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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
I always love an Agatha Christie novel, but every so often I pick one up that is particularly standout. This is certainly one of them. The premise is rather unique. That alone was rather compelling. But combined with the pacing and the storytelling…the way the mystery unfolds is just…perfect. Seamless. Thrilling. It truly spins out away from the initial set-up, which I quite enjoy. There was so much more to the mystery than what I thought when I first started reading.
I did figure out the murderer before it was revealed, but not much before. (And I have read like 30 of Christie’s books at this point…not sure I would’ve caught it had I only read…say…5-10.) I was still at the edge of my seat the whole time, waiting for the next tidbit of information to be revealed.
I also loved the characters and appreciated that amateur detectives were the investigators in this story.
“Sleeping Murder” was the perfect blend of quaint, cozy mystery and something more sinister. A fitting final case for Miss Marple. It ranks near the top of my favorite Christie novels…and is definitely one I would tell you to read if you asked.
**I will say, the summary is a bit misleading. When it talks about ghosts…it’s referring to ghosts of the past, not actual ghosts. Nothing to do with a haunted house, which is the impression I initially got when I read the synopsis.**
I did figure out the murderer before it was revealed, but not much before. (And I have read like 30 of Christie’s books at this point…not sure I would’ve caught it had I only read…say…5-10.) I was still at the edge of my seat the whole time, waiting for the next tidbit of information to be revealed.
I also loved the characters and appreciated that amateur detectives were the investigators in this story.
“Sleeping Murder” was the perfect blend of quaint, cozy mystery and something more sinister. A fitting final case for Miss Marple. It ranks near the top of my favorite Christie novels…and is definitely one I would tell you to read if you asked.
**I will say, the summary is a bit misleading. When it talks about ghosts…it’s referring to ghosts of the past, not actual ghosts. Nothing to do with a haunted house, which is the impression I initially got when I read the synopsis.**
Of course Agatha Christie mysteries are not great literature, but they are so enjoyable on a flight/in an hotel room. Sleeping Murder doesn't disappoint with a good plot and, of course, the presence of Mrs Marple with her insights.
Whilst attending a theatre performance of The Duchess of Malfi with Miss Marple, Gwenda shrieks and runs from the theatre.
“I hope,” thought Gwenda uneasily, “that I’m not clairvoyant or anything. . . .”
A splendid mystery! I really enjoy the positioning Miss Marple takes in these tales, chiming in here and there, having a pulse on the entire thing.
A splendid mystery! I really enjoy the positioning Miss Marple takes in these tales, chiming in here and there, having a pulse on the entire thing.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My favorite part was when the Inspector knew of Miss Marple because of her powers of deduction and old lady charm with Chief Constables. The Inspector referenced other Miss Marple stories, including The Murder At The Vicarage and The Moving Finger.
I liked Gwenda and Giles as a couple, and how they supported each other, he believed his wife that something evil happened in the past in their house and she wasn't just being dramatic and making up stories. Giles was excited to look into the past and find the villains. They felt more like an equal pairing than some others of Christie's parings, it was clear that they supported each other, loved each other, and worked well together.
Miss Marple is a delight as always.
The thing that drove me crazy was that the answer to the mystery was super obvious to me early on in the book. Now maybe this is a me problem since I read and watch a lot of mysteries. I have also read several Christies; so I can easily spot her patterns and tropes. It was frustrating for me to watch Giles and Gwenda trust the killer, work with them, and just be completely clueless. To be fair, it was clear who the killer was, but there was no concrete evidence of how to put them behind bars for their crimes before more bodies started appearing.
Also, the reveal was rushed and of course, the killer was written off as "quite mad" to just skip over all the great evil they did.
Overall it's a decent read.
I liked Gwenda and Giles as a couple, and how they supported each other, he believed his wife that something evil happened in the past in their house and she wasn't just being dramatic and making up stories. Giles was excited to look into the past and find the villains. They felt more like an equal pairing than some others of Christie's parings, it was clear that they supported each other, loved each other, and worked well together.
Miss Marple is a delight as always.
The thing that drove me crazy was that the answer to the mystery was super obvious to me early on in the book. Now maybe this is a me problem since I read and watch a lot of mysteries. I have also read several Christies; so I can easily spot her patterns and tropes. It was frustrating for me to watch Giles and Gwenda trust the killer, work with them, and just be completely clueless. To be fair, it was clear who the killer was, but there was no concrete evidence of how to put them behind bars for their crimes before more bodies started appearing.
Also, the reveal was rushed and of course, the killer was written off as "quite mad" to just skip over all the great evil they did.
Overall it's a decent read.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a tough one to figure out and I was completely wrong which I loved. Although Miss Marple is there and helps arrange a few things she doesn't give as much help as I expected her to. Enjoyed the murder from the past being solved.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes