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The Murder at the Vicarage
by
Agatha Christie
vintage mystery in a Kindle edition that was published by William Morrow Paperbacks on July 11, 2018 and has 227 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Secret Adversary, The Unexpected Guest, Partners in Crime, Three Blind Mice and Other Stories, The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories, Passenger to Frankfurt, "The Adventure of the Clapham Cook”, "The Million Dollar Bond Robbery", “The Submarine Plans”, “The Double Clue”
Introducing Miss Marple in this first of the Miss Marple vintage mystery series. The Murder at the Vicarage was first published October 1930.
My Take
Having read Miss Marple stories for years, this was the first time that I’ve read the first in the series. And it was an odd feeling, as the story is told in first person protagonist point-of-view from the reverend’s perspective.
Dennis does provide for some “light” moments when he remembers (and repeats) things he’s heard. Christie has me confused about Len and Griselda’s relationship. He married her within twenty-four hours of meeting her and I can’t tell if he regrets it or not. She’s certainly ambivalent, although an interesting character with a quirky sense of humor.
It’s very weird to hear Miss Marple referred to as terrible, for she watches everything, in her words, she’s a student of human nature. And her words tend to be true, especially with that comment about gossip being unkind and yet so often true. It was fun to watch her in action and listen to her memories of past parallels.
Lol, I loved Griselda’s comment about the busybodies needing some immorality in their lives so they wouldn’t spend so much time looking for it in other people. As for her noting their need for Mary being a cheap source of labor, lol, poor Len. I guess this is one worker worthy of her hire, and it’ll make you laugh and groan all at the same time.
Lettice is another odd one. She’s so vague and selfish. Dennis has the oddest opinions about her. Ah, youth. Haydock’s opinions on capital punishment are lovely in the abstract and make a sea-change in the reality.
It’s a nice look at the manners and mores of the time period — all those old cats going on about Miss Cram being a man’s secretary! As for the male attitudes towards women, well, sadly, they haven’t changed much.
Secrets. Everyone has secrets. Christie allows them to rise to the surface, keeping my interest going. It’ll take to the end before it became clear for me. Yep, had to take me by the hand.
It was that shot in the woods.
The Story
A clergyman’s study is no sanctuary from homicide when Colonel Protheroe, the local magistrate and the most detested man in the village, is found dead.
Under the seemingly peaceful exterior of an English country village lurks intrigue, guilt, deception, and death with a plethora of clues and several attempting to unravel the tangled web of clues that will lead to the unmasking of the killer, including Miss Marple and the vicar.
The Characters
Len Clement is the vicar in St Mary Meade. Griselda is his much younger wife with no interest in managing house nor in tending to his parish. Dennis is Len’s infatuated sixteen-year-old nephew. Mary Hill is their very incompetent maid. Hawes is the new, nervous curate suffering Encephalitis Lethargica.
Colonel Lucius Protheroe is a deaf, pompous old brute with a preference for hard judgment and a lot of fuss. Lettice Protheroe is his daughter by his first wife. Anne is his second wife. Old Hall is the name of their home. Reeves is the butler who is fired. Manning is the chauffeur. Rose is the parlormaid. Mrs Simmons is the housekeeper. Gladys, a.k.a. Gladdie, is the kitchenmaid. Mrs Pratt is the cook.
Parishioners include Mary Adams, Martha Price Ridley (Clara is her maid), Caroline Wetherby, the dreaded Amanda Hartnell, and Miss Marple, that typical elderly spinster. Raymond West is her nephew, an author, and poet who has a high opinion of himself. Emily is Miss Marple’s maid.
Dr Haydock is the village doctor. Lawrence Redding is an artist painting portraits of some of the ladies in the neighborhood. Mrs Sadler is Redding’s landlady. Dr Stone is an archeologist working on a barrow on Protheroe land. Miss Gladys Cram is his secretary. Estelle Lestrange is a new comer who has moved into Little Gates. Hilda is her maid. Cherubim is the local chemist. Fred Jackson is the fish boy and Archer’s cousin.
Constable Hurst is the police in St Mary Mead. The incredibly rude Inspector Slack is based in Much Benham. Colonel Melchett is the chief constable of the county. Dr Roberts is the coroner.
The Blue Boar inn used to be kept by Joe Bucknell whose wife was no better than she should be with young Bailey. Archer is a poacher who’s dating Mary. Old Mrs Archer, his mother, does for Redding. It was said that Henry Abbott of Lower Farm is dying. Susan of the Harley Napiers, who have a tennis court, is annoyed with Lettice. Quinton is a veterinarian.
Mollie Carter. Major Hargreaves had been the naughty churchwarden. Miss Hartnell’s opal pin. Elwell’s vicious daughter. Neil was the Oxfordshire murderer. Lily Rose hated to be deprived of her sweets.
The Cover and Title
The cover begins with a gradated blue teal sky lightening down to the pale gray tombstones in the snowy ground. At the very top is the author’s name scripted in white. The title is carved onto the foremost tombstone in black.
The title is accurate, for it was The Murder at the Vicarage that brings Miss Marple to our attention.
