Sleeping Murder

Book Review: Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie (Miss Marple #5)

This book is Miss Marple number five chronologically but one of Christie’s final works prior to her death. Obviously, by this time, she was writing confidently and I think it showed.

The start of the book has a real gothic feel to it with Gwenda being haunted by visions of a strangled woman in her just-purchased home. Soon, however, she is consulting Miss Marple who offers a bit of common sense but, still, supposes the woman was indeed murdered some 18 years previous. Gwenda, her husband Giles, and Miss Marple [of course] then decide to investigate the murder.

Miss Marple features much more than she did in The Moving Finger but she still plays only a supporting role with Christie focusing much more on newlyweds Gwenda and Giles. Luckily, like the siblings in The Moving Finger, they are quite likeable and I couldn’t help but cheer them on in their snooping.

I did guess part of this mystery plot, but I wasn’t (of course) good enough to pick up on the finer details and many clues which Christie offered.

Another 4 ½ rating

The Moving Finger

Book Review: The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie (Miss Marple #4)

I haven’t read a Christie for many years, so I decided I’d rectify that situation this year. And this, the first one I picked up, was a real winner.

Although this is labelled as a Miss Marple book, she really only features for a few chapters – basically a cameo – so it can definitely be read as a standalone. Instead, the main character and first person narrator is Jerry, a pilot who moves to a small English village along with his sister, Joanna, to convalesce following an accident. Upon their arrival they receive a poison pen letter and soon learn that most of the village have also received such missives. Then, of course, things escalate and Jerry is soon attempting to solve a couple of mysterious deaths.

As these things go, there’s a plethora of suspects amongst the village’s inhabitants. I had my suspicions about who-did-what and, I will admit, I was pretty much completely wrong on all counts!

Apart from the mystery plot, there’s quite a bit of a romantic subplot for both Jerry and Joanna and I loved that inclusion. (The only thing better than a mystery novel is a romantic mystery novel!)

4 1/2 out of 5

Marple

Book Review: Marple: Twelve New Mysteries by various

I was excited about reading this collection of short stories featuring Miss Marple, but…

Yes, all the stories suffer due to their brevity. It’s difficult to connect fully with any of the characters and/or plot when the whole thing is over and done with so quickly. However, with the calibre of the writers involved, I thought they would offer more than the pedestrian fanfic on offer.

If the point is to showcase the authors and make you want to purchase one of their other books, then it was a futile exercise. In fact, I will be steadfastly avoiding a couple of authors featured here now.

There were a couple of stories which worked more for me: Lucy Foley’s Evil in Small Places featured some excellent descriptions and a well-thought out mystery which made sense and could actually be solved by the reader. It was, however, very very short. I also enjoyed Elly Griffiths Murder at the Villa Rosa. She made her mystery a little less traditional and made the most of the Italian setting. Ruth Ware’s Miss Marple’s Christmas included talk of Dorothy Sayers which gave her a bonus point in my eyes. (Although, does this make her story fanfic within a fanfic? Mmm…)

Other than that, most of the stories were ho-hum which plodded along.

I’m not sure if I’d recommend anyone rush out and purchase this collection, to be honest. 3 out of 5