Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Narrator: Richard E. Grant
Series: Miss Marple #1
Published by Harper Audio on March 26 2013
Source: Purchased
Genres: Vintage Mystery
Length: 8 hrs 12 mins
Pages: 285
Format: Audiobook
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The first Miss Marple mystery, one which tests all her powers of observation and deduction.
"Anyone who murdered Colonel Protheroe," declared the parson, brandishing a carving knife above a joint of roast beef, "would be doing the world at large a favor!"
It was a careless remark for a man of the cloth. And one which was to come back and haunt the clergyman just a few hours later - when the Colonel is found shot dead in the clergyman's study. But as Miss Marple soon discovers, the whole village seems to have had a motive to kill Colonel Protheroe.
Murder at the Vicarage was a reread for me, but I didn’t actually remember anything about it. This is the first book featuring Miss Marple and is set entirely in St Mary Mead, a small town where not much happens, and the ladies of the town know everyone’s business and routinely gossip about it. Leonard Clement, the vicar, returns to his home one evening to find the body of Colonel Protheroe in the study. Protheroe was not well-liked in town and there are several people who may have wanted him dead.
Clement is our narrator. We have a police detective who is a bit, not bumbling but oversure of himself. And we have Miss Marple who sees a lot and has a good sense of human nature. It’s Miss Marple of course who solves the case, along with help from the vicar.
The mystery itself was good. We’ve got plenty of suspects, fair clues, and decent red herrings. The villagers are the usual odd lot, with plenty of secrets and goings-on. The ending wraps up all the loose ends and we learn who was doing what and why. I was not surprised by who the killer was, but enjoyed the story.
About Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English crime novelist, short story writer and playwright. She is best known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around her fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world’s longest-running play, a murder mystery, The Mousetrap, and six romances under the name Mary Westmacott. In 1971 she was elevated to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her contribution to literature.
I’ll confess, that whenever I feel like reading a Christie book, I end up watching the show episode instead. It’s really timeless, love it so much.
I actually haven’t watched one of the tv versions of Christie’s books in ages.
Protheroe! I love these English names.
Aren’t they fun?
Not that I can claim to have read many of this author’s books but this is one I haven’t even heard of.
Probably not a book I’d have given a second glance but, just goes to show the power of book covers, this not only caught my eye instantly but made me want to read the book.
It’s a shame the cover really has little to do with the book.