Reviews with content warning for Murder - The Murder at the Vicarage

Murder at the Vicarage is the first entry in Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series. The novel explores the mystery of a murdered Colonel in the neighbourhood's vicarage. There are no leads, yet plenty of individuals with a noted distaste for the Colonel - enough to be driven to murder.

A highlight of the novel was its wry, humourous tone. Having read a few Poirot's prior to this first foray into the world of Marple, it's reassuring the know that regardless of series, Christie's wit shines through. It feels as such even from the beginning, with the way Christie describes the novel's sleuth:

Miss Marple is a white-haired old lady with a gentle, appealing manner - Miss Wetherby is a mixture of vinegar and gush. Of the two, Miss Marple is much the more dangerous.

A lowlight of the novel was how little time we spend with Marple. The narrator was Vicar Clement, an everyman character who a reader could relate to with his curiosity to solve the mystery. Seeing the novel through his eyes enabled us to be introduced to the suspects closely, but it meant less time to see Marple's character and deduction skills up close. We only really see the power of her keen observation during the murderer's reveal; nevertheless it is still satisfying to see things come together how Marple sees it.

Definitely a classic mystery story that can satiate any mystery beginner or afficionado.

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is my first Miss Marple mystery. The story is actually told in the first person by Vicar Len Clement. Miss Marple is actually a supporting character. This threw me at first. The story is set in a small English town in the 1930's where everyone is in everyone else's business. Early in the book, there is a murder in the vicarage (as you could tell from the title of the book). The remainder of the book is the vicar, local law enforcement, and Miss Marple trying to solve the mystery. The story was tense. I found the solution to the mystery satisfying. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a mystery with a clever solution set in a small English town in the 1930's. My only proviso is that many of the characters are very judgmental and not particularly likable.

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