In 2017, before Kenneth Branagh’s version of “Murder on the Orient Express”, I reread that book. That’s the last time I read one of Agatha Christie’s mysteries until I saw a discussion on Twitter of A Murder is Announced. That’s when I realized I hadn’t ever read that Miss Marple mystery, and it was time. What an excellent puzzle, although I’ll admit I did pay close attention and caught the killer before the grand reveal.
The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn might read other newspapers, but they always read the personal ads in the North Benham News and Chipping Cleghorn Gazette (the Gazette). One ad caught everyone’s attention. “A murder is announced and will take place of Friday, October 29th, at Little Paddocks, at 6:30 P.M. Friends please accept this, the only intimation.” It certainly caught the attention of Miss Blacklock, owner of the home, Little Paddocks. She asked the cook, Mitzi, to prepare a few tidbits because she expected the neighbors to show up.
Miss Blacklock is correct. Her neighbors do show up, many of them expecting an evening of the “Murder Game” when someone is it, taps someone as the victim, and everyone has to guess who is the killer. There was excitement when the lights went out at 6:30, and even more excitement when there were shots. When everyone could see again, there was a dead victim, and an injured one. But, the police have a confusing mess on their hands as they try to identify possible suspects, and, even the potential victim.
Early on, Sir Henry Clithering, ex-Commissioner of Scotland Yard, is visiting with the officers in charge of the murder investigation. When asked about the village itself, he says he recognizes the type, “Nice old pussies and retired colonels.” He describes his own “old pussy”, Miss Marple. “She’s just the finest detective God ever made. Natural genius cultivated in a suitable soil.” And, he warns Detective Inspector Dermot Craddock. “Don’t you despise the old pussies in this village of yours, my boy. In case this turns out to be a high-powered mystery,…remember that an elderly unmarried woman who knits and gardens is streets ahead of any detective sergeant.”
While Clithering’s comments about “nice old pussies” don’t sound correct to our 21st century ear, he’s actually an admirer of Miss Marple and her ability to discover the truth about a mystery. In fact, Miss Marple accepts the stereotype of old women, “That we old women always do snoop. It would be very odd and more more noticed if I didn’t.” She’s skillful in inserting herself into village life, and getting to know all the suspects. And, she’s cognizant that, since the war, people have moved, changed their social positions in life, and no one really knows their neighbors as they did in the past.
Despite the fact that I realized who the killer was, it was worth the time to go back and read one of Agatha Christie’s traditional mysteries. As a friend said, her plots, and her adept way of unveiling a mystery will remain a gold standard. I enjoyed A Murder is Announced, with the grand reveal. I’m going to try to pick up more of the Miss Marple mysteries that I haven’t read.
Here’s the library edition of A Murder is Announced that I read. A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie. Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 1950, 1978. ISBN 9781579126292 (hardcover), 288p. Note: The jacket cover shown is not the jacket cover of the book I read.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
It’s been a long time since I read this one, but I have read all the Christie novels, mostly in the 1970s. There are a number of authors whose entire oeuvre I’ve read (or in some cases, all the books with certain series characters) – Christie, Sayers, Simenon (the Maigrets), Hammett, Colin Dexter, Ed McBain (87th Precinct), Bill Crider (all the books under his own name, certainly), to name a few – and there are times I wish there was another book I hadn’t yet read. I’m just not much for rereading, as some people do.
Jeff, I don’t often reread either. However, I was asked to lead the book discussion for Murder on the Orient Express, and it had been too many years since I read it. I’ve read all Robert B. Parker’s Spenser books, but only the ones he wrote, even the one juvenile title. There are others, but, usually it’s series I started while the author was still writing them.
I agree with Jeff, I don’t like to reread very often. There are so many books out there I haven’t read. And thanks to you Lesa, you are always telling me about new books.
Thank you, Christie. I don’t reread often either, but I do have several books that help when I just can’t read.
I love to reread but I did notice that in 2020 I only reread 4 books. I am currently rereading Margery Allingham’s Albert Campion series and I am perpetually rereading Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe series.
Great review of A Murder is Announced. I do remembered being bothered by the reference to “old pussies”, but I enjoyed the book a lot. Once I get through the Hercule Poirot books, I will go back to the Miss Marple series and finish it.
I know the police officer didn’t mean it as an insult, but that “old pussies” line got to me. I found it demeaning, Tracy. But, we all know these books may not be politically correct. That doesn’t mean they’re not excellent mysteries, does it?
I very much agree, Lesa. There were some ethnic slurs in The Hollow, which I recently read. But that book is now one of my favorite Christie reads so far. Not only was the mystery engaging, but the characterizations were excellent.
This is one of my favorite Christies—and one I’ve taught several times. Glad you enjoyed it!
I did! As I said, Art, I’d never read this one. A couple of the lines in this book even struck home. I can see why it’s a favorite.