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Which Marple is the best?

BrigidM 10 Feb 12 at 4:42 p.m. GMT

Hey guys! I have finished my second Miss Marple and I wondered what you think is the best Miss Marple?

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17 replies

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Saulisa 06 May 12 at 9 a.m. GMT

John Hamilton,

Lol, goes to show how different everyone's tastes are. I think Nemesis is the worst Marple -- even worse than They Do It With Mirrors.

Funny, my favorite is Murder At the Vicarage, followed by The Moving Finger, but I do see the point some people are making about there not being enough of her (then again, there's never enough Marple!) and how others could've solved the mystery. Still, they are two of my favorite Christie's. I absolutely adore how she depicts village church life. Could a murder mystery today get away with so much parish-life background?

Tommy,

I 100% agree that Marple should've been in Murder Is Easy. In fact, I just re-read it. It had been a very long time since I had originally read it, and I kept expecting Aunt Jane to show up!

As to cinematic Marples, I have yet to find one that nails her anything remotely close to how Suchet nails Poirot (or Brett nails Holmes). But then, I haven't seen the newest Marple or Helen Hayes (whom I have high hopes for). Honestly, I'm getting so frustrated that I'm considering spending the next 10 years studying and practicing the correct accent -- then this Yankee Gal just might head over to England and demand to be put in the role so that someone will play Marple as she deserves, lol!

Tommy_A_Jones 04 Mar 12 at 2:49 p.m. GMT

I agree with your comments regarding The Thirteen Problems, Murder At The Vicarage could have been solved by The Rev Clement and Dr Haydock together and The Moving Finger could have been solved by Jerry and The Detective together, I am glad she was in The Murder At The Vicarage but she shouldn't have been in The Moving Finger, perhaps her talents should have been put to better use in Murder is Easy just like Poirot shgould have been Dropped from The Clocks and put in Ordeal By Innocense but still keeping Calgary IMHO

Bunch_Marple 04 Mar 12 at 11:22 a.m. GMT

I feel she didn't appear enough in either The Murder at the Vicarage or The Moving finger. I found something very gratifying about 13 Problems where this old lady everyone took little notice of time and again got the answer no other mind could conceive! And such a varies pack of stories too.

Tommy_A_Jones 04 Mar 12 at 10:30 a.m. GMT

I have always thought They Do It With Mirrors the weakest of the Miss Marple Books and the only 1 I wouldn't mind not reading again but I like The Policeman and of course it has Miss Marple both Characters save it IMHO

mstj 03 Mar 12 at 11:46 p.m. GMT

Tommy I agree with you that A Murder is Announced is excellent but I like They Do It With Mirrors as well.

treplag 23 Feb 12 at 2:19 p.m. GMT

By "aggregate" I meant the sum total of all users, instead of an individual user.  However, what you say is correct.

Tommy_A_Jones 23 Feb 12 at 11:27 a.m. GMT

As I remewmber there is a button you can press if you don't mind others seeing your details so you could see the agregate of the scores for users who don't mind you seeing their Details

treplag 22 Feb 12 at 6:21 p.m. GMT

Tommy - That is a good suggestion.  However, my idea was that users could see what the aggregate of readers thought about a particular book.  If I understand you, your method would only allow them to see what a certain user thought.  It would be a convenient way to submit the ratings, though, and then they could  be compiled by the computer into a comprehensive list.

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Feb 12 at 2:36 p.m. GMT

Perhaps in the section where you can Tick which ones you have read Users should also be able to mark them out of 10, and others could see what they put for eacch Novel or Collection of short stories, It would only mean one of those Drop down thingys for each Book/Collection.

treplag 16 Feb 12 at 11:49 p.m. GMT

john_c_hamilton - Thank you for providing the address.  That is the one I used.  At least now I have put the idea out there for others to follow up on if they are interested.

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Feb 12 at 2:06 p.m. GMT

mstj The Thirteen Problems should be judged against other MM short story Collections, How can anyone find A Murder Is Announced Dull? It is Excellent, They Do It With Mirrors is Dull but some may like it.

john_c_hamilton 15 Feb 12 at 11:06 a.m. GMT

treplag,

You can try this address if this is not the one you have already tried;  literaryestates@chorion.co.uk. 

I have been in contact with them regarding the house from Sleeping Murder in the itv series - that I have fallen in love with. I wish I hadn't though, since after a year and a half's search, the house proved itself to be a phoney, not being in the exact location that the film suggests, hence not having that magnificent view...

john_c_hamilton 15 Feb 12 at 11 a.m. GMT

Nemesis I would say.

mstj 12 Feb 12 at 8:19 a.m. GMT

I agree with Treplag, although I think that every book is different for everyone.  The ABC Murders is widely praised for its solution, yet I found it very dull.          My favourite Marple is the Thirteen Problems.

treplag 11 Feb 12 at 5:20 p.m. GMT

This question points up what I consider a deficiency in the website.  There should be a listing of all the novels and short story collections with a rating of each by the users.  I have read all the books, but when I started them, that would have been helpful to me.  I wrote to Chorion with this suggestion, but I never received a reply.

landronicus 11 Feb 12 at 3:02 p.m. GMT

A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED

Tommy_A_Jones 11 Feb 12 at 11:09 a.m. GMT

Best Actress Joan Hickson by a Country mile, best Book A Murder Is Announced or 4.50 From Paddington or Sleeping Murder.