Review by pbraue13 - A Murder Is Announced: A Miss Marple Mystery

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pbraue13 's review for:

A Murder Is Announced: A Miss Marple Mystery by Agatha Christie

4.0

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This is one of her most beloved Miss Marple mysteries, a novel that is a great story in its own right that just so happens to have murder woven through it. First published in 1950, it draws the reader into the quiet English village of Chipping Cleghorn, where an unusual notice in the local paper shocks everyone: a murder has been announced, with the date, time, and location specified. Villagers flock to Little Paddocks, expecting a harmless game, but when the lights go out and a man lies dead, the “joke” turns into grim reality.

The initial murder is startling enough, but Christie raises the emotional stakes when two further characters, both likeable, both people the reader grows attached to, are killed. Their deaths hit hard and give the novel a poignancy that deepens the mystery. This is not just a clever puzzle, but a story with weight and emotional impact.

Miss Marple is in tip-top form here. No longer an obscure spinster overlooked by the police, her reputation now precedes her among both the public and the authorities. She slips into the investigation with her trademark keen eye for human nature, proving once again that small details and quiet observations can unravel even the most tangled web of secrets.

One aspect of the novel that sits uneasily is the treatment of Mitzi, the refugee housekeeper. Set in 1937 (making it one of the rare Christie books tied to a specific historical time) the novel reflects some of the tensions of the era. Mitzi is a European refugee who claims to have lost her family in the war, yet she is constantly mocked by the household she serves. At one point, they even send her a cruel fake postcard suggesting the Gestapo are after her. The frequent complaints about “foreigners” and the family’s mean-spirited jokes which go unchecked are odd in Christie and, if meant as comic relief, fall flat. Still, Mitzi redeems herself with an important act of bravery and heroism toward the end, giving her a memorable role in the story.

Alongside the suspense, Christie peppers the novel with delightful touches that have charmed readers for decades. The infamous chocolate cake known as “Delicious Death” has even been recreated as a recipe for Christie’s 120th birthday celebrations (and it sounds as good as it reads). There’s also a clever nod to a future Poirot novel, "Elephants Can Remember”, when the characters discuss a play called “Elephants Do Forget”. And for fans who know Christie’s Marple stories well, the shared setting name with the short story “The Companion” adds an extra layer of enjoyment.

In the end, “A Murder is Announced” is classic Christie: a cozy village setting hiding dark secrets, a puzzle that is both intricate and satisfying, and a heroine who proves that intelligence and insight don’t need to shout to be heard. Despite the dated and unfortunate handling of Mitzi, this remains a top-tier Miss Marple story that is moving, clever, and endlessly rereadable.

Content Warnings