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outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
The first Miss Marple book sees the murder of an unpleasant man called Colonel Protheroe in the local vicarage. Protheroe had called in early for his appointment to speak to the local vicar who was unfortunately not at home. When the vicar arrives back, he finds the body of the Colonel sat at his writing desk, apparently shot in the midst of writing a note. Two confessions are quickly made but proven false, but the police have little else to go on. Miss Marple says that she knows of at least 7 people who had a motive to kill the Colonel, but frustratingly, the suspects all seem to have a fairly robust alibi at the time of the shooting.
The first full-length mystery starring Miss Marple is a bit hit & miss for me. The main issue for me was that the book was told from the point of view of an extremely boring character: the local vicar. Both he & his younger wife (& some of the other characters actually) were extremely rude about the older women of the village & it felt really uncalled for. Then I realised that Christie was showing us the disdain & dismissal that older women are viewed with, which still goes on today. The idea of a kindly looking octogenarian having one of the sharpest crime-solving brains & confounding everyone around her is brilliant, especially when they realise that they have to start taking her seriously.
I'm not sure whether Miss Marple is one of those characters (like Inspector Morse) that just seems to translate much better onscreen than in the original books.
The first full-length mystery starring Miss Marple is a bit hit & miss for me. The main issue for me was that the book was told from the point of view of an extremely boring character: the local vicar. Both he & his younger wife (& some of the other characters actually) were extremely rude about the older women of the village & it felt really uncalled for. Then I realised that Christie was showing us the disdain & dismissal that older women are viewed with, which still goes on today. The idea of a kindly looking octogenarian having one of the sharpest crime-solving brains & confounding everyone around her is brilliant, especially when they realise that they have to start taking her seriously.
I'm not sure whether Miss Marple is one of those characters (like Inspector Morse) that just seems to translate much better onscreen than in the original books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Infidelity, and Murder
pitsikakku's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Infidelity
prashiie's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“The young people think the old people are fools; but the old people know the young people are fools!”
A murder in a small village where everybody knows everybody’s business. A classic whodunnit. This is the book where Agatha Christie introduces Miss Marple. She is described as a very observant and clever woman.
“She’s the worst cat in the village,” said Griselda. “And she always knows every single thing that happens – and draws the worst inferences from it.”
We see the story develop from the vicar’s point of view so we also see the relationship he has with his wife who is much younger than him and who loves to point out that he doesn’t deserve her. The vicar is not much better himself though. He also thinks his wife is very incompetent and wonders why he even married her. No couple goals here. Fortunately, their relationship does seem to get better at the end of the story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Minor: Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt
laelolou's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Racism, Sexism, and Terminal illness
fyre_flies's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
itsjoenna's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Infidelity and Blood
Minor: Terminal illness, Racism, and Sexism
saliwali's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
michela_ognibeni's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Gun violence
sunnysky's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really like Miss Marple as a character, but I wish that she was more present in this book.
She pops in a handful of times to point out something, and then does a big reveal at the end- but it doesn’t show her really being a detective which made me sad. Most of the book is in the Vicar’s POV, and while I liked his character, I wanted more Marple.
The murder was okay. There was a LOT of red herrings (a bit too much for me I think) but I didn’t guess the murderer so there is that 😊
All in all, an okay start, but I am looking foreword to reading more.
She pops in a handful of times to point out something, and then does a big reveal at the end- but it doesn’t show her really being a detective which made me sad. Most of the book is in the Vicar’s POV, and while I liked his character, I wanted more Marple.
The murder was okay. There was a LOT of red herrings (a bit too much for me I think) but I didn’t guess the murderer so there is that 😊
All in all, an okay start, but I am looking foreword to reading more.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity and Murder
ruthdaniell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder