Source: Purchased
Description: There is no rest or relaxation for Miss Marple. Agatha Christie's most appealing sleuth returns in this classic baffler of a vacation-turned-deadly.
Nephew Raymond West has given his favourite aunt a vacation at a beautiful resort in the Caribbean. While there she encounters an old wind-bag. One of his stories is about meeting a murderer. He has a snapshot. Suddenly he hesitates, and gets flustered. By the next morning he is dead, seemingly of natural causes. Miss Marple has doubts.
And well she should.
Genre: Mystery - Classic
Why I Picked This Book: This was the April pick for the Read Christie 2026 Challenge and it is one I was especially looking forward to as I don't remember the last time I read it.
My Impression: I always forget just how much I love this book. This is Miss Marple is at her best. She should be out of her element at a resort on a Caribbean island, but Miss Marple is always a wonderful observer of human nature and a resort is peak people watching. Her thoughts on each of the other characters was at time funny but always incredibly accurate. I also really enjoyed how restless she's feeling at the beginning of the book as there's nothing to do. I'm sure her nephew would be appalled by that thought.
The mystery is an intriguing one. It's a bit of a locked door as well as a death that could easily be natural causes. The solution is a good one though the thought processes getting there can be a little muddy at times. The cast of characters all have their own dramas which add to the interest and the good pace of the book.
While I wouldn't say this is one of Christie's best written books it is a fun read with excellent pacing and an entertaining cast of characters. On a fun sidenote - if you're a fan of BBC's Death in Paradise the town in that show Honore is a nod to the island in this book St. Honore.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course! I'm looking forward to May's book which is The Labours of Hercules for the category of Best Short Story Collection. I'm not sure it's my favorite short story collection but it is a lot of fun and one I'm looking forward to revisiting.
Would I Recommend this Book? Absolutely! This is one of her best later books and a thoroughly enjoyable read. It's a fantastic appearance by Miss Marple.
Would I Recommend this Book? Absolutely! This is one of her best later books and a thoroughly enjoyable read. It's a fantastic appearance by Miss Marple.
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