Book Club

Marple Stories

Christie never intended Miss Marple to rival Poirot in the publics affections, but this spinster sleuth soon proved a hit with the public.  Here's the place to discuss her stories - but beware spoilers!

If you can't find your favourite Miss Marple story, don't worry - more will be added shortly.

Warning: These discussions may contain spoilers!

At Bertram's Hotel

Jemma 25 Sep 09 at 3:49 p.m. GMT

Bertram's Hotel in London is such a wonderfully old-fashioned hotel that Miss Marple's nephew feels very happy to send his aunt to stay there for a holiday. After all, what could possibly happen in such a gentle and staid place? With the arrival of the whirlwind that is Bess Sedgwick it seems a lot could happen, not the least of which is the appearance of Bess's estranged daughter Elivra Blake. Both women seem to be involved with the same charismatic man and that can only lead to trouble ... Miss Marple observes all this from the sidelines, but when a clergyman goes missing and a murder is committed, it is time for her to impart her wisdom to Chief Inspector Davy of Scotland Yard. 

Christie was in her seventies when she wrote this story but does that show in her comments on contemporary life? Is she able to capture what it was like to be as young as Elvira and Bridget? Do Miss Marple's observations on modern life reflect Christie's own opinions?

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30 replies

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Tommy_A_Jones 15 Nov 11 at 12:57 p.m. GMT

I like this book aswell, I did wonder why it was unique but then I thought about it and all the Miss Marple Books are Unique from the others which I don't feel can be said of all the Poirot's But I do like Poirot just like I like this book.

murder_is_easy123 15 Oct 11 at 9:58 a.m. GMT

I love this book.  I particularly love the way that it is so different to any other story - making it unique.  The 1987 adaptation is brilliant, with Joan Hickson and a dazzling array of guest stars like Caroline Blakiston and husky-voiced Joan Greenwood

definitely worth a read!!!

MsBuckley 03 Oct 11 at 2:09 p.m. GMT

Was not my favorite book, but still has a lot of surprises and I bet no one ever expects what comes at the end.

nicola7777 08 Sep 11 at 8:23 p.m. GMT

does anyone know where they filmed the 1987 film with joan hickson? what hotel did they use?

carinavienna 23 Jul 11 at 8:57 a.m. GMT

i have just read it and need the book for my gcse certificate but i didn´t understand the end properly. can somebody explain to me why elvira flew to ireland and the realtions between lady segwick, elvira, goreman and the racing driver?

Dolly_B 28 Jun 11 at 10:23 p.m. GMT

One of her weaker stories.  A disappointment.

LuvAgathaChristie26 04 Apr 11 at 6:33 p.m. GMT

I would love to go to a hotel like that too. I have seen the movies with Joan Hickson and Geraldine McEwan. I'm now reading the book and I've found that it's no one of Agatha Christie's better books.IIt gets a bit boring in some parts. I prefer the movie with Geraldine McEwan.

Roger_Ackroyd1926 02 Apr 11 at 10:37 p.m. GMT

Among the pleasures in AT BERTRAM'S HOTEL are Miss Marple's recollections of herself as a young girl and woman, particularly those excursions to the Army and Navy Stores with her Aunt Helen!

Mr_Graves 03 Mar 11 at 7:53 p.m. GMT

This was the last Miss Marple book about which I knew nothing of the murderer. All of the others I have either read or seen adaptations of, and consequently find out 'who did it'. So this book was very interesting for me, as I had no idea what would happen. Very slow at the beginning, and not a lot of suspects, but I thought, considering this is Christie in her seventies, it was rather good...

missdaisydaisy 20 Feb 11 at 4:16 p.m. GMT

This is my favourite Miss Marple story EVER! I think i prefer the televised Geraldine McEwan version to Joan Hickson, but the story itself is told excellently in both versions. At Bertram's Hotel has multiple characters who earn the right to star in the story as they each have a story to tell, and obviously, a part of the story to be involved heavily in! Best Marple EVER!

xrysoula 03 Jul 10 at 8:06 a.m. GMT

Oh,right you are Puffinjill, I mixed up those two names.And I was wondering why noone seemed to understand what I was talking about!Thank you so much.I will try to be more careful in the future.Sorry, MissQuin.

Puffinjill 03 Jul 10 at 7:32 a.m. GMT

If you are talking about the Miss Marple stories, xrysoula, then I think you mean Inspector Slack and not Inspector Japp. Japp only appeared with Poirot and was mentioned once in the first Tommy and Tuppence book.

xrysoula 02 Jul 10 at 4:20 p.m. GMT

MissQuin-Whereas in other stories, the Inspectors are made to look foolish.

I was referring to other MM stories, where Japp appears.

MissQuin 02 Jul 10 at 4:12 p.m. GMT

xrysoula

I agree, MissQuin.Especially Inspector Japp,my heart goes out to him every time MM gets in his way!The actor playing that character in Hickson 's adapts is hilarious.

