The Murder at the Vicarage

ByAgatha Christie

Release Date: 2009-03-17
Genre: Women Sleuths

Score: 4

From 513 Ratings

Description

The Murder at the Vicarage is Agatha Christie’s first mystery to feature the beloved investigator Miss Marple—as a dead body in a clergyman’s study proves to the indomitable sleuth that no place, holy or otherwise, is a sanctuary from homicide.

Miss Marple encounters a compelling murder mystery in the sleepy little village of St. Mary Mead, where under the seemingly peaceful exterior of an English country village lurks intrigue, guilt, deception and death.

Colonel Protheroe, local magistrate and overbearing land-owner is the most detested man in the village. Everyone--even in the vicar--wishes he were dead. And very soon he is--shot in the head in the vicar's own study. Faced with a surfeit of suspects, only the inscrutable Miss Marple can unravel the tangled web of clues that will lead to the unmasking of the killer.

Reviews

Miss Marple, unequaled in her perception!
4
By TBgr1992
I like Miss Marple, of course-(who doesn't?), but the story and mystery were tiresome. (Very British, I guess. )
So, it's not my favorite book. Sorry!
A Delight….
5
By Laurie_Oh_TLG
This is one of the Marples that I have seen the TV version before I read the book. The late, great Geraldine McEwan is my favorite Miss Marple and I could see and hear her throughout this book.

As is usual, the screen version differs from the book quite a bit. Once I was able to put the tv episode out of my head, I enjoyed this book even more. Christie captured the both the charm and the gossipy underbelly of English village living. At least how we expect it to be. Outside of the awfulness of the murder, we see the dynamics of the vicar, his family and flock. But even more we see how people (authority figures, younger people and even the vicar himself) automatically underestimate Miss Marple because she is 1) old, 2) never married, 3) smart, 4) petite. But under her soft shawls and demeanor is a fiercely smart woman, who is always 10 steps ahead of law enforcement and the criminal(s). While Hercule Poirot and his little grey cells get all the glory, I offer that Miss Marple is before her time and like Ginger Rodgers, did it all backwards, but in sensible pair of shoes.
Enjoyed it
5
By Delight Ville
Good quick mystery read
Christy Performs
3
By JPMJPM1
A very skilllful and complex story with many characters which all contribute to the mystery.
Murder and Miss Marple
5
By Mary Ward Taylor
Perhaps not as intriguing and clever as some Agatha Christie mysteries, it was entertaining nevertheless. Of course l am a devoted fan of the author!
A Marple Murder Masterpiece
5
By Marple Lover
One of Agatha Christie‘s masterpieces. Here we truly get to spend quality time with Miss Marple in her first novel, and while we may be able to enjoy Miss Marple in film and television, here in Agatha Christie‘s own unaltered words, we get to form our own enchantment with her.

Agatha Christie’s genius in creating Marple allows us all to fancy ourselves as the amateur sleuth, unlike some of her other more beloved “professional” sleuths.

This masterpiece is timeless, a beautiful study in the culture and vocabulary of rural English villages of their time, and a comfy, elegant piece where no word is out of place.
Fantastic
5
By DrumShredder
Excellent detail, plot, and characters. Christie has a great way of injecting principles into her work, and it’s always difficult to predict the murderer.
Murder at the Vicarage
2
By Burry R
Interesting read.
Very good
5
By Parkle Sparkle
This was a beautifully written mystery. Loved it.

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