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A review by megelizabeth
The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
"Jane Marple. Look at her well. I tell you, that woman knows more about the different kinds of human wickedness than anyone I’ve ever known."
This is a book I have very mixed feelings about. I found the mystery to be incredibly strong, with most of what ended up being revealed being a complete shock to me; it's just so, so clever and well-plotted. It's definitely, for me, the best book Marple book so far mystery-wise. I also really enjoyed the general atmosphere and the small-town vibe, and some of the characters are fantastic.
However, there was a lot about this book that rubbed me up the wrong way. I absolutely couldn't stand our protagonist, Jerry, who is disgustingly misogynistic and borderline paedophilic, and who makes disgusting comments about the victims at the end, and yet who we're somehow supposed to root for. I also really struggled to find the police officers credible; there are multiple points at which they do or say things which are clearly only there to serve the plot and just do not make logical sense. And, additionally, Miss Marple only appears super late in the story and even then gets minimal page time. I do hope that's not a trend that continues, as I still plan to continue with the series; hopefully the more enjoyable characters of the first two books and the brilliant mystery of this one will combine to make great books going forwards, but we'll see.
This is a book I have very mixed feelings about. I found the mystery to be incredibly strong, with most of what ended up being revealed being a complete shock to me; it's just so, so clever and well-plotted. It's definitely, for me, the best book Marple book so far mystery-wise. I also really enjoyed the general atmosphere and the small-town vibe, and some of the characters are fantastic.
However, there was a lot about this book that rubbed me up the wrong way. I absolutely couldn't stand our protagonist, Jerry, who is disgustingly misogynistic and borderline paedophilic, and who makes disgusting comments about the victims at the end, and yet who we're somehow supposed to root for. I also really struggled to find the police officers credible; there are multiple points at which they do or say things which are clearly only there to serve the plot and just do not make logical sense. And, additionally, Miss Marple only appears super late in the story and even then gets minimal page time. I do hope that's not a trend that continues, as I still plan to continue with the series; hopefully the more enjoyable characters of the first two books and the brilliant mystery of this one will combine to make great books going forwards, but we'll see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, Misogyny, and Death