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!

The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side

Jemma 05 Sep 09 at 12:52 p.m. GMT

In the Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, Miss Marple faces up to the modern transformation of village life, but finds human nature remains the same. Is this the secret of her timeless appeal, or do you think Miss Marple is at her best in earlier times?

This is the final Christie novel set in an English village. Is she at her best in this setting and how do Miss Marple's adventures in London and the Caribbean compare? Should she always have stayed at home?

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72 replies

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Shiheikaibaa 26 Dec 11 at 6:52 a.m. GMT

I liked the plot sooo much. Also, the motive almost made me go mad. :)) I liked it very much.

murder_is_easy123 16 Oct 11 at 10:12 a.m. GMT

One of the best things about this novel is the way that Miss Marple and Mrs Bantry give a rather tragic view of the evolving world of the 1960s.  And it also shows that Miss Marple is rather a film fan, which I did not know before.  All three films of this are excellent, especially the most recent one with Julia McKenzie, Joanna Lumley and Lindsay Duncan (plus a small cameo from Michele Dotrice!)

Epsilon14 25 Aug 11 at 6:06 a.m. GMT

The first chapter: Very boring. The Development thing is too boring. But 2nd Chapter is a better. 

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Aug 11 at 3:17 p.m. GMT

It is very good, I would give it 9/10

Epsilon14 21 Aug 11 at 5:35 a.m. GMT

Just bought the book last night. Decided to read the book after finding victim 7 (I just did!). Can anyone tell me how the book is as it is my first Marple book?Please dont put any spoilers for me.

popbubble 15 Jul 11 at 5:39 p.m. GMT

what I don't get is that in the version of the film with Julia Mckenzie they changed Ella Zeilensky's name to Ella Blunt for no apparent reason!!! And I think they changed Ardwyck Fenn's name to Vincent Hogg too!!! But I'm not saying that the film is bad! 

Roger_Ackroyd1926 25 Apr 11 at 3:20 a.m. GMT

I'm re-reading this for the first time since 1975, though the story remains familiar to me - I saw the 1980 film when it was first released, and have watched the Joan Hickson TV version two or three times.  Mrs. Christie did a great job here of describig how the passage of time had affected St. Mary Mead and its residents, especially its most famous one.

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Jan 11 at 1:23 p.m. GMT

I can see 3 reasons for the scene

1) To differentiaye it from other versions.

2) To add background colour to the Adaptation

3) To fill some time.

GKCfan 04 Jan 11 at 11:45 p.m. GMT

My guess is that previous versions, like the book, wanted to make people aware of Marina's son, while not stressing him too hard, so as not to make her motive too obvious.  The scene might have been inserted to humanize Marina, for she otherwise might have been too unsympathetic.

poppygirl 04 Jan 11 at 11:38 p.m. GMT

hi im a new member,can someone tell why in one verision of the mirror cracked we didnt the disabled child but in the weeks marple they showed the boy?not that im saying either films werent good,they brillant with very good acting

Tommy_A_Jones 03 Jan 11 at 4:44 p.m. GMT

I liked The Hollow too, I don't think I could have taken much more of last night's The Mirror Crack'd but it would be nice to think we could have more Agatha Christie's done sympatheticly, of thed short stories I can see Sanctuary, Motive Vs Opportunity, Strange Jest and The Curious Case of The Caretaker working well, I liked TheBlue Geranium also.

Lisa_F 03 Jan 11 at 4:17 p.m. GMT

I really enjoyed the version of The Mirror Crack'd last night, i could watch really good Christie classics like that all night...not too sure if my husband could though! i also watched The Hollow a few weeks ago and was really impressed with that.The only dissapointment i had was with the new version of Murder On The Orient on xmas day - i was really looking forward to watching it but found it rather slow....x

