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 Murder at the Vicarage

Jemma 05 Aug 09 at 2:37 p.m. GMT

The first Miss Marple novel is fascinating for its portrayal of more than just village life.  Against the backdrop of a sleepy village, the most horrific crime takes place.  Is this the perfect setting for the character of Miss Marple?

Indeed is her character consistent throughout the book?  At the beginning she is “a nasty old cat” but by the end she is described as “rather a dear”.  So who is she really?

Did Christie use The Murder at the Vicarage as a vehicle to contrast the past with an ever-changing society?  Village life is often seen as backward but Dr Haydock expresses the modern, liberal thought – that a criminals actions may be due to mental imbalance rather than a conscious wish to do wrong.

Is there more to this novel then simple village gossip?

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42 replies

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darkelinor 08 Jan 12 at 11:23 p.m. GMT

Just finished re-reading TMATV, and I have a two-part question: Why was Griselda seen leaving Mr. Redding's cottage by the window (in other words, what was she doing there?)  and who wrote the note telling the Vicar about it (the one that was dropped into his mailbox)? Thanks in advance!

ErkutSoyer 16 Aug 11 at 7:52 p.m. GMT

My first Marple novel has ended.And I like it.Its mark is 9/10.Almost I estimate the murderer.But Marple solve the murder.I like she.She is very sweet I advise this book everybody.

LuvAgathaChristie26 17 May 11 at 3:05 a.m. GMT

I've seen the movie and I just had to read the book. I dont' know which is better. Is this the first Miss Marple or is that Tuesday Club Murders (which I have also read and The Blue Geranium is my favorite)?

Twinkletoes822 02 May 11 at 1:47 a.m. GMT

Reading this now.  I've seen the BBC adaptation with Joan Hickson so I know the story, but don't think I've ever read the book.  Miss Marple is definitely my favorite of the Christie detectives.  My grandfather was a big Christie fan, and he liked he Poirots.  He's really the one responsible for introducting me to Dame Agatha, when I inherited his library upon his death.  I wish I'd been interested at the time, when he was still alive, so we could have enjoyed them together, but it's nice to find this site to chat with other fans.  I don't know a single person in 'real life' who reads Agatha Christie, if you can believe it! 

stylestocurtain 10 Apr 11 at 9:40 p.m. GMT

mlltll924

Interesting connections.  To me, J.K. Rowling has a lot of links/references to many things throughout her writing that I have discovered.  Maybe they are intentional or maybe they were done unconsciously but I wouldn't say it is totally impossible that she purposely wrote them.

You know, it's funny you should say that but I was thinking how alike JK Rowling and Agatha Christie's works are. The Harry Potter series is essentially one big mystery to solve, split into smaller mysteries for each book - tracking down a "killer" if you will, and following clues, not unlike The Secret Adversary. A lot of Rowling's books are to do with flashbacks too.

I shouldn't wonder that Rowling did take her inspiration from Christie. Harry Potter is kind of a Whodunnit-Thriller after all?

Mr_Graves 09 Apr 11 at 11:33 p.m. GMT

I think both AC and JK Rowling have an easy to read, subtly humorous style, so in that respect they are similar. Also there is always some kind of mystery involved with JK Rowling; in all of the Harry Potter books, although not supposed to be mysteries, all have that sense about them.

I've just finished "The Murder at the Vicarage" and despite a complex plot she has held up well with dear Miss Marple taking centre stage. This probably has not endured as much as other Agatha Christies, but I loved the setting and the atmosphere. The atmosphere particularly they captured well in the most recent adaptation.

mlltll924 30 Dec 10 at 10:20 p.m. GMT

Interesting connections.  To me, J.K. Rowling has a lot of links/references to many things throughout her writing that I have discovered.  Maybe they are intentional or maybe they were done unconsciously but I wouldn't say it is totally impossible that she purposely wrote them.

Pomodoro 30 Dec 10 at 8:20 p.m. GMT

Do any of you think that J.K. Rowling may have been inspired by this book when writing Harry Potter (especially book 5).  What really stuck out to me, but might be coincidence was a disliked character with the surname Lestrange (although Rowling's is actually evil) and Lettice Protheroe who seems to share many character traits with Luna Lovegood.

MissQuin 26 Sep 10 at 9:13 a.m. GMT

Yes, that's a good choice Emily!

emilytrefusis 25 Sep 10 at 9:17 a.m. GMT

Mrs Leidner is a Scandinavian looking beauty. I don't think A Jolie looks very Scandinavian. Gwyneth Paltrow perhaps?

MissQuin 11 Aug 10 at 11:28 a.m. GMT

So inamoured of hunky male actors, Bundle and I started a post for them! Keeps it away from the books topic. Your welcome to join in.

http://www.agathachristie.com/forum/have-your-say/miscellaneous/fave-actors/

Ive not seen Gosford Park so I can't say. I also liked James Franco in Tristan + Isode. I didn't like the film much, but James was just heavenly!

I think Louise would be beautiful, but in a more ethereal way, more subtle than Jolie.

xrysoula 10 Aug 10 at 9:43 p.m. GMT

Me neither, I just said it so as not to bore male fans.But I do think that Jolie would make a good Luise Lyndner-mean and beautiful.

How about Clive Owen?He fitted in just fine in "Gosford Park",which was very much like an AC movie.

MissQuin 10 Aug 10 at 11:20 a.m. GMT

Who would she play? The victim? I wouldn't have thought so.

In fact I always picture what actors I'd like in Chrisite. I never think about the actresses much!

List so far for AC nominees Matt Smith, Steve John Shepherd, Olivier Martinez. Any more?

xrysoula 09 Aug 10 at 10:24 p.m. GMT

I was thinking the same when I mentioned him!If you feel like it, check him out in the film "Unfaithful", with Diane Lane-then you will really know what I 'm talking about!

As for the rest, how about Anjelina Jolie in "Murder in Mesopotamia"?

MissQuin 09 Aug 10 at 8:47 p.m. GMT

Even the Joan Hickson adapts have some really good looking actors! (Caribean mystery and 4.50 from Paddington)

 If the plot revolves someone comitting a crime because of their infatuation with an attractive man, then they should be played by a suitable actor. Even an actor with tons of charisma can be attactive. But sadly the one in JH MATV didn't do it for me. I mean, someone can't help not being really good looking. But the casting should check.

Just googled Olivier Martinez, very nice! Great taste. I can see lot's of characters I'd like him to play in Christie.

Before any hetrosexual men tire of this topic, there are some AC crimes commited because of a man's infactuation with a beautiful woman!

xrysoula 09 Aug 10 at 10:58 a.m. GMT

I 'm with you on that, MissQuin! Dating an attractive man is like gambling-one should know when to stop, otherwise noone knows how you 'll end up. Too bad those adapts always have such poor and unresembling cast. I must admit that the perfect Lawrence for me would be Olivier Martinez-in that case, would there be ANY woman not to acquit Anna Prothero?

MissQuin 09 Aug 10 at 10:22 a.m. GMT

Well Ive not fell from grace! But attractive men, well... it's hard to resist them.

Puffinjill 09 Aug 10 at 8:27 a.m. GMT

I've not seen the McEwan version but do have the BBC JH version on DVD. I have to say that James Hazeldine wasn't quite my idea of Lawrence Redding (not quite rugged or attractive enough but that's a purely personal view!)but it was still a superior adaptation. Attractive men proving to be many a woman's downfall? Speaking from experience, MissQuin?!.....

MissQuin 08 Aug 10 at 10:25 a.m. GMT

I picture Lawrence as really really good looking. It says so in the book. The actor in the Marple (Mc Ewan) was more attractive, but not how I pictured him. As we know in the story he's dark haired and Irish looking. There's quite a few books where a attractive man is a woman's downfall!

Yunakitty 08 Aug 10 at 12:32 a.m. GMT

Oooh, that's a shame.  I've never seen the adaptation of this, nor any Miss Marple actually (I have been nagging my husband to find some for me though) but I always visualize the scenery and characters, and I've always pictured Lawrence as someone devastatingly attractive and charming.  Someone a lovesick woman would kill for.  Like, oh, Jude Law or something.

MissQuin 07 Apr 10 at 5:18 p.m. GMT

Yes, both are good adapts. Murder at the Vicarage with Hickson, was very slow starting. But the McEwan version's pretty good too, except for a didn't like Lawerence much in either adapt. He had no attraction for me in the Hickson verison, not much in the McEwan.

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Apr 10 at 4:58 p.m. GMT

 I think Both ITV and BBC should have done the Adaptation with the Vicar Narrating like in the book but I liked both Adaptations.

MissQuin 07 Apr 10 at 4:28 p.m. GMT

I think there's a very brief mention of him on the last page. It mentions he had many aliases, which suggests he might have been caught by the police.

sureshot2heaven 24 Feb 10 at 10:31 p.m. GMT

What ever happened with the Charlotan Archaeologist? They say how he stole all those things but does he just get away? If they said in the book I must have surpassed it on accident.

