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The Body in the Library (Miss Marple, #2)

Agatha Christie

Start date: April 1, 2025

Finish date: April 30, 2025

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: The second Miss Marple novel
[close] The second Miss Marple novel

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Group Challenges

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie
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last updated Sep 25, 2025 01:00PM

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) - SPOILER Thread
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What Members Thought

Feb 07, 2011 Jessica-Robyn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery-crime

Agatha Christie knows a thing or two about creating an interesting mystery with a cast of characters a mile long. In the murder of a young, pretty girl the suspects are many and all are suspect in some respect, but only Miss Marple will solve the crime.

Unfortunately, compared to my previous experiences with Miss Marple, this book was a disappointment. The murdered girl was unspectacular, the characters were all somewhat unspectacular, and the way everything came together would have me interested Agatha Christie knows a thing or two about creating an interesting mystery with a cast of characters a mile long. In the murder of a young, pretty girl the suspects are many and all are suspect in some respect, but only Miss Marple will solve the crime.

Unfortunately, compared to my previous experiences with Miss Marple, this book was a disappointment. The murdered girl was unspectacular, the characters were all somewhat unspectacular, and the way everything came together would have me interested one minute and disinterested the next. I think the main issue for me was not the mystery itself, but the way that the character of Miss Marple is fantastically misused. The mystery was well constructed and had all the inappropriate twists and turns, however I wanted something a little more.

What I love about Miss Marple is the way that she investigates. For those unfamiliar, Miss Marple is an elderly woman who has enough experience to have had experienced it all. She knows human nature, she can spot a liar, and she knows how to follow clues in a humble way that makes her a marvel. No one sees her coming. What harm can an old woman do? Why not speak honestly, loosely, comfortably to a kind listener?

In The Body in the Library the mystery does not follow Miss Marple's investigation, but the many various police officials on the case. I believe there were about three or four of them in total. I didn't care about them in the same way I care about Miss Marple. I don't know anything about them, although they do appear in other Miss Marple books and are familiar with her knowing ways. I wanted more of her. The way the police handle things is all very by the book, the real interesting insights come from the very few interactions Miss Marple has. When she's centre stage, things are intriguing. You want to know what she knows.

The way the mystery ended was fun, I really wanted to know who did it. I just wish that the investigation was more captivating. The Body in the Library is a great little mystery that is easy to consume and just perfect for a cold winter night. For those in the mood for some unique British-speak murder, Agatha Christie is always perfection.

This review and many others can also be read on my blog Reading Robyn. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 11, 2017 Nanosynergy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, reviewed, mysteries-thrillers-espionage, series, british, fiction-1940s, 2017read

Agatha Christie takes on the classic Body in the Library mystery in this third book in her Miss Marple series. The dead body of an unknown, beautiful blonde is found in the library of Gossington Hall, resulting in the community quietly starting to shun Colonel Bantry. Agatha Christie and Mrs. Bantry investigate. While still a good read, some parts of the plot just did not seem credible.

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