Tommy_A_Jones 03 Jan 11 at 3:34 p.m. GMT

I watched The Mirror Crack'd last night and I am afraid I thought the Angela Landesbury version was a bit better, I thought Joanna Lumley was good although I can see elements in her performance which are right I still think in some ways is mis-cast, I thought Dr Haydock was wrongly cast, I would have lied to see the actor play Mrs Badcock's Husband, I think someome like Benjamin Whitrow or olin Baker or Gareth Thomas Would have been better, I know the Changes were slight and unimprtant so that was good, I found the Scene with Wil Young Toe-curlingly awful but   I lied the way The Adaptation left you with the impression the American Assistant was Marina Gregg's Son just like the book does, the book also gives the impression Jason Rudd Killed Marina but I thought that was spelt out too heavily but it did make the Viewer quwestion their own sense of Justice and wether people should be allowed to escape Justice by dieing, maybe at their own hands.

catherinemassey52 03 Jan 11 at 11:52 a.m. GMT

Hiya does anyone know were gossington hall was filmed at. Thank you

MissQuin 12 Oct 10 at 1:51 p.m. GMT

Pongo- There was a scariest moments thread on the TV section. We were discussing which ones scared us. The Hickson ones cropped up alot actually.

Probably because the tone was more serious and most of the acting convincing. http://www.agathachristie.com/forum/have-your-say/television-and-film/favourite-scary-moments/?page=1

knottyceltic 12 Oct 10 at 11:02 a.m. GMT

xrysoula

True.Perhaps I should make myself more clear.What bothered me the most in this story is that, unlike most others, it has no psychological basis whatsoever.Take it from the start:A very wealthy and succesful woman longs to have a child, but is having difficulty in getting pregnant.She adopts, yet finds the role of the adopted mother not quite as fulfilling.Finally,she does get pregnant, and, being aware of that, what does she do?Instead of staying at home and hiring all kinds of doctors to help her make her dream come true,she continues to travel around the world to promote her career!Isn 't there a contradiction?

Not a contradition at all but more of a "parallel" to me.  It parallel's Mrs. Badcock's selfishness at risking another person's health so that she herself can meet a film start with Marena Gregg's selfishness at wanting constant fame over the health and safety of her unborn child.  Both pay for their selfishness in the end.

Pongo 11 Oct 10 at 11:46 p.m. GMT

SPOILERS FOR THE ANGELA LANSBURY FILM VERSION

I recall watching the Angela Lansbury film as a kid when it played on television.  The bit where there is a tight freeze frame as Heather Babcock kisses Marina Gregg backstage scared the living daylights out of me to the point that I can't watch that film now without getting chills. 

MissQuin 07 Oct 10 at 1:48 p.m. GMT

Ive seen The Hickson version of Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side before I'd even read the book. It's been quite a few years ago. But I did miss the very start. I did find it was really slow to get into. It did improve alot though. I think it's actually like the book, because that was quite slow in places.

The film version is really quite different. It's certianly louder and brasher. I did think that Angela Landsbury was like Jessica Fletcher in place of Miss Marple. She's more outgoing, with her mannerisms. When she quoted Lady Of Shallot, she did it in a dramatic way.

Whearas JH she did read it in a touching, thoughtful way. That was close to the story.

In the film version, I liked Elizabeth Taylor as the lead, she was arch then gushy, just like in the book. Her exchanges with lola Brewster, added more. Even though those ween't in the book, they were funny."There's just two things I hate about you Lola- your face!"

 Both endings were sad. I was particually moved by the film version. Overall I'd rate them the same. Both have their good points and their flaws. But for me the book is flawed to, so I think that both versions did an excellent job.

Pongo 07 Oct 10 at 6:19 a.m. GMT

SPOILERS FOR THE JOAN HICKSON ADAPTATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also want to put in a strong recommendation for the Joan Hickson adaptation. 

It is my understanding that this was the last film of Joan Hickson as Miss Marple.  And, I admit that there are some flaws to the film (such as, for example, the lighting is sometimes very unflattering to Joan Hickson, and I am in the "how did Inspector Craddock become related to Miss Marple when he wasn't in A Murder is Announced?" camp). 

But, the adaptation streamlines the novel in a very economical and effective way (for example, the Giuseppe story line is almost completely cut out). 

