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A review by adperfectamconsilium
The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie
funny
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.0
The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie
This is the February choice for #readchristie2025 and the theme for the year is careers. This time it's the turn of writers. Marple's nephew Raymond West is a writer and the two of them are guests for dinner at what turns into the Tuesday Night Murder Club.
In each story a different guest tells the tale of a crime and the other guests have to try and solve it
This is a great entry book for anyone that hasn't read a Marple story before. Being an older lady from the village of St Mary Mead where 'nothing much happens' she's discounted by most of the guests who are then amazed when she is the one who comes up with the correct answers to the problems.
There's usually something in each story that reminds her of some seemingly trivial event in the village but it's her view that this village life has given her a good understanding of human nature and that people generally act the same everywhere. Miss Marple has a knack of getting into the psychology of those involved and making the connections that others miss.
We therefore get an entertaining mix of stories, although maybe too many involve poisoning.
There's a good sense of humour as well. Mrs Bantry has no idea of how to tell a story and it's a laugh out loud moment when the guests are left incredulous when she says she's finished after barely telling them anything and the details have to be drawn out through many questions.
There's also an actress called Jane who's not the most smart and spectacularly fails to anonymise herself in the story she wants to tell.
The last story is very much added on and features Sir Henry Clithering investigating a murder on behalf of Miss Marple. Of course her suspicions are correct.
Nothing gets past her.
A fun collection of stories.
This is the February choice for #readchristie2025 and the theme for the year is careers. This time it's the turn of writers. Marple's nephew Raymond West is a writer and the two of them are guests for dinner at what turns into the Tuesday Night Murder Club.
In each story a different guest tells the tale of a crime and the other guests have to try and solve it
This is a great entry book for anyone that hasn't read a Marple story before. Being an older lady from the village of St Mary Mead where 'nothing much happens' she's discounted by most of the guests who are then amazed when she is the one who comes up with the correct answers to the problems.
There's usually something in each story that reminds her of some seemingly trivial event in the village but it's her view that this village life has given her a good understanding of human nature and that people generally act the same everywhere. Miss Marple has a knack of getting into the psychology of those involved and making the connections that others miss.
We therefore get an entertaining mix of stories, although maybe too many involve poisoning.
There's a good sense of humour as well. Mrs Bantry has no idea of how to tell a story and it's a laugh out loud moment when the guests are left incredulous when she says she's finished after barely telling them anything and the details have to be drawn out through many questions.
There's also an actress called Jane who's not the most smart and spectacularly fails to anonymise herself in the story she wants to tell.
The last story is very much added on and features Sir Henry Clithering investigating a murder on behalf of Miss Marple. Of course her suspicions are correct.
Nothing gets past her.
A fun collection of stories.