General Discussion - 13 Problems

[Mara]

I'm so excited to reread this - it's my fav Marple going into the project, so I'm interested to see if that stands by the end :)

[Eamon]

This was a fun reread. I'm not as big of a fan of the short stories as I am of the novels, but there are some great ones, and I like the concept around these particular ones. One fascinating thing to me was how much older Miss Marple seemed in these stories (her first appearances really) than she does in later novels, not just that she gets younger out of necessity so she can get around easier, but she almost seems like she's from a different generation later on. All that lace (I learnt a new term: 'fichu') being replaced by tweed.

This was a pretty cohesive collection and I enjoyed it all, but I have a preference for the second dinner party I think. I don't know if anyone else prefers one over the other? But the second party has the Bantrys, Sir Henry, Jane Helier and it feels like they play off each other better than the first collection where the party is being commandeered by the awful Raymond West haha.

It was also fun because I don't remember her short stories as well as the novels and so I can still get a nice surprise at the end. Favourites included:

- The Blood-Stained Pavement (makes me think of Evil Under the Sun);
- The Blue Geranium;
- The Companion; and
- A Christmas Tragedy (quite disturbing).

[Lorraine]

I’m only partway through this but my mind has been caught up with The Idol House of Astarte. Mainly because of the bit at the end about the south pole expedition. It really seems to point to an actual person who died a very honorable death. I mean my history is not great but if you say to me honorable death, south pole the first person I think of is Captain Oates. Surely she is not suggesting...!

[Eamon]

Lorraine wrote: "...the first person I think of is Captain Oates. Surely she is not suggesting...!"

Hahaha, I know! That whole 'all the names have been changed' bit makes you think.

Captain Lawrence Oates: British army officer, Antarctic explorer, murderer!

[Lorraine]

Exactly!

I’ve finished it now and I enjoyed it far more than I expected as I’m not usually a fan of short stories. I think it’s due to the fact they were all connected by the framing device.

The only story I feel didn’t hit the mark was The Affair at the Bungalow. It was too vague and I ‘got’ why that was but it just felt off to me.

[Ian]

I generally prefer the second half of the book. I think Christie becomes more comfortable with the concept of having a third party relate a tale from their past.
A Christmas Tragedy is a fine story,and I actually really like The affair at the Bungalow. There was a subtle piece of foreshadowing in an earlier story,when Marple makes an offhand,yet somewhat odd,comment towards one of the guests. When we find out who was actually responsible for the crime - compounded by the fact that they hadn't actually committed it yet,but were using the Tuesday Night Club as a way of 'testing the water' - we realise how astute Miss Marple really is!
Nonetheless,my favourite story is 'Death by drowning'. A clever little plot,with an excellent use of misdirection - and so good to finally get away from a third-person narrative,while still keeping continuity with the rest of the book by incorporating several members of the Tuesday Night Club into the narrative.

[Ian]

Mara wrote: "I'm so excited to reread this - it's my fav Marple going into the project, so I'm interested to see if that stands by the end :)"

Are we allowed to name names in our reviews;or are we to keep them spoiler free?

[Mara]

Ian wrote: "Mara wrote: "I'm so excited to reread this - it's my fav Marple going into the project, so I'm interested to see if that stands by the end :)"

Are we allowed to name names in our reviews;or are we..."

In these threads, go for it in terms of spoilers! :) Just flag if you're going to spoil a story that's NOT in this book

[Mara]

My biggest take away from this book is that I <3 Dolly Bantry! She's so great-- I loved the way that Christie used her story to comment on the book as a whole re:narrative. I don't know that this is still going to be my fav Marple anymore though...

[Kin]

Dolly Bantry and sir Henry made for delightful conversation! I don't remember the exact quote, but the moment when sir Henry applauded her for putting men before flowers and she replied that she was only being decorous... HILARIOUS.

[Ian]

The phrase she used was 'only being tactful' :)

Jane Helier's story is another favourite of mine.As I wrote earlier: Miss Marple had already made oblique remarksto her,which appeared to suggest some sort of suspicion on her part.
At the end of Helier's story,we first find out that she herself did it - then we find out that the events hadn't even happened yet,and Jane Helier (despite coming across as a somewhat empty headed young actress) had been using the Murder Club as a sort of testing ground for her own plan to kill someone. Found that genuinely ingenious.

In addition,this was written not long after Christie's famous disappearance. It turned out that her former husband had been having an affair with a young actress.
Agatha getting her own back?

[Kin]

Or rather - Agatha telling us the actress wasn't worth the trouble :) I like this idea!

[Jemima]

Kin wrote: "Dolly Bantry and sir Henry made for delightful conversation! I don't remember the exact quote, but the moment when sir Henry applauded her for putting men before flowers and she replied that she wa..."
I loved this so much...looking forward to the "Body in the Library" where she and her hubby take starring roles. My favorite by far is Dolly Bantry's story that she tells so baldly that everyone is completely taken aback. I love the way the plot is dug out piece by piece by asking '20 questions'. So clever.

[Noël]

This wasn’t as successful for me as the stand alone novel although that’s not to say I didn’t like it.

[Donna]

Thanks again for this opportunity to read this Marple 'Delicious' short story collection from my Bantam Hardcover series published for July 1986 subscription. Originally titled "Thirteen Problems, my edition, "The Tuesday Club Murders", also presents two sets of six friends who gather to share mysterious accounts for all the others to solve. This is a very satisfying organization for the collection. The thirteen problem is a one off in real time to conclude the collection, a nice addition.

I believe that this is a first read for me of this volume. I was familiar with "The Blue Geranium" as I had recently watched the TV episode with Julie McKenzie as Miss Marple. "The Affair at the Bungalow" was my favorite, 'though I loved them all. Was able to figure out 'who done it' in "Death by Drowning" as soon as the character was introduced.

[Jack]

I know I‘m a bit late to the party but I read A Christmas Tragedy and stumbled over a question I couldn’t answer.

SPOILERS FOLLOWING:

After Miss Marple locked the room with the only available key, how was Sanders able to bring the maid back to her room?
Putting her out over the fire escape and bringing her back in seems highly unlikely as this would be extremely risky and Sanders wasn’t described as someone who would take those risks.
It‘s a great story but this plot point wasn’t explained and seems like a huge plot hole.