Source: Purchased
Description: One minute, silly Heather Badcock had been gabbing on to her movie idol, the glamorous Marina Gregg. The next, Heather suffered a massive seizure. It turned out to be a deadly poison. But for whom was it really intended?
Marina’s frozen expression suggested she had witnessed something horrific. While others searched for material evidence, Jane Marple conducted a very different investigation – into human nature.
Genre: Mystery - Classic
Why I Picked This Book: This was the October pick for the 2024 Read Christie Challenge
My Impression: I always forget how much I enjoy this one until I reread it and I've never been disappointed with it. Changes have come to St. Mary Mead with a Hollywood Star in Mrs. Bantry's old house and the Development being built up around the village. But the changes that Jane Marple is struggling with is within herself. She has the very annoying Miss Knight foisted upon her after a rough go of bronchitis as well as the cheerful if a bit slapdash Cherry from the Development.
Miss Marple is at her wit's end with being bored and sedentary when a murder happens just down the street. While Miss Marple has never talked about the "little grey cells" but most of the investigation is done in her sitting room as she gathers bits of information from different visitors - with the exception of an outing or two.
I loved seeing CI Craddock again and I loved his obvious admiration for Miss Marple. It was fun to see Miss Marple and Dolly Bantry together. Normally, Miss Marple is much older than the other characters but to see her with a friend who is on equal footing was just nice.
The mystery is of course a good one with a few interesting red herrings and a good couple of twists. Christie was inspired by a true story for this one (very loosely - no murder in the true story) so be sure to look that up after you read this one.
This is a solid Miss Marple story that takes place in St. Mary Mead with a good mix of old and new characters.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely! I'm looking forward to the November Read Christie Challenge!
Would I Recommend this Book? Definitely! I love Miss Marple best of all the Christie detectives and this was an interesting one.
Would I Recommend this Book? Definitely! I love Miss Marple best of all the Christie detectives and this was an interesting one.
I haven't read this one, but it sounds like I should. It's been awhile since I've read a Miss Marple mystery; I've got Nemesis on my TBR list, and I'll be adding this one now, too. :D
ReplyDeleteI love them all. I haven't read them in a long time and need to start on them sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
A reread of good books is a delight. This sounds good and I like the idea of Miss Marple at home putting all the bits of clues together to help solve the murder.
ReplyDeleteNever get tired of a re read of these classics.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great review!
ReplyDeleteI saw your comment about Memphis. We aren't interested in Memphis as it's too big and that would be awful for Doug's astronomy as well. But thanks for the advice, very much appreciated!
We looked at a small town outside that area but close enough to drive to memphis for medical stuff or big shopping. Loved it there :-)