Also, there are some truly beautiful moments in the film.  For example, the scene where Miss Marple speaks to Jason Rudd at the end of the film.  Look at Joan Hickson's face, at the way she says that very important word "PERHAPS..."  It is a powerful moment, and it is in that very moment that we see the Nemesis Miss Marple (i.e. the avenging spirit of justice) transform into the Emphatic Miss Marple (when she says "You're right.  It was the only way..."). 

Then, there is the last moment of the film, where the camera lingers on Joan Hickson lovingly, as she quotes the final lines of "The Lady of Shalott".  I marvel at her delivery of the final part "God in His Mercy lend her grace / The Lady of Shalott."  Then, with a slight turn of her head, she asks "More tea, Vicar?".  This is Miss Marple perfectly chrystallized.  She is at once literaray proficient, her mind working at genius pace, and yet she is an old lady who has tea with the village vicar. 

Pongo 07 Oct 10 at 6:07 a.m. GMT

SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The posts on this thread are excellent.  Nothing but the highest quality on the AC boards!

I am on the fence with this book, fluctuating between liking it and not liking it.  For example, I love the sheer ferocity of the motive behind the murder, as well as the balance among AC's treatment of the themes of sadness and loss, old age, the changing landscape of "Old England", and the difficulties of communication. 

However, I find that the plot itself is somewhat easy to solve, and the book does tend to get "overcluttered" with one murder too many during the final 40 pages. 

My comment above notwithstanding, I think that this is the finest example of how a literary work alluded to makes the book even more powerful.  Specifically, AC was absolutely right on the nose with her allusion to "The Lady of Shalott" and the parallels drawn with another major character in this book. 

Also, I really admire how AC took what is in fact a gruesome and tragic backdrop to murder (a woman who wanted a child is devestated because it is born mentally handicapped, and the person who caused the handicap is a sweet, slightly dim lady).  It is disturbing because a character is the subject of hatred and she does not even realize it.  And yet, AC manages to tastefully dress the story with care, by making the tragedy of the loss as almost an inference rather than making it in your face. 

Mr_Graves 07 Aug 10 at 5:54 a.m. GMT

Dale_Clare

I was absolutly happily astonished when i read the mirror Crak'd from side to side and even more happier when i saw the joan hickson Tv version of it she really knew how to play miss marple. however my all time favorite movie adaptation was angela lansbury.I dont know any other person of my age who likes the AC books especialy the MM stories I supose not may sixteen year olds care much for litrature.  

I do!!! Ever since my sister actually allowed me to watch a complete Marple episode without channel flicking, I have fallen in love with AC and her mysteries. I particularly enjoyed the brilliant Joan Hickson when she did TMCFSTS, which is a terrific story. It was a good thing she never mentioned German Measles earlier on in the story, like she was originally going to.

xrysoula 30 Jun 10 at 1:35 p.m. GMT

True.Perhaps I should make myself more clear.What bothered me the most in this story is that, unlike most others, it has no psychological basis whatsoever.Take it from the start:A very wealthy and succesful woman longs to have a child, but is having difficulty in getting pregnant.She adopts, yet finds the role of the adopted mother not quite as fulfilling.Finally,she does get pregnant, and, being aware of that, what does she do?Instead of staying at home and hiring all kinds of doctors to help her make her dream come true,she continues to travel around the world to promote her career!Isn 't there a contradiction?

Lone_Wolf 30 Jun 10 at 12:29 a.m. GMT

Though I agree with the book being not so good, I liked the main moral of the story - about benign careless thoughtlessness being capable of doing as much harm as active malevolence.

xrysoula 30 Jun 10 at 12:15 a.m. GMT

Well, I don't know about that.Personally, I might have reacted even worse, choosing a more painful death for her!

Anyway, this one was my least favorite of MM stories.The plot was thin for the most of it, many of the characters were left meaningless and unsupported by the writer, acting uncomprehensively.In the whole, it felt tired and foolish, if I may say so.

P_Lombard 24 Jun 10 at 7:08 p.m. GMT

Of the Miss Marple books I've read, here is the order I would put them in:

1. Nemesis
2. 4:50 From Paddington
3. A Caribbean Mystery
4. The Murder at the Vicarage
5. A Murder is Announced
6. A Pocket Full of Rye
7. The Mirror Crack'd
8. The Body in the Library
9. At Bertram's Hotel

I really enjoyed The Mirror Crack'd, especially any part with Miss Knight, but all the other Miss Marple books are so good that it is ranked lower in comparison. Even though I enjoyed the interactions between Miss Marple & Miss Knight, at the end of the book, I was glad Miss Knight would no longer be there, allowing poor Miss Marple to languish.

i_heart_mysteries 17 Jun 10 at 1:22 a.m. GMT

Here's mine:

Excellent: The Body in the Library, The Moving Finger, The Mirror Crack'd, A Murder is Announced

Simply O.K.: At Bertram's Hotel, They Do it With Mirrors

Not so good: A Pocket Full of Rye

I haven't read sleeping murder yet- but maybe I will this summer.

Mr_west 14 Jun 10 at 5:50 p.m. GMT

here is my:

A- sleeping murder, a murder is announced, the mirror cracke'd, 4.50 from paddington.

B- a carribean mystery, the body in the library. 

C- they do it with mirrors

i am still need to read the others, i am searching for all miss marple books.

MissQuin 14 Jun 10 at 4:43 p.m. GMT

yes, I know Sleeping murder was writen 1940's. But because it's listed as the "final" full length Marple, Bella 39 might believe it to be later one, thus not so good.

If I seperated the marples into my good and o, and not so good list it would be:

Excellent- The Murder At The Vicarage, The Thirteen Problems, The body in the Library, The Moving Finger, A Murder is announced, 4.50 from Paddington, Nemesis, Sleeping Murder, Marple's Final cases.

Ok- meaning readable, maybe dull in parts, not as gripping or interesting.- They do it with mirrors, The mirror crack'd, At Bertams Hotel

Didn't enjoy much-A pocket full of rye, A Carribean Mystery.

Although I wouldn't say that Rye was badly writen or aimless. I simply dilsiked the characters so much I didn't care which of them did the murder. But you can see that the all the earliset books are in my excellent list.

So your lists Marple fans?

Mr_west 14 Jun 10 at 4:30 p.m. GMT

i think that AC later works were good, the first book i read by AC was "the mirror cracke'd from side to side" it wasn't one of her most fantastic book but it wasn't that bad! by the way missquin sleeping murder was written in the 40' so it is not one of her late work.

 AC wrote good books in her last years too, she havn't lose her writing skill she just wrote books alittle diffrent.

MissQuin 14 Jun 10 at 3:27 p.m. GMT

b_ella_39

I don't think I will read the later marples if i can avoid it.

I hope your not put off the later marple's because I actually consider Seleping Murder, the final Miss Marple, the very best in the series. It's a very clever, moving plot. Miss Marple's an old lady on a misson to catch a killer, no ramblings or aimlessness. I also think nemesis is very good, although not everyone thinks so.

Years ago I read a few of some of AC's later (after 1950) books. I didn't enjoy them as much, so I didn't read anymore of the late years. But years later I'd finnished most of the others so I revisited them. The Pale Horse, Third Girl, Ordeal by Innocene are excellent books, which proves AC wasn't past her prime.

christie_greece 13 Jun 10 at 3:27 p.m. GMT

In this book, Miss Marple looks is presented so old. I mean, in other books she is ready to go. Here she looks like she forget things and you think "Oh, this time she won't make it". But she proves this theory wrong and solves the mystery! Wonderful!

b_ella_39 07 Jun 10 at 6:39 a.m. GMT

this book contained none of the magic that previous marples had for me. i did not warm to the new impatient, aged miss marple and found it difficult to imagine her as the same fully old woman who i had first warmed to as a child, while my mother watched a murder mystry on tv.

I don't think I will read the later marples if i can avoid it.

i_heart_mysteries 05 Jun 10 at 12:28 a.m. GMT

I really liked the newer film adaption with Lindsay Duncan, although I would have liked to see Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple.

I thought this novel was different from her other works. Did you know that Agatha Christie based Marina Gregg's tragedy on the famous actress Gene Tierney? Although Tierney, when she came face to face with the woman who was responsible for her mentally ill and deaf child, simply walked away (instead of murdering the woman).

Mr_west 28 May 10 at 10:37 p.m. GMT

i think that the story is alittle aimless but still there is also good part.

some of the characters are very convincing and you can identified with them others are boring and annoying. i love the solution because of his  simplicity.

MissQuin 24 May 10 at 2:57 p.m. GMT

I think you summed the novel up very well Cameron. There are good parts and some interesting characters. But sadly some characters arent developed futher, or given more to do. Some of the story feels quite aimless.

I hope the McKenzie version is good, becasue I do like julia. But sadly I don't think any of the adapts so far, have given her the ability to really show how good she is. I live in the UK, so I'll have to wait years for TMC to be shown.

cameronjhw 24 May 10 at 2:40 p.m. GMT

I thought this novel was an interesting one to read because of the change and timeperiod of the 1960s. There were some slow parts to the novel like when it talked about Miss Knight (who I thought to be annoying) Cherry Baker and her husband Jim. I got into the novel when it came to the scene at Gossington Hall and the fete. I thought Marina Gregg a very complex character. I did feel sorry for her though. She had a very unhappy life several marriages and divorces, addicted to drugs, adopted a few kids and then got rid of them and she actually had one of her own but was mentally retarded due to (Heather Badcock's german measles) which led her to do what she did to her. Some characters I could not understand like Hailey Preston the novel does not really go into much info about him. I feel equally sorry for Jason Rudd because he was trying to protect her, keep her happy and when Marina already killed three people he had to do something. I saw the film version with Angela Lansbury and it was good and stuck to most parts of the novel also I like the other stars Elizabeth Taylor, Tony Curtis, Kim Novak and Rock Hudson. Last night on PBS I saw the Julia Mckenzie version with Joanna Lumley as Dolly Bantry and Lindsay Duncan as Marina. A very interesting version because of the sets and some actors. One thing I noticed about both versions was it did not feature Heather's husband Arthur. Except for some dull parts of the novel and not too much character analysis it is a good book. I like the ending I did not suspect Marina nor why she did it. But it was sad that she does die in the end.

go_leafs_nation 04 Mar 10 at 11:23 a.m. GMT

Heather began blabbing about how she snuck out, although she was sick, years and years ago to see her because se's her absolute #1 fan!

ampman 04 Mar 10 at 7:10 a.m. GMT

This is a stupid question but I woke up in the night wondering how Marina knew it was Heather who had given her German Measles all those years ago. Must stop eating cheese at night.

MissQuin 08 Feb 10 at 3:28 p.m. GMT

I suppose Miss Marple wandering was around outside to avoid putting up with her "carer"! But I just kept wondering if the people she was speaking to were going to have any effect of the plot-which they didnt. It seemed a bit aimless and did slow the pace down with bits that seemed to me slightly rambling.

On the other hand Nemesis and Sleeping murder are among my favourite ever Marples and the slower pace works there. That way we get to learn more in depth about the characaters.

16178 03 Feb 10 at 3:32 a.m. GMT

Miss Quin I agreed with you about loving the Christie´s novels that refer to some poem or song, but I have to disagree about the not needing sideplots, those are the ones that help us realize how this character (Miss Marple) really is. She can tell a lot from just the way someone acts!! I believe they are necessary!

floraberastury 01 Feb 10 at 6:19 p.m. GMT

yeah! she has to travel! she is an old lady and has Raymond to take care of her and pay her some vacations! its great how she finds similarities and thats how she resolves the problems!! i would love to have her as an aunt or a grandma! my own grandma is somehow like her, and she also lives in a small town and is really smart. besides, when she travels is when she realizes that human kind is the same every where as she says, and also gets to know new and kind people! love her!

MissQuin 01 Feb 10 at 3:56 p.m. GMT

I actually saw the Joan Hickson version before I had read the book. When I watched it, I wasnt sure of who the murderer was. I do love the title. I love all the Christie titles that refer to poems.

There are some odd sideplots which I don think really seem to be needed.  Like Miss Marple wandering near the housing estate and giving advice to young people.

HeiseiHolmes 08 Jan 10 at 4:27 p.m. GMT

This is one of my favourite books, where I actually figured out the killer~

I'm so proud of myself.

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Jan 10 at 3:12 p.m. GMT

Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest Angela Landesbury's portrayal was better than Joan Hickson's as I prefer Joan Hickson's

Attica76 04 Jan 10 at 5:14 p.m. GMT

Well, it's a matter of personal preference, of course. I just thought that Lansbury was too energetic and looked too nosy, while Hickson inquires about things in a more subtle way, I think. 

go_leafs_nation 04 Jan 10 at 5:12 p.m. GMT

The version was not too great, really feeling 80s-ish, with a lot of really dumb sexual lines, and Miss Marple sitting down to smoke a cigarette...

Tommy_A_Jones 04 Jan 10 at 4:38 p.m. GMT

I might be mistaken but ACs Miss Marple is nearer in height to Angela Landesbury, I do like the film which hass a Great Beginning, I thought Angela Landesbury was far from mis-cast but as has been said before perhaps too young.

Attica76 04 Jan 10 at 4:32 p.m. GMT

I watched the film version with Angela Lansbury, who I think is miscast as Miss Marple, but the rest of the film was good, although a big "glamourized" a la Hollywood. Elizabeth Taylor was great and there was funny rivalry between hers and Kim Novak's character.

go_leafs_nation 04 Jan 10 at 1:02 p.m. GMT

The changing times serve as a melancholic, yet very effective, backdrop. Of course, MM is a fictional character, but one can't help wondering if AC was expressing her own thoughts on changing times through her character's thoughts...

Attica76 04 Jan 10 at 12:57 p.m. GMT

The fact that changes took place in the village over time seemed poignant to me, but the good thing was that MM kept her crime-solving ability, even if she'd lost some of her physical strength. And Mrs Bantry lived comfortably too, although she had to sell her old house.

I find it funny that this book contains characters named Allcock, Badcock and Laycock. I wonder if it was intended as a kind of joke or just a coincidence. 

Puffinjill 06 Dec 09 at 7:20 p.m. GMT

Thank you, my dear friend! Nice to know I occasionally make sense!

(By the way, hope you are well, haven't seen you around for a while.)

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Dec 09 at 4:21 p.m. GMT

Very Well Put Puffin

GKCfan 25 Nov 09 at 8:40 p.m. GMT

At the start of Nemesis there's an interesting coda to the story of Miss Knight.  Miss Marple thinks about her old caretaker– NOT with affection, but mistakenly thinks of her as "Miss Bishop," a chess-related mix-up.  At first the reader fears for the state of Miss Marple's memory, but after the events of the novel unfold, we realize that her mind is as sharp as ever.  

This is a recurring theme for both Poirot and Marple: younger people assume that since they are older, their minds have dulled.  Remember Miss Marple's dictum in Murder at the Vicarage: "The young people think the old people are fools, but the old people KNOW the young people are fools!"

Puffinjill 25 Nov 09 at 6:50 p.m. GMT

I think that's a fair point. Miss Knight is portrayed in a comic light and she IS there to be annoying but there is a more serious message behind the character. She is brisk and efficient and probably good at her job but takes absolutely NO consideration of the individual she is tending. Miss Marple is old, therefore Miss Knight simply lumps her together with all others of similar age and treats them all as if they are half-witted.

To us, and to Miss M, it seems overbearing and thoughtless. We can sympathise with Miss Marple for having such a ghastly woman in her house and enjoy their scenes, knowing (if we know our dear Miss M at all) that Miss Marple will find a way of ending their time together.

But many people find themselves 'cared' for by those with similar views on the old or disabled. They see them all alike and not as the individuals they are. So whilst Miss Knight affords US much entertainment and we can cheerfully dislike her, AC was showing us she was aware of the shortsightedness of such people. And, as Tommy rightly says, time hasn't nessecarily changed this.

Tommy_A_Jones 25 Nov 09 at 3:28 p.m. GMT

Yes go_leafs I realise that but I would have quite Happily taken a Hatchett to her and it also shows how clueless Carers can be so Miss Knight illustrates how we haven't really mmoved on just the years have.

go_leafs_nation 24 Nov 09 at 4:56 p.m. GMT

I loved Miss Knight in it. Her attitude towards MM is MEANT to be annoying; we get to share some of MM's frustration at being treated like "the dotty old dear, bless her!", when, as events soon prove, she is nothing of the kind.

Tommy_A_Jones 24 Nov 09 at 4:38 p.m. GMT

I couldn't stand Miss Knight, I sofar haven't found her in other books anb=d I hope she isn't in other books, I am so glad Cherry went to live with Miss Marple, The trouble with Adaptations of the book they have had do much of Marina Gregg being on the Film Set which have made for less than Interesting Adaptations IMHO. I wish we had found out in the book what happened to all her Adopteed Children

Lone_Wolf 24 Nov 09 at 2:48 p.m. GMT

Unmpressed with the plotting here. It's just another "X is murdered. Everyone thinks that it was Y, not X, who was meant to be murdered, but it turns out in the end that it was Y who murdered X". It was already done with "Peril at End House". While in "The mirror cracked" the theme is developed a bit more nicely, it's still the same theme. I guessed the murderer by reading the summary at the back cover.

That book also suffers from too much meandering around.

Miss Knight was suitably annoying in a funny way, though. And, sadly, careless people like the victim in the book are ofte reponsible for many tragedies.

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Nov 09 at 1:53 p.m. GMT

I don't know how old you are Dale and wouldn't dream of asking as Dale can be a Female's Name in some parts of the world but I agree with you about the book even though I saw the Brilliant Joan Hickson Version first as it wasn't totally true to the book so the BBC very generously let us experience something else when reading the book (I mean that with affection to the Joan Hickson Adaptation) although the Angela Landesbury version isn't my favourite Adaptation of an Agatha Christie book - for me that is either the Peter Ustinov version of Evil Under The Sun or the David Suchet versiion of the same book or the David Suchet versions of either ABC Murders or After The Funeral but the Angela Landesbury version is in my top 10 and most probably in my top 5, I just love the opening sequence in the Village Hall and I think as I said somewhere on a blog if the writers want to meddle withj the Miss Marple series enlarge on the idea in the beginning of the Angela Landesbury film. Are youy a Murder She Wrote Fan Dale? I love it, I can see alot of Agathaha Christie's influnence in some if not alot of the Episodes. Sorry I was going off-opic there, I would love to enlarge on what I mean but maybe not here is the best place.

Dale_Clare 05 Nov 09 at 11:40 a.m. GMT

I was absolutly happily astonished when i read the mirror Crak'd from side to side and even more happier when i saw the joan hickson Tv version of it she really knew how to play miss marple. however my all time favorite movie adaptation was angela lansbury.I dont know any other person of my age who likes the AC books especialy the MM stories I supose not may sixteen year olds care much for litrature.  

Read more about this story: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side

Tommy_A_Jones 27 Sep 09 at 2:23 p.m. GMT

Puffinjill I thought bI had said that it does matter where it is set, also it isn't just people of a certain age that like MM books, I don't consider mysaelf of 'A Certain Age' for 20 years at least and I read my first AC book at least 20 Years ago.

