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Miss Marple #SS 15
Strange Jest: A Miss Marple Short Story
Miss Marple is enjoying a party when she is accosted by a pair of lovebirds who think that a recently deceased uncle has buried their inheritance. The naïve pair expect her to instantaneously summon forth the location of the illusive treasure.
Our careful observer of human nature knows that an examination of the scene is needed. Invited to Ansteys, the couple's ransacked family seat, Miss Marple ensconces herself in a household that has perhaps been too thoroughly investigated. She regales its members with what appear to be meaningless, infuriating anecdotes. Little do they know their importance and where they will lead!
Librarian's note: this entry relates to the short story, "Strange Jest." Collections and the other stories by the author are located elsewhere on Goodreads. The Miss Marple series includes twelve novels and 20 short stories. Entries for the short stories can be found by searching Goodreads for: "a Miss Marple Short Story."
Our careful observer of human nature knows that an examination of the scene is needed. Invited to Ansteys, the couple's ransacked family seat, Miss Marple ensconces herself in a household that has perhaps been too thoroughly investigated. She regales its members with what appear to be meaningless, infuriating anecdotes. Little do they know their importance and where they will lead!
Librarian's note: this entry relates to the short story, "Strange Jest." Collections and the other stories by the author are located elsewhere on Goodreads. The Miss Marple series includes twelve novels and 20 short stories. Entries for the short stories can be found by searching Goodreads for: "a Miss Marple Short Story."
28 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1941
62 people are currently reading
782 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,637 books74.4k followersAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
July 30, 2025
Ho-ly shit. Joan Hickson's accent is TERRIBLE in this particular story.
I couldn't make out half of what she was lisping out of her mouth and had to go back and re-listen to parts of this one over and over again. She's narrated several of the Miss Marple stories that I've listened to, but for whatever reason, in this one, she was incredibly hard to understand.
Beyond that, this is the story of a rich uncle who leaves his niece and nephew (who want to get married) to hunt for his fortune after he dies. To be honest, it felt a bit like Manx Gold because in that one, you have two cousins who want to get married but have to hunt for the treasure that their rich old relative leaves for them, as well. However, that one is more of a real treasure hunt with clues, and this one is that he didn't trust banks and they're just hunting around in the house for what the crazy old fart did with all of his money.
Miss Marple inserts herself into the hunt in her fluffy old lady way and then shocks the young couple when she solves the mystery for them.
How?
Because this guy reminds her of another old man who liked Dad jokes back in St. Mary Mead.
Village life, bitches.
This story first appeared in the magazine This Week in 1941 (were people still marrying their cousins in 1941?!), but it was originally called A Case of Buried Treasure.
I read this as part of the short story collection Three Blind Mice and Other Stories.
I couldn't make out half of what she was lisping out of her mouth and had to go back and re-listen to parts of this one over and over again. She's narrated several of the Miss Marple stories that I've listened to, but for whatever reason, in this one, she was incredibly hard to understand.
Beyond that, this is the story of a rich uncle who leaves his niece and nephew (who want to get married) to hunt for his fortune after he dies. To be honest, it felt a bit like Manx Gold because in that one, you have two cousins who want to get married but have to hunt for the treasure that their rich old relative leaves for them, as well. However, that one is more of a real treasure hunt with clues, and this one is that he didn't trust banks and they're just hunting around in the house for what the crazy old fart did with all of his money.
Miss Marple inserts herself into the hunt in her fluffy old lady way and then shocks the young couple when she solves the mystery for them.
How?
Because this guy reminds her of another old man who liked Dad jokes back in St. Mary Mead.
Village life, bitches.
This story first appeared in the magazine This Week in 1941 (were people still marrying their cousins in 1941?!), but it was originally called A Case of Buried Treasure.
I read this as part of the short story collection Three Blind Mice and Other Stories.
July 23, 2025
‘Do tell me your problem.’ (said Miss Marple).
‘I’m afraid it’s terribly hackneyed – just buried treasure,’ said Edward.
‘Indeed? But that sounds most exciting!’
‘I know. Like Treasure Island. But our problem lacks the usual romantic touches.’
Jane Marple gets to search for buried treasure in Strange Jest, buried not in the conventional sense but definitely camouflaged, which she has fun unraveling! This is a somewhat lighter story, as there's no murder and no real life or death question, only finding an inheritance that was promised.
Jane's child-like enjoyment of this treasure hunt in addition to the ever-growing membership of her fan club make this a worthwhile read, though the mystery itself wasn't anything notable.
🌟🌟🌟1/4
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole story; 3/4 star for the characters; Half a star for the plot and themes; Half a star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing - 3 1/4 stars in total.]
‘I’m afraid it’s terribly hackneyed – just buried treasure,’ said Edward.
‘Indeed? But that sounds most exciting!’
‘I know. Like Treasure Island. But our problem lacks the usual romantic touches.’
Jane Marple gets to search for buried treasure in Strange Jest, buried not in the conventional sense but definitely camouflaged, which she has fun unraveling! This is a somewhat lighter story, as there's no murder and no real life or death question, only finding an inheritance that was promised.
Jane's child-like enjoyment of this treasure hunt in addition to the ever-growing membership of her fan club make this a worthwhile read, though the mystery itself wasn't anything notable.
🌟🌟🌟1/4
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole story; 3/4 star for the characters; Half a star for the plot and themes; Half a star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing - 3 1/4 stars in total.]
May 7, 2023
Agatha Christie Book Reading Challenge
2 stars
BOOK 54 :- May 2023
2 stars
BOOK 54 :- May 2023
January 31, 2022
3 Stars. One of the least satisfying of the 20 story collection, "Miss Marple: the Complete Short Stories" from 2011. Or possibly Miss Marple at her best? Not my view; I found its fifteen pages lacking in any excitement. It does have a dash of humour. It's from "This Week" of 1941. You will recall that actress Jane Helier met Miss M at a Tuesday Night Club dinner at Gossington Hall. Helier was impressed by the older Jane's talents, and must have extolled them widely. Having heard about Miss Marple's sleuthing, two of Miss Helier's young admirers ask our elderly detective for help. Charmian Stroud and Edward Rossiter are looking for "buried treasure" which they believe their distant uncle left them. They were digging up the grounds of Ansteys, and overturning everything in the attic with zero luck. One begins to feel a little ill at ease about the role of their Uncle, Mathew Stroud. As we get older, do we gravitate towards becoming just a symbol of future inheritance? I'll leave you with that, other than to say that a search in the hands of a person with an understanding of human nature is not fruitless. Ah Miss Marple. (December 2020)
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February 24, 2025This was not a murder but a treasure hunt. A pair of siblings are looking for their inheritance in an old house. Thankfully Marple is here!
June 27, 2023
it is not like another novels of agatha christie the end of the novel was weak 🫡
June 29, 2024
agatha and her kissing cousins. they’re always soooo dependent on wealthy uncles.
December 3, 2021
A young couple is trying to find the missing money they inherited from their uncle, who was a bit of a jokester. They have torn up the garden and searched the house to no avail. Miss marple find a secret drawer full of old love letters. The letters are fake but the envelopes are not and they contain rare, valuable stamps. The missing inheritance is found.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2023
How Miss Marple is able to uncover the illusive treasure is another interesting mystery that is solved. These mystery stories are quite interesting.
November 13, 2023
Miss Marple's stories are gentle and dramatic in nature, even if they involve murder.
I like it, it's fine.
I like it, it's fine.
January 16, 2022
Agatha Christie’s “A Strange Jest” gets four stars from me. Miss Marple is delightful.
What I like mostly is that Christie gives us a mystery that is delightful and fits the medium of the short story perfectly; additionally, we get a wonderful Marple doing what she does best: solve mysteries while annoying people.
Recommended: Yes.
What I like mostly is that Christie gives us a mystery that is delightful and fits the medium of the short story perfectly; additionally, we get a wonderful Marple doing what she does best: solve mysteries while annoying people.
Recommended: Yes.
December 13, 2021
Now would you think about this:
I just found out, that Miss Marple has "china-blue eyes"...
Good, old (diseased) uncle Matthew did right with the inheritance he left behind...
let the family worry and work for their inheritance !
Sometimes you just have to work very hard for the money - intellectually, not physically...
August 31, 2017
Miss Marple comes to the aid of a young couple who can't find their inheritance due to their Uncle Mathew's distrust of banks and his sense of humor. I loved the solution, but since both the young people had the sense of last year's bird's nest (they were going to inherit, so they didn't have to apply themselves to anything, you see) I wish Miss Marple had kept everything for herself!
November 15, 2013
This was short and funny.
November 22, 2015
An entertaining story.
August 1, 2016
Another fun Miss Marple mystery about a lost inheritance. This series is great and never disappoints.
February 23, 2023
لنحيي جميعًا ذكرى العم هنري.
يالهؤلاء العجائز غريبي الأطوار، و حسهم الفكاهي.😂
يالهؤلاء العجائز غريبي الأطوار، و حسهم الفكاهي.😂
December 8, 2024
تدور أحداث قصة "Strange Jest" حول خطيبين، إدوارد وتشارميان، اللذين يتوجهان إلى الآنسة ماربل طلبًا للمساعدة في قضية غريبة تتعلق بعمهما ماثيو، الذي كان معروفًا بحبه للمزاح. قبل وفاته، وعد ماثيو بأن ثروته ستُقسم مناصفة بينهما، لكن بعد وفاته، اكتشفا أنه لم يترك شيئًا.
هذه الخيبة تعكس الفجوة بين التوقعات والواقع، وهو موضوع متكرر في أعمال كريستي. يتذكر إدوارد وتشارميان أن عمهما كان دائمًا يقول إنه لا يثق في البنوك، ويفضل بدلاً من ذلك شراء سبائك ذهبية ودفنها. هذا العنصر من القصة يضيف لمسة من الغموض، حيث يتساءل القارئ عن مصير تلك السبائك وما إذا كانت مد��ونة بالفعل.
