The murder at the Vicarage

 

Author: Agathe Christie

Series: Miss Marple #1

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Original publication date: October 1930

Book description: ‘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 was 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

Thoughts:

The start of a new series, this is the first book where Miss Marple is introduced. She is known as a very clever woman who is trying to figure out the culprit of a murder. Jane Marple is a detectivesque woman who is involved in a few mysteries, but this is the introduction, we do not know her yet and the town does not know she is capable of discovering great mysteries. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

It all starts in a small town, very classic. Everyone knows everyone and no secret can be kept for long. Mr. Cleamen, as the vicar, is approached for advice in religious and non-religious matters. One day Colonel Protheroe seeks him out in the Vicarage, before the vicar joins him in the study the colonel is murdered. The vicar finds him dead, the expected protocol, the police are called in. 

The funny thing, the police assigned to this case is very inadequate, almost to the point of saying inept. I have the feeling Christie is always making fun of the police department, they never seem to be on the right track in any of her stories.

The old wives of the town have very little faith in the detectives working the case. they believe they are better suited to solve the mystery. One of the people who thinks she can solve it more adequately is Jane Marple, she immediately declares that there are seven suspects.  The detective working the case, wishes her to enlighten him.  Not really. The police as expected think she is meddling where she has no business to meddle and want her to stay away from the whole thing. 

The mystery is resolved, of course. Should I spoil who manages it, the police or Miss Marple? No need to go into details. 

This is a cozy read, you find humor and a few snippets of gossip that help Miss Marple uncover the culprit way ahead of the police. It is an enjoyable read. It feels a bit like  Desperate housewives. Maybe I'm a bit nuts and I'm the only person who gets those types of vibes. 

Once more if you are into cozy mysteries I'm sure you'll love this, Agatha Christie is pretty much the queen of mysteries and even if she wrote a ton of books, they still do not feel formulaic. 

The ending is predictable, since the mystery is introduced you know the police are not going to solve the mystery but the way things are revealed is very interesting indeed. 

AC missing book reviews 2/6 complete.

That is it for now, see you later.

Stay safe!