Book Club

Marple Stories

Christie never intended Miss Marple to rival Poirot in the publics affections, but this spinster sleuth soon proved a hit with the public.  Here's the place to discuss her stories - but beware spoilers!

If you can't find your favourite Miss Marple story, don't worry - more will be added shortly.

Warning: These discussions may contain spoilers!

A Murder is Announced

Jemma 05 Sep 09 at 12:44 p.m. GMT

With remarkable calmness "Little Paddocks" becomes the focus for this murder. How does Christie make us believe that the villagers follow their instincts and go to the scene of the crime? Why would they when they believe it to be nonsense?

Full of clues which manifest themselves as "red herrings" Christie unearths a multitude of suggestions for the culprit. How well does the author allow us to believe that Craddock's sesitive ego results in him listening to Miss Marple?

As Christie's characters unfold we are also given insights into which newspapers she read. If Christie were alive today, which paper do you think she would read and why?

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87 replies

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MissMiller 09 May 13 at 2:36 p.m. GMT

I love this book so much, it is my favourite.

Tommy_A_Jones 29 Sep 12 at 3:43 p.m. GMT

I read it wrongly sorry but as it happens I think Bunny's Murder was more unforgivable, as Bunny agreed to the Murderer's initial subterfuge I think the Murderer could have been sure that that Bunny would not have let her down, also the fact that Rudi was up to no good(I think If I remember rightly he wasa going to blow the gaff on the Murderer) that also ends weight to the theory that Bunny would have kept quiet and so there is even more reasdon to describe Bunny's Murder as Unforgivable where as Miss Murgatroyed would not feel so loyal so her Murder was sef preservation which makes it more forgivable than Bunny's iMHO

TrippyTrellis 29 Sep 12 at 3:14 p.m. GMT

Tommy_A_Jones

Why do you call Miss Murgatroyed Shocking and unforgivable? she is a wonderful Character

Tommy, I wrote "Miss Murgatroyd: the only really shocking and unforgivable murder", not character. I also wrote that she was a memorable character and that I loved her.

Tommy_A_Jones 28 Sep 12 at 3:31 p.m. GMT

Why do you call Miss Murgatroyed Shocking and unforgivable? she is a wonderful Character, I think the woman Raymond hired to help Miss Marple in The Mirror Crack'd is a much less sympathetic Character unfortunately Agatha Christie let her live.

TrippyTrellis 27 Sep 12 at 8:52 p.m. GMT

My favorite Christie book by far, and one that I never tire of reading over and over again. Perhaps because it's populated with some of Christie's most memorable characters- I love Bunny and Miss Murgatroyd (the only really shocking and unforgivable murder) and feel nothing but pity for Miss Blacklock. 

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Jun 12 at 2:11 p.m. GMT

I agree, Keeping up with Society Celebrity Gossip was useful in The Mirror Crack'd

SarahCODA 15 Jun 12 at 10:49 a.m. GMT

Come and see A Murder is Announced at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon next month!  www.fairfield.co.uk  

If Christie were alive today, I think she would read all the papers, especially the local ones, because I think she is a bit of a Marple herself - someone who enjoys reading about people and relationships.

enessee 14 Jun 12 at 5:10 p.m. GMT

I suspected something was not right about Le(o)ttie because it seemed likely the choker was hiding something. However I wasn't sure whether that might turn out to be another red herring. I noticed the name slips but my first thought was that it was one of the typo's so many people have been complaining about in the new partwork edition (they haven't bothered me greatly). I think Christie's comments about people not knowing each other in post war villages sets the scene for them wanting a chance to find out more by accepting the invitation. I have noticed that Christie sometimes takes an opportunity to slip in (quite naturally) a list of all the clues towards the end of a story (Miss marple's list in this case).It's as if she is teasing the reader, saying in effect "look.it's all there but I bet you still can't get it"

alzimi 02 Jun 12 at 4:42 p.m. GMT

Best Marple book! Its really a masterpiece, the plot is so well done!

Tommy_A_Jones 17 May 12 at 2:09 p.m. GMT

The name slips were important and seeled the fate of the person who made them.

Miss_Sherlock 17 May 12 at 9:55 a.m. GMT

I just finished reading this yesterday evening. I really enjoyed the book. Perhaps my favourite MM so far. I spotted who the murderer was, mostly because at the time of the crime, something didn't ring true. I also spotted the name slips, and decided that they were worth noting, whether they were intrinsic to the plot, or just typos! MM seems to be making a habit of staying with the local vicar and his wife when not at St Mary Mead.

billdawg 02 Apr 12 at 1:27 p.m. GMT

This was a Fantastic Read, kept me guessing all the way througth, it started off so simple and then went deeper and that really made it so brillaint, simply couldnt put it down.   was gutted though when Dora (Bunny) died, she was one of my favourite charecters was very funny. you would be barking mad not to read this 

youngmrquin 17 Mar 12 at 1:10 a.m. GMT

Hello to everyone! I am new here, from Argentina (so please sorry about my amateur English). This novel is one of my favourites. You basically feel that anyone can be the killer by nearly the end of the book. Miss Marple is amazing here, really using her knowledge about human nature but also logical deductions.

judyjohn 26 Dec 11 at 9:33 p.m. GMT

Please tell Matthew Pritchard to cough up some money for a top level security system to resolve this spam problem.  It is a problem most irritating as Poirot would say.

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Nov 11 at 1:13 p.m. GMT

I wish someone would do something about the spammers on this site.

Tommy_A_Jones 08 Nov 11 at 1:45 p.m. GMT

I love this Book, It is my joint favourite along with 4.50 From Paddington and Sleeping Murder I agree with you about the Joan Hickson, Great Performances by not only Joan Hickson and Ursula Howells but also Paolo Donniosti, Joan Sims, Sylvia Syms, Samantha Bond, Simon Shepherd, John Castle and others I have not mentioned as I don't recall their names, I have only seen the Geraldine McKewan Adaptation once but I liked Zoe Wanemaker's Performance but don't remember much oif the Adaptation, I also have the radio Version and love that one too, Ian Lavender is EXcellent as Inspector Craddock, I would thoroughly reccommend the Book and the 2 versions I have got and too be honest I think the GM version is one of the Good ones she did as Miss Marple, along with Murder At The Vicarage but that is just my Opinion.

murder_is_easy123 16 Oct 11 at 10:05 a.m. GMT

My fave Agatha Christie!  Love it.  I have no idea how she thought of such an amazing idea.  Miss Marple at her best, definitely.  The characters are more normal than in other novels.  There is no fancy wealth or aristocracy, just plain old England, and it works so well!  Retired colonels, batty old ladies and foreign refugees are the cast of this book

The 1985 adaptation with Joan Hickson and Ursula Howells is a must-see.  The 2005 film with Geraldine McEwan and Zoe Wanamaker is...OK.  It strays a bit from the book and changes a few things, but is still quite enjoyable

If you like listening to the Marple Mysteries, then this is available, with a full cast including June Whitfield, Ian Lavender and Judy Cornwell

Love this book!

Moderator2 11 Oct 11 at 9:03 a.m. GMT

It wasn't the first Christie book I read but it's my favourite, for sure!

carlotta_adams 11 Oct 11 at 6:50 a.m. GMT

this was the first christie book i read and a loved it!

Moderator2 13 Sep 11 at 8:36 a.m. GMT

Hi there, hopefully no more spam on the page now. Please do let us know if you see more!

thanks again for alerting us