The Murder at the Vicarage

Title: The Murder at the Vicarage (Miss Marple #1)

Author: Agatha Christie

Published in: 1930

Date read: 1st October 2024

Score: 4/5

Genre: Crime, Mystery

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Murder at the Vicarage," published in 1930, is a pivotal novel in Agatha Christie's career as it marks the first full-length appearance of her iconic amateur detective, Miss Jane Marple. The story is a classic English village mystery, set in the quaint, gossip-filled community of St. Mary Mead.

The novel is narrated by Reverend Leonard Clement, the vicar of St. Mary Mead, a man who, in a moment of frustration, openly declares that someone should murder the despised local magistrate, Colonel Protheroe. The very next day, his idle wish comes true: Colonel Protheroe is found murdered in the Vicar's study, shot dead at his own desk.

The victim was a universally disliked man, known for his tyrannical, bad-tempered nature. Consequently, there is no shortage of suspects, and nearly everyone in the village seems to have a motive for wanting him dead. The list of suspects includes:

Mrs. Anne Protheroe: His much younger, beautiful, and long-suffering wife.

Lawrence Redding: A young artist, who is having an affair with Mrs. Protheroe.

Dr. Haydock: The village doctor, who had a professional grievance against the Colonel.

Griselda Clement: The vicar's own beautiful and free-spirited wife, who has a flirtatious nature that puts her on the suspect list.

The Lesters: Two newcomers to the village with a mysterious past.

The official police investigation is led by Inspector Slack, who is initially baffled by the numerous suspects and the conflicting alibis. He is sceptical of the local gossip and prefers hard facts.

However, the real detective work is being done by Miss Jane Marple, who lives in a cottage next to the vicarage. She is a seemingly frail and sweet-natured old lady, but underneath her gentle exterior lies a razor-sharp intellect and a profound understanding of human nature. While the police are focused on the obvious suspects, Miss Marple quietly observes, listens to the village gossip, and uses her knowledge of her neighbours' foibles to piece together the truth.

The novel is a clever "locked-room" style mystery with multiple red herrings and twists. The clues are hidden in plain sight, and the truth is buried under layers of village secrets and lies. The climax sees Miss Marple, using her unique insights, gathering the suspects and revealing the killer in a way that confounds both the police and the reader. "The Murder at the Vicarage" is a brilliant introduction to Miss Marple, establishing her as a shrewd and formidable sleuth who can see the heart of a crime by simply understanding the hearts of those around her.

Comments:
This was a great story, however, I was very surprised by how little Miss Marple appeared in a Miss Marple book. Having read the Thirteen Problems, I was very eager to get my teeth into her next one. Despite this, it was a great story and I thoroughly loved it, I hope that she takes less of a backseat in the next one.

Books that we've read by Agatha Christie (8):
The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot, #1) (1920), The Secret Adversary (Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries, #1) (1922), The Murder on the Links (Hercule Poirot #2) (1923), The Man in the Brown Suit (Colonel Race, #1) (1924), The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot, #4) (1926), The Murder at the Vicarage (Miss Marple #1) (1930), The Thirteen Problems (Miss Marple, #1) (1932), And Then There Were None (1939)