So whose MM? I thought you meant Miss marple, you mean Poirot? No, Japp doesn't do very well with the cases. It's a wonder he's head of Scotland yard.

xrysoula 02 Jul 10 at 4:09 p.m. GMT

I know, I was referring to Japp in general, not in this book.

MissQuin 02 Jul 10 at 3:35 p.m. GMT

It wasn't actually Insepctor Japp. Chief Inspector Davy of Scotland Yard, who in the JH adapt, was played by an actor who played Inspector Wexford!

 No I didn't like Elvira and suspected her all along. She has many of her mother's characteristics, but whereas her mother's rash, Elvira's calculating.

If there's one thing I didn't like about Bertam's is there was murder, but only really three suspects, which wasn't enough to make it gripping for me. But the identity fraud story was very clever and ahead of it's time.

xrysoula 02 Jul 10 at 2:08 p.m. GMT

I agree, MissQuin.Especially Inspector Japp,my heart goes out to him every time MM gets in his way!The actor playing that character in Hickson 's adapts is hilarious.

About the book now, I mostly enjoyed the descriptions of meals and the hotel 's nostalgic, old fashioned atmosphere.It would be my dream come true, to find a place like this-I would be willing to defy all kinds of dangers in order to have my tea there every day!

I found Elvira extremely repulsive, a real female Rasputin, under that veil of beauty, good upbringing and innocence.Oh, it felt so good when MM exposed her in the end and she got what she deserved!

MissQuin 01 May 10 at 5:32 p.m. GMT

I think compared to some of the other Marples, she does have a more equal relationship with the detective. She doesn't solve the whole thing. Whearas in other stories, the Inspector are made to look foolish. But Miss marple is in this book alot, it's just at a slower pace.

Tommy_A_Jones 01 May 10 at 4:37 p.m. GMT

I think she does enough to justify her being in it Unlike her involvement in The Moving Finger, I don't understand your point about Poirot and Miss Marple being in a book together Miss Quin

216816 30 Apr 10 at 9:35 p.m. GMT

A great book. Even though I know Agatha Christie never really wanted to bring Poirot and Miss Marple together in a novel, I think she may have been able to pull it off in this one because Miss Marple didn't seem to do much except add to the commentary; the detective work was mostly done by Inspector Davy.

MissQuin 25 Mar 10 at 4:43 p.m. GMT

McEwan: It's odd because Bertam's is supposed to be unchanged since Miss Marple's youth. But there's jazz bands playing, which werent around when she was a young girl.

Tommy_A_Jones 25 Mar 10 at 4:35 p.m. GMT

The only thing I can say in the Geraldine McKewan version is the opening short where someone mentions a song Title "Miss Otis Regrets she's unable to Lunch today" If you weren't listening too hard you would miss it.

sjoerdbol 25 Mar 10 at 1:50 p.m. GMT

I think it is one of the best Marple's with Joan Hickson. I really liked it and the hotel setting is great. The italian race driver is not well cast, he's obviously not italian, but that is something you see often in Marple and Poirot series.

MissQuin 23 Mar 10 at 5:02 p.m. GMT

Elvira's friend Bridget was actually in the drama, but only briefly. I liked the way that they made the hotel look like a place you'd want to stay in. All those lovely cream cakes, smart waiters and stylish decor. The one in the McEwan version I wouldn't have wanted to stay at.  Nazis, art fraudsters, murderers and jewel thieves all under one roof!

Tommy_A_Jones 23 Mar 10 at 4:58 p.m. GMT

I felt the Book has so much more thasn the Joan Hickson Adaptation which is very good although but some Characters were Missing like an owner and Elvira's Friend.

MissQuin 23 Mar 10 at 4:46 p.m. GMT

I watched the Joan Hickson version of At Bertram's hotel, I thought it was better than the book. It cut down out the long parts, made it more fast paced and exciting. Yet it never went too far from away from the book. I thought Bess was excellently cast.

In fact eveyone was very good, except the racing car driver. Clearly not Italian. What a rat, dating a mother and daughter, at the same time! We never find out what happened to him, but presumably he went to prison.

Magda_Lena 30 Jan 10 at 7:18 p.m. GMT

Very interesting book to read before sleep. I would also love to go to such a hotel.

Tommy_A_Jones 30 Jan 10 at 4:34 p.m. GMT

I agree withboth of you detective conan and alisonevans5

alisonevansa5 30 Jan 10 at 3:57 p.m. GMT

This is one of my faves.  The setting, and that characters are so unexpected... I thought the recent adaptation was fantastic too...

Read more about this story: At Bertram's Hotel

HeiseiHolmes 28 Jan 10 at 4:47 p.m. GMT

I would love to go to a hotel like this. Sounds so comfortable...