From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Thirteen Problems (Miss Marple, #0.5)

Agatha Christie

Start date: February 1, 2017

Finish date: February 28, 2017

Discussion: Group Challenges

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Group Challenges

* Nov 25: Black Coffee (1950) By Agatha Christie
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Jan 02, 2017 Susan rated it really liked it

Before Miss Marple appeared in her first, full length novel, she featured in short stories; the first in 1927. This collection was first published in 1932 (The Murder at the Vicarage, the first Miss Marple novel appeared in 1930). Although these are short stories, there are links which make these more enjoyable than some collections of random stories.

We begin with stories told at a group called, “The Tuesday Night Club,” in which Miss Marple, her nephew, Raymond West, artist, Joyce Lempriere, so Before Miss Marple appeared in her first, full length novel, she featured in short stories; the first in 1927. This collection was first published in 1932 (The Murder at the Vicarage, the first Miss Marple novel appeared in 1930). Although these are short stories, there are links which make these more enjoyable than some collections of random stories.

We begin with stories told at a group called, “The Tuesday Night Club,” in which Miss Marple, her nephew, Raymond West, artist, Joyce Lempriere, solicitor, Mr Petherick, Dr Pender, a clergyman and the retired Commission of Scotland Yard, Sir Henry Clithering, meet to discuss mysteries. These are solved successfully by Miss Marple, but part of the joy of this section of the book is the little group of characters so beloved by Agatha Christie – the clergyman, the lawyer and the, almost obligatory, attractive young woman.

This group changes slightly in the second part of the book, where Sir Henry Clithering is the guest of Colonel and Mrs Bantry. Asked if he would like to suggest someone as a sixth for dinner (along with Dr Lloyd and the beautiful actress, Jane Helier), Mrs Bantry is surprised when he suggests Miss Marple. Again, the dinner party ends in a similar way – with every person telling a mystery that needs to be solved and where Miss Marple, again, triumphs with her village parallels.

The last story, “Death by Drowning,” is slightly different, in that Miss Marple, discovering that Sir Henry Clithering is staying in St Mary Mead, asks for his help in solving the death of a local girl. This is a very enjoyable collection, with clever plots and enjoyable scenarios. Interestingly, the village of St Mary Mead is mentioned in the Poirot novel, “The Mystery of the Blue Train,” and Miss Marple – although she did not appear as often in print as Christie’s Belgian detective, is almost as beloved and popular. This is certainly a very enjoyable collection, even for someone like me, who does not normally enjoy short stories.
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Jul 13, 2013 Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore rated it really liked it

Second book for the Miss Marple Challenge. This collection is very different from the ‘ordinary’ Miss Marple stories in that this doesn’t (except one) have her actually involved in a mystery and solving it. Instead this was puzzle-solving in a different way. Two sets of dinner guests (both including Miss Marple, of course) present the others with interesting murder mysteries that they have come across in the past, which each of the others attempt to solve. Initially, Miss Marple, fluffy and lacy ...more

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Feb 04, 2017 Damaskcat rated it it was amazing

Shelves: miss-marple

This is a collection of thirteen short stories told by the members of the Tuesday Club which includes Miss Marple. The group of friends each tell the story of various mysteries they have come across during their lives - professional and private - and invite the others to work out the solutions. Naturally Miss Marple is the person who provides the correct solutions.

My particular favourite is the Blue Geranium which I always find particularly sinister though the solution is simple in the end. The ...more

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Jan 21, 2019 Tracey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: miss-marple, agatha-christie

My first introduction to Miss Marple, and I think she is marvellous! Her cosy demeanour, the knitting, with her sparkling eyes and sharp mind. Some very clever plots and sly humour within these stories. Looking forward to discovering more Miss Marple.

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Feb 12, 2017 Ellie Oberth rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Doing re-reads for a challenge. After all this time, Agatha Christie still rocks the mysteries!!

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Apr 16, 2020 Pranit added it · review of another edition

Shelves: miss-marple

I had intended this book to be only read during travelling. Joke's on me :P
Finally finished this after procrastinating it for weeks! No doubt, a wonderful collection of short stories. Surprisingly, my favourite was The Affair at the Bungalow

This leaves only the last novel in the Miss Marple series: