From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Moving Finger (Miss Marple, #3)

Agatha Christie

Start date: June 1, 2025

Finish date: June 30, 2025

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: Next in our Christie challenge
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Group Challenges

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie
By Susan · 14 posts · 16 views

last updated Sep 02, 2025 12:08AM

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) - SPOILER Thread
By Susan · 4 posts · 12 views

last updated Sep 01, 2025 04:16PM

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What Members Thought

Mar 26, 2017 Jan C rated it really liked it

Shelves: gr-group-read, mystery, 2017, england, rtd-2017-missmarple-challenge

I've read this several times and have seen the videos - but, of course, they always seem to change the story. It is enjoyable. Probably one of the few books where Miss Marple doesn't come into the picture until the book is three-quarters done. But, enter she does, to solve the murder.

Much of the book is consumed by the problem of anonymous poison pen letters. Then the bodies start falling.

Enter Miss Marple. ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Jul 18, 2016 Susan in NC rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 25detectiveschallenge, currently-re-reading, my-library, library-book, audiobook, favorites

5/2025: For this reread with the Reading the Detectives group here on GR, I enjoyed one of my favorites narrated by my favorite Marple actress, Joan Hickson. I was thrilled to find my library had the audiobook through Libby, I really enjoyed it.

3/2024: listened to excellent Richard Grant narration this time - I think this one of Christie’s best, bumped up to 5 stars, even though Miss M doesn’t appear until about 3/4 through the book.

I do love Miss Marple! I read many Christie books in my teens, 5/2025: For this reread with the Reading the Detectives group here on GR, I enjoyed one of my favorites narrated by my favorite Marple actress, Joan Hickson. I was thrilled to find my library had the audiobook through Libby, I really enjoyed it.

3/2024: listened to excellent Richard Grant narration this time - I think this one of Christie’s best, bumped up to 5 stars, even though Miss M doesn’t appear until about 3/4 through the book.

I do love Miss Marple! I read many Christie books in my teens, she was my bridge between children's mysteries (Alfred Hitchcock's Three Investigators, The Secret Seven) and the brilliant, timeless pleasure of the British Golden Age mystery authors I treasure to this day - Allingham, Sayers, Marsh, Tey, and Heyer, among others.

Over the last couple of years I've been re-reading those golden oldies and enjoying them even more the second (or third, or fourth...) time around. I'm appreciating the characters, settings and Byzantine plots, all served up with a stiff upper lip and a delightful and healthy dollop of bone-dry British humor - delicious!

I can't remember how many times I've read this one but I love Jerry and Joanna, Dr. Griffiths and the Vicar's brilliantly outspoken wife, Mrs. Dane Calthorp - not least because she had the brilliant idea to bring in Miss Marple as an expert in murder - I love it! I love the oppressive, gossipy village atmosphere and the building suspense and the wonderful twist at the end - as I said, I've read it several times and own the BBC version with the brilliant Joan Hickson as Miss Marple, and I STILL love reading the denouement and Miss Marple's humble yet chilling explanation of the case at the end - bliss! And what a difference from Poirot's grandstanding - I love him, but I have come to love Miss Marple more, I confess...

I want to keep re-reading and get to the books where Jane isn't just trotted out at the end, but is in on the plot from the very beginning. I love the dialogue Christie gives her, and the fact that she's so cold-blooded yet morally righteous about evil and murder and human nature - Miss Marple is truly a delight! ...more

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

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

Jerry Burton, under the care of his sister, moves to the quiet village of Lymstock to recover from an airplane accident. But this quiet village is plagued by someone writing nasty anonymous letters - one resulting in a woman committing suicide. Then a young maid is murdered. The story is told by Jerry Burton and Miss Marple does not appear in the story until about 70% into the book when she is called in as an "expert" by a woman in the village to help solve these crimes. Loved that Miss Marple d ...more

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Apr 03, 2018 Bronwyn rated it liked it

Shelves: author-a-i, 2018-reads, by-women, series, do-not-own, mystery-detective-suspense, novels, audiobook, european, title-j-r

Not my favorite. I didn't really like the narrator and the resolution was just fine. The mystery was lacking a bit. Miss Marple didn't even show up till two thirds of the way through and was very peripheral at that. ...more

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Feb 05, 2011 Becky rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I have often recalled the morning when the first of the anonymous letters came.

Jerry Burton, our hero, has taken a house in the country with his sister, Joanna. He's recuperating from an injury, and his doctor has definitely suggested some rest and relaxation. As for Joanna, she's recuperating from a broken heart. But rural village life isn't as uneventful and peaceful as he expected. For soon after his arrival, an anonymous "poison pen" begins a nasty letter campaign. Which is unpleasant enough ...more

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Sep 23, 2017 Stephanie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-cozy

I REALLY enjoyed this mystery. Interestingly, Miss Marple doesn't even enter the book until about 3/4 of the way through and is really just a side character. Our primary character is on the right track on the red herrings, but misses completely who the killer is. ...more

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Mar 04, 2009 Laura Anne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: british-isles, mystery

2024 Series Re-read: This is one of my favorites; memorable characters and excellent mystery. But I wouldn’t count it as a favorite Marple story, as she only arrives at the three-quarter mark to wrap things up. It could have worked as a standalone.

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