تتميز القصة بأسلوب كريستي الفريد في بناء الحبكة، حيث تمزج بين الفكاهة والغموض. تبرز شخصيات إدوارد وتشارميان كرموز للأمل والإحباط، وتعكس رحلتهما للبحث عن الثروة المفقودة روح الدعابة التي تميز عمهما.
The story "Strange Jest" revolves around an engaged couple, Edward and Charmian, who turn to Miss Marple for assistance in a peculiar case involving their uncle Matthew, known for his love of jokes. Before his death, Matthew promised that his fortune would be divided equally between them, but after his passing, they discover that he left nothing behind.
This disappointment reflects the gap between expectations and reality, a recurring theme in Christie’s works. Edward and Charmian remember that their uncle always claimed he did not trust banks, preferring instead to buy gold bars and bury them. This element of the story adds a touch of mystery, as the reader wonders about the fate of those gold bars and whether they are truly buried.
The story showcases Christie's unique style in plot construction, blending humor with mystery. Edward and Charmian emerge as symbols of hope and frustration, reflecting their journey to find the lost fortune, infused with the humor that characterized their uncle.
Overall, "Strange Jest" is a delightful exploration of human expectations and the unpredictable nature of life, demonstrating Christie’s enduring brilliance in storytelling.
هذه الخيبة تعكس الفجوة بين التوقعات والواقع، وهو موضوع متكرر في أعمال كريستي. يتذكر إدوارد وتشارميان أن عمهما كان دائمًا يقول إنه لا يثق في البنوك، ويفضل بدلاً من ذلك شراء سبائك ذهبية ودفنها. هذا العنصر من القصة يضيف لمسة من الغموض، حيث يتساءل القارئ عن مصير تلك السبائك وما إذا كانت مد��ونة بالفعل.
تتميز القصة بأسلوب كريستي الفريد في بناء الحبكة، حيث تمزج بين الفكاهة والغموض. تبرز شخصيات إدوارد وتشارميان كرموز للأمل والإحباط، وتعكس رحلتهما للبحث عن الثروة المفقودة روح الدعابة التي تميز عمهما.
The story "Strange Jest" revolves around an engaged couple, Edward and Charmian, who turn to Miss Marple for assistance in a peculiar case involving their uncle Matthew, known for his love of jokes. Before his death, Matthew promised that his fortune would be divided equally between them, but after his passing, they discover that he left nothing behind.
This disappointment reflects the gap between expectations and reality, a recurring theme in Christie’s works. Edward and Charmian remember that their uncle always claimed he did not trust banks, preferring instead to buy gold bars and bury them. This element of the story adds a touch of mystery, as the reader wonders about the fate of those gold bars and whether they are truly buried.
The story showcases Christie's unique style in plot construction, blending humor with mystery. Edward and Charmian emerge as symbols of hope and frustration, reflecting their journey to find the lost fortune, infused with the humor that characterized their uncle.
Overall, "Strange Jest" is a delightful exploration of human expectations and the unpredictable nature of life, demonstrating Christie’s enduring brilliance in storytelling.
August 29, 2023
Not exactly Christie's, or Marple's best work here. But a charming and cosy read undoubtedly.
January 13, 2025
Well I never would have solved that one. Must keep my own ageism in check.
May 31, 2021
The book description tells the story well.
An entertaining short story, which nicely pictures the character difference between a young, impatient and not very clever couple, and Miss Marple. I liked the pun that leads Miss Marple to the solution - All my eye and Betty Martin!
An entertaining short story, which nicely pictures the character difference between a young, impatient and not very clever couple, and Miss Marple. I liked the pun that leads Miss Marple to the solution - All my eye and Betty Martin!
September 24, 2019
Originally titled ‘a case of buried treasure’ this one is another treasure hunt set by an aged relative to keep his heirs on their toes. Having dug up most of the estate, they come to Miss Marple for help.
She assumes that old men of his type have odd senses of humour and works it out in a timely manner. Pots of gold indeed.
3 stars
She assumes that old men of his type have odd senses of humour and works it out in a timely manner. Pots of gold indeed.
3 stars
June 16, 2013
Pretty decent story - my first Miss Marple so I had no past or introduction to her and this story probably isn't what I should start with but it's what I had.
If you like Christie then you'll probably want to read this.
If you're not a fan then this won't make you a fan.
If you like Christie then you'll probably want to read this.
If you're not a fan then this won't make you a fan.
May 5, 2018
Strange Jest
As usual, Agatha Christie holds the reader's attention all the way through, whether it is a short story or a book. I love all her stories, but Miss Marple is my favorite of all her detectives.
As usual, Agatha Christie holds the reader's attention all the way through, whether it is a short story or a book. I love all her stories, but Miss Marple is my favorite of all her detectives.
April 21, 2016
Miss Marple: the Complete Short Stories
Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again
Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again
September 2, 2013
A neat short story. Interesting.
June 5, 2014
Another great short story seemingly effortlessly told with strong characters and sense of place, humor, and complexity of plot..a delight
September 20, 2014
One of the stories in teh final case book. Not one of the best
December 8, 2014
Somewhat entertaining but the payoff was kind of meh.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews