I adore Miss Marple. She seems like a sweet, gentle old lady, but she’s bright and knows human nature. In A Caribbean Mystery, Miss Marple is on vacation, enjoying relaxing in the Caribbean sun thanks to her nephew’s generosity. There’s only one problem – she’s bored. It may be paradise, but nothing ever changes. But then Major Palgrave dies under suspicious circumstance, and Miss Marple takes it upon herself to figure out who the killer is.
Miss Marple is on center stage in this one, in a new setting making new friends. Of course, everyone has their secrets, here mostly romantic ones, and there are plenty of suspects. None of the characters really struck me, except Mr. Rafiel, a rich elderly man who becomes Miss Marple’s ally in catching the criminal.
I can’t say that the plot here is the strongest. It wasn’t too tough to figure out the killer, even if there were red herrings aplenty. There were simply only so many characters that fit the clues, it wasn’t too tough to narrow it down to the right one. I still enjoyed it though. It was fun reading about Miss Marple putting on her little old lady act to get the other guests to share what they knew. She knows what she’s doing, that’s for sure.
I think I need to read a Hercule Poirot soon, but I did just get the first Miss Marple in the mail. Decisions, decisions.
Purchase A Caribbean Mystery at Amazon or an Indie bookstore.
Miss Marple #10
First published 1964
3 out of 5 stars
I borrowed my copy from the library and the above is my honest opinion.
I plan to read my first AC book soon – I’m going to start with Murder on the Orient Express.
I adored Miss Marple – what a sweet lady! I hope you read a Hercule Poirot soon. He is my favorite fictional detective.
Miss Marple is the elderly aunt I always wanted to have. I haven’t read this one, but I will.
This is one of my favorite Miss Marple books. It has a sort of sequel, NEMESIS. In that one, Jason Rafiel makes another appearance and sets Miss Marple on a quest to find a murder that occurred a long time ago. I think both this one and NEMESIS were translated well in film, with my favorite Miss Marple, Joan Hickson, starring.
Enjoy your AC books, Carol. I have surely loved talking about them this summer. 🙂
I am glad you are enjoying all these books..even if this plot was not that strong
I used to enjoy reading an occasional AC many moons ago, never read her books any more but I do enjoy watching Miss Marple on TV.