Puffinjill 26 Sep 09 at 1:05 p.m. GMT

Thanks for the 'certain age' bit!!!

ampman 26 Sep 09 at 10:32 a.m. GMT

Yes Puffinjill, I think that is why peole of a certain age like myself love the MM books because it seems to recall a golden age of village life. However when I think back without my rose coloured specs, we were all very poor as our fathers were on agricultural wages, the houses were cold, dark and poky. Thatch is not all it is cracked up to be. I remember ladies like MM who lived on independant means who were living in gentile frugality who didn't have kind nephews like Raymond to bail them out and suffered real hardship.

Puffinjill 25 Sep 09 at 6:26 p.m. GMT

I know what you mean! What a shame!

At least we can escape to our idea of the perfect village with our reading. Nostalgia all the way...

ampman 25 Sep 09 at 5:46 a.m. GMT

If St Mary Mead was anything like the village I was brought up in and Miss Marple came back today she would find the village shop closed, the church part of a team ministry consisting of 5 other villages (Services at St Mary Mead every 3rd Sunday morning or 4th Sunday night unless there is an R in the month). Dr Haydock would be replaced by a group practice two villages away. Gossington Hall now owned by a footballer. As for Inch the taxi driver, he is just a distant memory although if you don't own a 4x4 the community bus from the next village will take you to town for 2 hours on Tuesdays. Finally, Miss Marples' house is now a weekend cottage for a couple from Notting Hill.

Puffinjill 24 Sep 09 at 4:57 p.m. GMT

The setting does matter, Tommy, especially the way the changes of the village mirror the social changes of the time. It's just that I never think of it in terms of its village setting, due to the fact that the majority of those concerned in the story are from quite a different lifestyle altogether.

I technically live in a village but we are swamped by having a huge Outlet Shopping Centre here too. What Miss Marple would of made of one of these in her beloved St Mary Mead, we shall never know.

Tommy_A_Jones 24 Sep 09 at 2:50 p.m. GMT

I think of it in terms of the Village setting, Dolly Bantry comes home to the Village where her old friend Miss Marple lives and although she moved to the Lodge the Lodge is in the Grounds of Gossington Hall where a body was found, also I have lived in a Village since I was 3 and like in St Mary Mead there have been houses being built and the look has changed alot. I think it does matter where it is set. 

Puffinjill 23 Sep 09 at 12:29 p.m. GMT

The Mirror Cracked might be set in St Mary Mead, but I never think of it in terms of its village setting. The story mostly revolves around people from, literally, another world - a rich and famous actress and her entourage - who just happen to have chosen to live at Gossington Hall. I know the first victim IS a resident of the village but she, too, has recently moved to the development. What I'm trying to say (I think) is that this novel could have been set anywhere. The changes in and around St Mary Mead means it has lost it previous identity and cohesion.

But human nature is human nature and if there is a human tragedy or story to be told, Miss Marple wouldn't be out of place no matter where it was set.

Tommy_A_Jones 22 Sep 09 at 2:53 p.m. GMT

Miss Marple took her knowledge of life in a Village and let others have the benefit of her expeience in other places like London and the Carribean which and the places other than Villages seemed appropriate to me, I too am glad AC never kiolled MM or T&T of, she had to wilt Curtain because that is the way the Book had to go, I can't understand the need for Characters like Morse to be killed of, MM and T&T didn't have to die so they didn't, I haven't read all the Poirot's but have read Curtain, perhaps that is the secret of keeping him alive in your mind.

ampman 22 Sep 09 at 5:54 a.m. GMT

I prefer to keep Miss Marple in a village because that is where she is at her most knowledgable. I agree that she should stay the same age ansd not show signs of aging and I am etenally glad that AC did not kill her off because I don't think I could stand it. I only read 'Poirot's end once and I don't think I want to again. Silly but true.

shaunabbkevrye 21 Sep 09 at 8:05 p.m. GMT

It stands to reason that she would travel.  Especially to a warmer climate.  That dear nephew Raymond would never let her sit at home with reumatism when he could send her to winter in a warmer climate.

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Sep 09 at 3:37 p.m. GMT

I think it is sad that Miss Marple ages so considerably in this book, I like to think that time is irrelevent in Cristie Land, It is a shame that in this book Miss Marple is so frail but I still loved the book.