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readingthroughthelists's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is another Miss Marple mystery I apparently read back in high school, and then forgot I had read until the murderer’s name was mentioned. Then I remembered everything.
Perhaps because of this, I found this entry to be extremely underwhelming (especially compared to A Murder is Announced, which I thought was excellent). Maybe this mystery really is clever, but once I remembered whodunnit, I found the set-up very obvious and the pace dragged. I think Jerry and Nash might actually have solved this one, if they weren’t sexist and also idiots.
I don’t even mind that Miss Marple hardly makes an appearance, though it does make Jerry feel pretty useless, since he’s 75% of the way to solving the case but then just gives up at the end and lets Miss Marple do everything for him. I guess we can’t blame him, though--he was awfully busy courting a child.
Ok, not actually a child (she’s 20), but since Megan is mentally and emotionally about 16, and since her childlike nature is so constantly reiterated, Jerry’s sudden romantic interest in her feels reeeeal weird and predatory. Pro-tip: don’t refer to the girl you’re planning to marry as “my child,” you freak!
I liked the Owen and Joanna romance, and would have liked to see more of it, but honestly after the whole Jerry-Megan debacle and the limpid plot, I would just like to see less of this book in general.
Perhaps because of this, I found this entry to be extremely underwhelming (especially compared to A Murder is Announced, which I thought was excellent). Maybe this mystery really is clever, but once I remembered whodunnit, I found the set-up very obvious and the pace dragged. I think Jerry and Nash might actually have solved this one, if they weren’t sexist and also idiots.
I don’t even mind that Miss Marple hardly makes an appearance, though it does make Jerry feel pretty useless, since he’s 75% of the way to solving the case but then just gives up at the end and lets Miss Marple do everything for him. I guess we can’t blame him, though--he was awfully busy courting a child.
I liked the Owen and Joanna romance, and would have liked to see more of it, but honestly after the whole Jerry-Megan debacle and the limpid plot,
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
jasmineehare's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
Not enough Miss Marple! I was waiting and waiting for her to appear. A decent mystery but fair warning - this book is very of its time - lots of ableism, sexism and racism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Ableism
Minor: Racism
sidbookreviews's review against another edition
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? No
4.0
Another great Christie! I quite enjoyed this one! My only complaint would be that Miss Marple only arrived 50 pages before the end of the book, and I would have liked to see a bit more of her detective work. Otherwise, I quite liked the characters and the setting. I love Christie's small-town mysteries like this one, they make for the best cozy reads. I do think that the romance at the end felt a little out of place, but I didn't mind it much, other than it feeling a little rushed. Overall, The Moving Finger was a good read and a very clever and interesting mystery!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Blood
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