Image source: Wikipedia
The air conditioner at our house doesn’t work and it’s hot here, but that’s not why I’m participating in the Spend the Summer with Agatha Christie read-alongs. I do like the phrase “Cooling Down with AC,” though. I adore Agatha Christie, and have since I discovered her in junior high. For me, she is one of the writers that made me fall in love with mysteries.
Today, a read-along of “The Tuesday Night Club” is being hosted at Book Club Girl. It’s the first short story written about Miss Marple and serves as the perfect introduction.
A small group of individuals has gathered at Miss Marple’s home, including Miss Marple, her nephew Raymond a writer, an artist, Sir Henry Clithering a former Commissioner of Scotland Yard, and a clergyman. The topic of “unsolved mysteries” comes up and Sir Henry presents the group with a previously unsolved murder. He now knows who the killer was, but it hasn’t been made public knowledge yet, so the gathering tries their hands at finding the solution.
The case in questions involved a man and his wife and the wife’s companion. All three sat down to dinner and were taken ill that evening. Two of them recovered, but the wife dies. All the facts were laid out for the group and each gave their solution. Of course I’m not giving away anything by telling you that overlooked, underappreciated Miss Marple is the one who figures out what truly happened.
This story makes a perfect first meeting with Miss Marple. She is a gentle little old lady with faded blue eyes who sees everything that goes on around her. She may spend her time in a small village, but her knowledge of human nature, with its strengths and weaknesses is universal. When I was younger, she wasn’t my favorite of Christie’s characters, but I’ve come to appreciate her observations and the humor that runs through the stories.
“The Tuesday Night Club” can be found in Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories. It was first published in The Sketch magazine in 1926 and later became the first chapter of The Thirteen Problems in 1932.
4 out of 5 stars
I purchased my copy of The Thirteen Problems and the above is my honest opinion.
This is so sweet…I love the Miss Marple movies on PBS…so yummy on a hot day…have fun!!!
sounds good. I used to read alot of Agatha Christie.
Without Agatha Christie’s books, I would have never developed a love for mysteries. I like Miss Marple, but Poirot is the best! 🙂
Your review makes me want to read Miss Marple, I never have read it or seen it on TV. It sounds great. I love humor with mystery.
Just love Agatha Christie – she’s always been a favourite! Thanks for visiting my blog – good to have met via the blog fest. May take me a week to visit everyone.
That’s what I love about blog fests, all the new people you meet.
I must re-read Murder on the Orient Express now that I was in Istanbul and saw the train station where the trip started.
Murder on the Orient Express is one of my favorites. How neat to have seen the station.
Calling by to catch up, great new look I see. I have not read an Agatha Christie for years and years but still enjoy watching the occasional TV adaptation.
Thankyou for your kind words on News From Italy. We had a wonderful time at the wedding this weekend, now back catching up with all the jobs that need doing in the garden having been left for a few days!
I love this story and the rest of them that are in the short story collection. Miss Marple is my favorite series regular of hers.
I haven’t read the rest of them yet, but definitely will. I think I like Poirot slightly better. And Tommy and Tuppence are pretty adorable.