Review: Great Novels by Christie in a Pleasing Bundle
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 22, 2011
I have to say that I never read any of Agatha Christie novels before but had seen plenty of Miss Marple movies on PBS.After hearing how Agatha Christie is one of the most read author to this day and surpasses the Bible and Shakespeare in most read I decided to buy the first of her Miss Marple novels and was not disappointed.This bundle has the following three novels starring Agatha Christie's Miss Jane Marple."The Murder at the Vicarage", "The Body in the Library", and "The Moving Finger.""The Murder at the Vicarage" takes place in St. Mary Mead, the birthplace of Miss Marple.  Though this novel has Miss Marple, the main protagnist is not her but rather the Vicar, Leonard Clement.  The plot revolves around finding who murdered one of the villages most hated men, Colonel Protheroe. We get to see the detective work and several villagers reflections on who possibly could have done it but in the end when we find out that Miss Marple correctly revealed who the perperator is and why it was done you wonder how you missed it as well."The Body in the Library" also takes place in St. Mary Mead and at the nearby seaside resort Danemouth.  Colonel Bantry and his wife Dolly are awaken by their household staff and told that there is a dead body of a young woman in the library. Though there is no proof that the Colonel is responsible for the death the villagers of course whisper that of course Colonel Bantry has something to do with the young woman. His wife Dolly and Miss Marple begin investigating who killed the young woman in order to clear the Colonel's name.  I have to say that this was a very good novel and once Miss Marple starts investigating we quickly find out that instead of just one dead young woman there is also another. How Christie wraps up the plot and shows how the two murders are connected is fantastic."The Moving Finger" takes place entirely away from St. Mary Mead and instead is in Lymstock.  The main protagnist for this novel is Jerry Burton.  Jerry was injured in a wartime plane crash and he and his sister Joanna go to Lymstock so Jerry can recover away from London.  While in Lymstock the brother and sister receive a nasty letter from an anonymous letter writer asserting that the brother and sister are not in fact brother and sister and are instead an unwed couple having "relations."  Jerry and Joanna quickly find out that many in the village have received anonymous letters and though they are a nuisance no harm has come from them until the probable suicide of Mrs. Symmington due to one of the letters claiming that she had an affair and her youngest child is not her husband's. Jerry and Joanna who have at this time befriended Megan the daughter of Mrs. Symmington and though twenty years old still quite in Christie's word "queer" take her in for time and quickly grow to keep her safe. Once the Symmington's maid Agnes is brutally murdered the Vicar's wife calls in Miss Marple to find out who the murderer is. Though I loved this book I have to say it was a shame that Miss Marple was once again just a secondary character in this novel. It was great to see how though Jerry claims to not have a detective mind he quickly comes to conclusions and not once but twice steps in when he realizes that something is not quite right.I would definitely recommend this novel to all who want to read about how Miss Marple first came on the scene and started solving murdres.Grade for all three A+