Oh and I liked how they had completely ruled out Mrs. Potheroe and Mr. Redding, and didn't second guess it. But Ms. Marple knew what happened as if she watched it in a movie. Shes good!

MissQuin 19 Feb 10 at 9:19 p.m. GMT

Cooking is a perilous business for me with flying mugs and pototo mashers. But somehow I carry on as usual.   Theres a mix of good and bad servants in Chrisites. There the loyal, excellent ones. Then the greedy, blackmailing or useless ones.

HeiseiHolmes 19 Feb 10 at 5:21 p.m. GMT

I like cooking but I'd get a maid to do all the other stuff- unless she was like Mary from this book. Perhaps I should try to be less Eisuke and more Ran... again another enigmatic reference to Detective Conan. I don't know why I keep doing that. I've always wanted a balcony, they look so cool to me.

MissQuin 19 Feb 10 at 5:06 p.m. GMT

You and me could be described as a couple of mugs! I'm only joking.. well I might be a mug. I also had a simular problem with a pototo masher falling off it's holder. Mug trees are safe when there on a work top, but not in cupboards or work benches. If only I was more graceful and elegent like one of Christie's herorines.. they don't have issues with mug trees. Apart from the fact I don't think they existed, they had maids to do all the work in the kitchen! How fabulous, yet I can still see myself falling over the balcony of Art deco penthouse or something equally life threatening.

HeiseiHolmes 19 Feb 10 at 4:59 p.m. GMT

I sawed my thumb slightly while making a mug tree... Maybe they're cursed? It was the teacher's fault. Everyone was happily working on their mug trees when suddenly he whacked his huge fist on the desk and hollered "Everyone STOP!" The school workshops all have a serious echo problem too, and I flinched and cut my thumb with the saw. It left a big mark for ages!

MissQuin 19 Feb 10 at 4:47 p.m. GMT

Oh, poor you. This is going to sound mad, but I injured myself making a cup of tea! I went to the cupboard and I had one of those mug trees inside.. well somehow the mug fell off and hit me on the head! I can laugh now, but at the time it hurt. I had no sympahy from anyone as they said "how can that be possible?" and made compassions to myself and Mr Bean..

I should call myself Miss Bean instead of Miss Quin but I would rather have the Mr Quin conncetion as he is mysterious and engimatic..

HeiseiHolmes 19 Feb 10 at 4:40 p.m. GMT

Oh, I would never do any of that. Honestly. Honestly! Stop making that look! Once, I slipped on a badly-placed Coke bottle that was at the top of a staircase and fell down all the way. It was in school, too. Everyone was staring at me... It was so embarrassing. I'm glad that the artist guy ditches her.

MissQuin 19 Feb 10 at 4:23 p.m. GMT

Ive had the most unbelievable accident's which I couldn't post here as no one would believe them!I'm clumsy myself but thats not why I dislike Lettice. It's that she seems to be leading Dennis on, she doesnt really care for mim. She interested in the artist instead. Then she plants her stepmother's earing and pretneds to be all innocent searching for her little yellow beret!

HeiseiHolmes 19 Feb 10 at 4:19 p.m. GMT

I'm like a clumsy younger male version of Lettice Protheroe. I lose things, fall over things, hit myself on the head with stuff as a complete accident, and once I fell over the same person twice in one day. (I don't think any of you know what I mean when I say I'm like Hondou Eisuke?) Has Frndorfoe ever come back? Just reading that post above made me feel so sad- and I never even knew that person...

MissQuin 19 Feb 10 at 4:13 p.m. GMT

Murder in the Vicarage- I saw the Hickson version before I read the book. I like the vicar narrated the story, he is as human as everyone else. His jealously towards his wife and nephew, his anger at Colonel Protheroe.

Only thing I didn't like was Lettice protheroe. Why she annoys me so much I don't know. But she could could have made a good suspect, but she's as limp as a wet lettuce.

Miss Marple feels different to the other Marple's. She feel more busy bodyish and slightly more robust. It's almost like it was a pilot episode where character's change can slightly.

GKCfan 18 Oct 09 at 8 p.m. GMT

Thank you for your kind words about me, Frndorfoe.  I hope that you decide to come back to the forum soon.

3rdGirl 15 Oct 09 at 10:37 a.m. GMT

NOOOOOOOO! Frndorfoe! I've been away and missed this! How sad that this forum has made you sad! Don't leave us forever. Maybe just take a little break and come back?? I personally don't get onto the discussions where some of the people are a bit cranky. I try to stick with you guys! Why don't you go and read your favourite AC whilst sipping on a nice cup of tea and forget about us for a few days. Then you'll HAVE to come back and chat to us about it! Sending you a *big hug*.

Tommy_A_Jones 10 Oct 09 at 4:39 p.m. GMT

Please don't go Frndorfoe, The last thing I ever wanted to doi was make you want to leave, I think everybody should feel entitled to express their opinion and I am sorry if I have made you come to this decission.

Puffinjill 09 Oct 09 at 7 p.m. GMT

I am sorry you feel this way and hope what you say isn't true.

Also, I really hope there was nothing in my original post on this tread that has caused you to make this decision. I'm feeling terribly sad.

Frndorfoe 09 Oct 09 at 7:09 a.m. GMT

I’m sorry. This will be my last post. Thank you for caring enough about me, you two. But recently I’ve been getting a certain negative energy from this forum and I want to surround myself with only positive energy. This negative energy is affecting my other works as well and I just don’t need that right now.

Bundle, you are one of the nicest and kindest persons I’ve ever met and I’ll really miss you. Don’t ever change. You and I disagreed about stuff but you were never pig headed about your own choices and never tried to make me like the same things. I consider you to be my friend and would have liked to have met you in person.

Some other members I’d like to mention are GKCFan and 3rdGirl.

GKC, thank you very much for being informative (without being preachy). Your posts were long but never rambling. You were always very helpful. I’d be forever grateful to you because without your help I never would have been able to read the new Capture of Cerberus. You always give the right information and set everyone on the right path without being all superior about it. You are a truly mature person. I’ll miss you.

3rdGirl, we had some really lively discussions and I always enjoyed your views. You are very sweet. I’ll miss you.

Puffinjill, I’ve not known you for a long time. But you seem like a nice person. Thank you very much for your concern.

Well, this is it. Goodbye and take care. May the good Lord bless you, my friends!

Puffinjill 08 Oct 09 at 6:18 p.m. GMT

Oh, please don't Frndorfoe! I can understand it must be difficult to find the time but it would be a shame to loose your point of view and opinions from this site. God, it's all I can do to squeeze a couple of minutes a day on here as I am bogged down with work and courses, but I so look forwards to these precious few minutes a day. It makes me feel part of something and that is important to me. So, please do try to keep logging on if you get a spare minute. (I should have left my house 10 minutes ago to go to a meeting, but I'm too engrossed so I will be late. AND I'm chairing it!!)

If you do feel lonely, then this site will always welcome you. I'm sure Bundle and many others would agree. Right, I'd better go..

Bundle_ 08 Oct 09 at 12:13 p.m. GMT

Frndorfoe

 I'm thinking I'll take a break from here.

:o(

No! I hope you don't decide to stop chatting on here, Frndorfoe. I've grown fond of our little AC group and I would hate to see anyone leave from here. I hope you change your mind and stay; your posts are always a joy to read! I don't mean to sound like a Pollyanna; it is genuinely how I feel.

Frndorfoe 08 Oct 09 at 8:28 a.m. GMT

Puffinjill

...was feeling lonely and out of my depth...and I so wished I was there and not hating every day in my world.

That is exactly how I feel these days. I'm thinking I'll take a break from here. Besides these days I'm really busy stalking up my library at LT and writing reviews for all the books I've read this year, reading a book with my online book group, writing up entries for a speculative fiction encyclopedia and add to that my school work and my social life, you'll see I've got too much on my plate already. I really should cut down on my book related activities anyway. BTW, nice analysis, puffinjill.

Puffinjill 08 Oct 09 at 6:50 a.m. GMT

Murder at the Vicarage was also the first Miss Marple I read and it had a big impact on me. Up until then, I had read some Tommy and Tuppence books and, many be, a couple of Poirots but I wouldn't have exactly called myself a fan.

This novel really gripped me. I had just left school, at a new college without my normal friends and was feeling lonely and out of my depth. This book was like an old friend - it immersed me in a comfortable world with beleivable characters and I so wished I was there and not hating every day in my world.

Miss Marple could not have been introduced in her first full novel in any better setting. It gives her a context and a history, even if we are not to know it. I think having the novel narrated from Mr Clements point of view adds to the story, He's very human for a vicar and, because he knows these people he is talking about, we feel we know them too.

As for the varying descriptions of Miss Marple, they are only one characters point of view. Mrs Clements refers to her as 'a cat' and I think she does that as she is relatively new to the area and lumps her in with her general opinion of the more elderly ladies in the village. After all, she is young and broader minded and, although part of her enjoys stirring these ladies up to gossip, part of her thinks it cruel and malicious. When she realises how intuative Miss Marple is and how she will keep her own counsel rather than spread words around the village she revises her view.   

Read more about this story: The Murder at the Vicarage