Miss Marple Month, The Tape Measure Murder

[Mark Pghfan]

Our second story of the month is also a very early Miss Marple. Set probably before her first novel, Murder at the Vicarage. A wealthy lady is murderer, strangled by a very thin belt (the story says). The wealthy lady has a poor, apparently long-suffering husband, who will benefit monetarily from the death. Colonel Melchett and Inspector Slack also appear in the story, and it looks lit it may be the first appearance of Slack, as Melchett tells him to interview Miss M.

[Tina]

How many like husband for the perp? How many lean for someone else? I'm going with someone else.

[Nicole]

I finished and I will comment without spoilers and just say that I thought the husband was an obvious choice, perhaps too obvious, so not necessarily the killer. The phone call was interesting, if it isn't the husband it makes the crime premeditated.

[PugMom]

Well, maybe if it had a different title I would have been more surprised lol
I figured out who but not the why.

[Nicole]

NicoleG wrote: "Well, maybe if it had a different title I would have been more surprised lol
I figured out who but not the why."

LOL. I know, right? "Thin belt"........

[Mark Pghfan]

Yes, NicoleG. The title sure gave the whole thing away! As far as the pin in the tunic, it was surely specialized knowledge that it was a dressmakers pin. Who would know that?

[Nicole]

I agree on the specific pin type but she did give us a very big clue on the first page when she said that her bag contained a pincushion. :-)

[Tina]

Finally I figured the who. Not sure on motive.

[Mark Pghfan]

Tina, the motive is quite obscure and I wonder how Miss Marple happened on it.

[Tina]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "Tina, the motive is quite obscure and I wonder how Miss Marple happened on it."

Pghfan, two words...Jane Marple. lol

I love the Slack in Hickson Marples and his sidekick getting a kick out of it!!