The Murder at the Vicarage

The Murder at the Vicarage (1930) Agatha Christie

‘I’m evidently not a housekeeper by nature. I find it better to leave things to Mary and just make up my mind to be uncomfortable and have nasty things to eat.’

Miss Marple is a white-haired old lady with a gentle, appealing manner – Miss Wetherby is a mixture of vinegar and gush. Of the two Miss Marple is much the more dangerous.

Miss Marple always sees everything. Gardening is as good as a smoke screen, and the habit of observing birds through powerful glasses can always be turned to account.

I explained that Hawes had been a victim of encephalitis lethargica.

‘Sleepy sickness, eh? Always some good reason nowadays for every dirty action that’s done. Don’t you agree?’

‘Science is teaching us a lot.’

‘Science be damned – I beg your pardon, Clement; but all this namby pambyism annoys me.

‘I was thinking,’ I said, ‘that when my time comes, I should be sorry if the only plea I had to offer was that of justice. Because it might mean that only justice would be meted out to me…’

Characters: Inspector Slack, Lawrence Redding, Leonard Clement, Griselda Clement, Colonel Protheroe, Anne Protheroe, Lettice Protheroe, Dr. Haydock, Mrs. LeStrange, Dr. Stone, Gladys Cram, Dennis Clement, Hawes, Raymond West, Sir Henry Clithering, Mary Hill, Colonel Melchett, Miss Marple

Rating: 8.5/10

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