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A review by awebofstories
The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
lighthearted
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
3.0
I'm now 2 novels and a handful of stories in the Marpleverse, and I'm sure of one thing: these are quite different from the Poirot novels. These seem to be cozier and more prone to dip into comedy. All this is fine and good, but I did have to adjust my expectations.
Jane Marple is such a fun character, but, like in her first novel, I wish she were more in the action. In this one, she seems to always be on the outskirts of things...until it is clear that the police can't solve this and Miss Marple is their only hope.
The mystery here is quite good--there are plenty of clues, but they are woven into the narrator that the reader will most likely not catch them at first. I also love the friendship between Miss Marple and Mrs. Bantry; it is a completely realistic relationship between two women, especially at the time.
Unfortunately, I had to put this book aside when I was about halfway through so I could finish some other books before their book club discussions. While I could easily sink back into the story when I returned to it, I think it may have hurt my momentum. The second half felt too long--which is ironic for a short novel. This mystery may have worked better as a longer short story than a shorter novel.
While this wasn't a perfect novel, and I think I'm still adjusting to the Marpleverse, it was worth the time to read, and I'm eager to meet up with Jane Marple again.
Jane Marple is such a fun character, but, like in her first novel, I wish she were more in the action. In this one, she seems to always be on the outskirts of things...until it is clear that the police can't solve this and Miss Marple is their only hope.
The mystery here is quite good--there are plenty of clues, but they are woven into the narrator that the reader will most likely not catch them at first. I also love the friendship between Miss Marple and Mrs. Bantry; it is a completely realistic relationship between two women, especially at the time.
Unfortunately, I had to put this book aside when I was about halfway through so I could finish some other books before their book club discussions. While I could easily sink back into the story when I returned to it, I think it may have hurt my momentum. The second half felt too long--which is ironic for a short novel. This mystery may have worked better as a longer short story than a shorter novel.
While this wasn't a perfect novel, and I think I'm still adjusting to the Marpleverse, it was worth the time to read, and I'm eager to meet up with Jane Marple again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder