trappings: a perilous country weekend, family jealousies, false confessions, and a sharply deduced twist ending. Steve Granger’s methodical approach and clear-eyed morality shine as he unravels the truth behind attempted murders, finally revealing—not the jealous wife, but the wronged and vengeful stepsister as the true killer. The taut dialogue, vivid characterizations, and rich atmosphere make "Paula Crane is Threatened" both suspenseful and dramatically satisfying for mystery lovers and newcomers alike.