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sueread2030 's review for:
At Bertram's Hotel
by Agatha Christie
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
this was the first appearance of Miss Marple, the charming witty elderly.
"At Bertram's Hotel" intricately weaves a tale of mystery and deception against the backdrop of a seemingly respectable London hotel. The story unfolds with Miss Jane Marple, one of Christie's most beloved characters, taking a holiday at Bertram's Hotel, a place that prides itself on its traditional Edwardian decor and its impeccable service, offering a slice of bygone elegance to its guests. However, beneath this veneer of respectability, Miss Marple begins to sense that not all is as it seems.
The narrative quickly becomes entangled with a series of daring robberies and the mysterious disappearance of Canon Pennyfather, a forgetful clergyman who is one of the hotel's guests. As the plot thickens, the reader is introduced to an array of characters, each with their own secrets and connections to the hotel. Among them are the adventurous Bess Sedgwick, her estranged daughter Elvira Blake, and the charming but enigmatic racing driver Ladislaus Malinowski.
Miss Marple's keen observations and quiet inquiries reveal that Bertram's Hotel serves as a front for a criminal syndicate, orchestrating a series of robberies across the country. The hotel's staff and select guests are implicated in this elaborate scheme, with the commissionaire, Michael Gorman, playing a pivotal role due to his past relationship with Bess Sedgwick. The plot reaches its climax when Elvira, driven by greed and the prospect of a vast inheritance, attempts to murder her mother to claim her fortune. Her plan, however, is foiled, and the truth behind the robberies and the disappearance of Canon Pennyfather is brought to light.
Chief Inspector Fred Davy, along with Miss Marple, unravels the web of deceit spun within the walls of Bertram's Hotel. The resolution of the mystery sees justice served, with the criminal elements being apprehended. The novel concludes with Miss Marple reflecting on the nature of crime and the facade that institutions like Bertram's Hotel can present, masking the darker elements of human nature.
Christie's "At Bertram's Hotel" is a testament to her mastery of the detective genre, providing a compelling narrative that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. The novel's exploration of themes such as the illusion of respectability, the corrupting influence of wealth, and the complexities of familial relationships, all contribute to its enduring appeal as a classic of mystery literature.
The thing that I didn't quite like was the reliance on coincidences within the plot. Whenever a dead end is reached, suddenly a new character or finding appears.
other than that, you are definitely into a ride with a Christie book.
"At Bertram's Hotel" intricately weaves a tale of mystery and deception against the backdrop of a seemingly respectable London hotel. The story unfolds with Miss Jane Marple, one of Christie's most beloved characters, taking a holiday at Bertram's Hotel, a place that prides itself on its traditional Edwardian decor and its impeccable service, offering a slice of bygone elegance to its guests. However, beneath this veneer of respectability, Miss Marple begins to sense that not all is as it seems.
The narrative quickly becomes entangled with a series of daring robberies and the mysterious disappearance of Canon Pennyfather, a forgetful clergyman who is one of the hotel's guests. As the plot thickens, the reader is introduced to an array of characters, each with their own secrets and connections to the hotel. Among them are the adventurous Bess Sedgwick, her estranged daughter Elvira Blake, and the charming but enigmatic racing driver Ladislaus Malinowski.
Miss Marple's keen observations and quiet inquiries reveal that Bertram's Hotel serves as a front for a criminal syndicate, orchestrating a series of robberies across the country. The hotel's staff and select guests are implicated in this elaborate scheme, with the commissionaire, Michael Gorman, playing a pivotal role due to his past relationship with Bess Sedgwick. The plot reaches its climax when Elvira, driven by greed and the prospect of a vast inheritance, attempts to murder her mother to claim her fortune. Her plan, however, is foiled, and the truth behind the robberies and the disappearance of Canon Pennyfather is brought to light.
Chief Inspector Fred Davy, along with Miss Marple, unravels the web of deceit spun within the walls of Bertram's Hotel. The resolution of the mystery sees justice served, with the criminal elements being apprehended. The novel concludes with Miss Marple reflecting on the nature of crime and the facade that institutions like Bertram's Hotel can present, masking the darker elements of human nature.
Christie's "At Bertram's Hotel" is a testament to her mastery of the detective genre, providing a compelling narrative that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. The novel's exploration of themes such as the illusion of respectability, the corrupting influence of wealth, and the complexities of familial relationships, all contribute to its enduring appeal as a classic of mystery literature.
The thing that I didn't quite like was the reliance on coincidences within the plot. Whenever a dead end is reached, suddenly a new character or finding appears.
other than that, you are definitely into a ride with a Christie book.