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A review by what_heather_loves
The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"'What is this place?' asked Joanna. 'It looks the most innocent sleepy harmless little bit of England you can imagine-' 'Where to quite Mr Pye, nothing every happens,' I cut in. 'He chose the wrong minute to say that. Something has happened.' 'But who writes these things Jerry?' I shrugged my shoulders. 'My dear girl who should I know? Some local nitwit with a screw loose, I suppose.'"
Brother and sister, Jerry and Joanna Burton find like in their new village of Lynstock, Devon, surprisingly eventful as a result of poison pen letters. Told from former airman, invalid Jerry's perspective, a man often inclined to take an instant like or dislike to new people he meets. Miss Marple only arrives in the last quarter of the book, as the guest of a villager who has invited her to solve the case, because, I suspect, otherwise, she would have identified 'whodunit' early on. As the Burton siblings get to know the villagers, they find themselves on the receiving end of one of the nasty letters.
Filled to the brim with Christie's take astute observations about village life and human behaviour. Acerbic and witty in places, poking fun at some of the characters, reminded me somewhat of Jane Austen. As clever as Christie's novels always are with red herrings and a big twist that only Marple, of course, spots!
"'That's my expert,' said Mrs Dame Calthrop. 'Jane Marple. Look at her well. I tell you, that woman knows more about the different kinds of human wickedneas than anyone I've ever known.' 'I do think you should put it quite like that, dear,' murmured Miss Marple. 'But you do.' 'One sees a good deal of human nature living in a village all the year round,' said Miss Marple placidly."
Brother and sister, Jerry and Joanna Burton find like in their new village of Lynstock, Devon, surprisingly eventful as a result of poison pen letters. Told from former airman, invalid Jerry's perspective, a man often inclined to take an instant like or dislike to new people he meets. Miss Marple only arrives in the last quarter of the book, as the guest of a villager who has invited her to solve the case, because, I suspect, otherwise, she would have identified 'whodunit' early on. As the Burton siblings get to know the villagers, they find themselves on the receiving end of one of the nasty letters.
Filled to the brim with Christie's take astute observations about village life and human behaviour. Acerbic and witty in places, poking fun at some of the characters, reminded me somewhat of Jane Austen. As clever as Christie's novels always are with red herrings and a big twist that only Marple, of course, spots!
"'That's my expert,' said Mrs Dame Calthrop. 'Jane Marple. Look at her well. I tell you, that woman knows more about the different kinds of human wickedneas than anyone I've ever known.' 'I do think you should put it quite like that, dear,' murmured Miss Marple. 'But you do.' 'One sees a good deal of human nature living in a village all the year round,' said Miss Marple placidly."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder