The Murder at the Vicarage
Part 1 of the Miss Marple series
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.
The Body in the Library
Part 2 of the Miss Marple series
The iconic Miss Marple must investigate the case of a girl found dead in Agatha Christie's classic mystery, The Body in the Library. It's seven in the morning. The Bantrys wake to find the body of a young woman in their library. She is wearing an evening dress and heavy makeup, which is now smeared across her cheeks. But who is she? How did she get there? And what is the connection with another dead girl, whose charred remains are later discovered in an abandoned quarry? The respectable Bantrys invite Miss Marple into their home to investigate. Amid rumors of scandal, she baits a clever trap to catch a ruthless killer.
The Moving Finger
Part 3 of the Miss Marple series
The indomitable sleuth Miss Marple is led to a small town with shameful secrets in Agatha Christie's classic detective story, The Moving Finger. Lymstock is a town with more than its share of scandalous secrets-a town where even a sudden outbreak of anonymous hate mail causes only a minor stir. But all that changes when one of the recipients, Mrs. Symmington, commits suicide. Her final note says "I can't go on," but Miss Marple questions the coroner's verdict of suicide. Soon nobody is sure of anyone-as secrets stop being shameful and start becoming deadly.
A Murder Is Announced
Part 4 of the Miss Marple series
A Murder is Announced in a small-town newspaper advertisement-and Miss Marple must unravel the fiendish puzzle when a crime does indeed occur. The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn are agog with curiosity when the Gazette advertises "A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30 p. M." A childish practical joke? Or a spiteful hoax? Unable to resist the mysterious invitation, the locals arrive at Little Paddocks at the appointed time when, without warning, the lights go out and a gun is fired. When they come back on, a gruesome scene is revealed. An impossible crime? Only Miss Marple can unravel it.
They Do It With Mirrors
Part 5 of the Miss Marple series
In Agatha Christie's They Do It with Mirrors, the indomitable Miss Marple investigates some rather deadly doings at a rehabilitation center for delinquents.
Miss Marple senses danger when she visits a friend living in Stoneygates, a rehabilitation center for delinquents. Her fears are confirmed when someone shoots at the administrator. Although he is not injured, a mysterious visitor is less fortunate-shot dead simultaneously in another part of the building.
Pure coincidence? Miss Marple thinks not, and must use all her cunning to solve the riddle of the stranger's visit … and his murder.
A Pocket Full of Rye
Part 6 of the Miss Marple series
In Agatha Christie's classic, A Pocket Full of Rye, the bizarre death of a financial tycoon has Miss Marple investigating a very odd case of crime by rhyme. Rex Fortescue, king of a financial empire, was sipping tea in his "counting house" when he suffered an agonizing and sudden death. On later inspection, the pockets of the deceased were found to contain traces of cereals. Yet, it was the incident in the parlor which confirmed Miss Marple's suspicion that here she was looking at a case of crime by rhyme....
4:50 From Paddington
Part 7 of the Miss Marple series
In Agatha Christie's classic mystery 4:50 From Paddington, a woman in one train witnesses a murder occurring in another passing one…and only Miss Marple believes her story. For an instant the two trains ran side by side. In that frozen moment, Elspeth McGillicuddy stared helplessly out of her carriage window as a man tightened his grip around a woman's throat. The body crumpled. Then the other train drew away. But who, apart from Mrs. McGillicuddy's friend Jane Marple, would take her story seriously? After all, there are no other witnesses, no suspects, and no case -- for there is no corpse, and no one is missing. Miss Marple asks her highly efficient and intelligent young friend Lucy Eyelesbarrow to infiltrate the Crackenthorpe family, who seem to be at the heart of the mystery, and help unmask a murderer.
The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side
Part 8 of the Miss Marple series
The quaint village of St Mary Mead has been glamourized by the presence of screen queen Marina Gregg, who has taken up residence in preparation for her comeback. But when a local fan is poisoned, Marina finds herself starring in a real-life mystery-supported with scene-stealing aplomb by Jane Marple, who suspects that the lethal cocktail was intended for someone else. But who? If it was meant for Marina, then why? And before the final fade-out, who else from St Mary Mead's cast of seemingly innocent characters is going to be eliminated?
A Caribbean Mystery
Part 9 of the Miss Marple series
As Jane Marple sat basking in the tropical sunshine she felt mildly discontented with life. True, the warmth eased her rheumatism, but here in paradise nothing ever happened. Then a question was put to her by a stranger: 'Would you like to see a picture of a murderer?' Before she has a chance to answer, the man vanishes, only to be found dead the next day. The mysteries abound: Where is the picture? Why is the hotelier prone to nightmares? Why doesn't the most talked-about guest, a reclusive millionaire, ever leave his room? And why is Miss Marple herself fearful for her life? Of note: A Caribbean Mystery introduces the wealthy (and difficult) Mr. Jason Rafiel, who will call upon Miss Marple for help in Nemesis (1971) -- after his death.
At Bertram's Hotel
Part 10 of the Miss Marple series
At Bertram's Hotel the intrepid Miss Marple, on holiday in London, must solve a deadly mystery at the end of a chain of very violent events. An old-fashioned London hotel is not quite as reputable as it makes out to be.…When Miss Marple comes up from the country for a holiday in London, she finds what she's looking for at Bertram's Hotel: traditional decor, impeccable service, and an unmistakable atmosphere of danger behind the highly-polished veneer. Yet, not even Miss Marple can foresee the violent chain of events set in motion when an eccentric guest makes his way to the airport on the wrong day.…
Nemesis
Part 11 of the Miss Marple series
Even the unflappable Miss Marple is astounded as she reads the letter addressed to her on instructions from the recently deceased tycoon Mr. Jason Rafiel, whom she had met on holiday in the West Indies (A Caribbean Mystery). Recognizing in her a natural flair for justice and a genius for crime-solving, Mr. Rafiel has bequeathed to Miss Marple a £20,000 legacy -- and a legacy of an entirely different sort. For he has asked Miss Marple to investigate...his own murder. The only problem is, Mr. Rafiel has failed to name a suspect or suspects. And, whoever they are, they will certainly be determined to thwart Miss Marple's inquiries -- no matter what it will take to stop her.
Sleeping Murder
Miss Marple's Last Case
Part 12 of the Miss Marple series
In Agatha Christie's classic, Sleeping Murder, the indomitable Miss Marple turns ghost hunter and uncovers shocking evidence of a perfect crime. Soon after Gwenda moved into her new home, odd things started to happen. Despite her best efforts to modernize the house, she only succeeded in dredging up its past. Worse, she felt an irrational sense of terror every time she climbed the stairs. In fear, Gwenda turned to Miss Marple to exorcise her ghosts. Between them, they were to solve a "perfect" crime committed many years before.
A Christmas Tragedy
Part of the Miss Marple series
Previously published in the print anthology The Thirteen Problems. At a health resort, Miss Marple becomes suspicious that a man she meets is planning on murdering his wife.
Ingots of Gold
Part of the Miss Marple series
Raymond West approaches the Tuesday Night Club after his visit to John Newman, a friend who is searching for the Spanish ship Otranto which was shipwrecked off the coast of Cornwall. When John Newman disappears for days, upon his return he claims that he had been abducted by the thieves who had stripped the Otranto of its gold. Can Miss Marple help the club solve the mystery of the Otranto and its dangerous allure?
The Idol House of Astarte
Part of the Miss Marple series
Years ago, a murder was committed on the night of a costume party thrown by Sir Richard Haydon. Sir Richard's estate contained the grove of Astarte, which held a mysterious stone summer house rumored to have been the site of numerous sacred rites in years long past. In a surprise act, the lovely Diana Ashley enacted the role of Astarte, startling Sir Richard who stumbled and fell. When the others reached his body, he was found dead of a knife wound to the heart. After all these years, can the Club still solve the case?
The Idol House of Astarte
Part of the Miss Marple series
In this classic short story, Miss Marple attempts to solve the unexplainable murder of a baronet who was stabbed, with no one around him in sight . . .
During the first meeting of the Tuesday Night Club at Miss Marple's home, her guests present real tales of mystery, and the wise hostess attempts to solve them from the comfort of her armchair. Next up with a spooky story is local clergyman Dr. Pender . . .
Years ago, Pender attended a costume party at the estate of his college friend, Sir Richard Haydon. Haydon believed that sacred rites to ancient goddesses were once performed on his grounds. Later, socialite Diana Ashley surprised the guests by dressing as a priestess to Astarte. But even more shocking was Haydon's sudden fall. He was stabbed in the heart with no one close enough to attack him, and no weapon to be found.
Although decades have passed since the bizarre murder, Miss Marple and her club may be able to deliver justice for Sir Haydon . . . Originally published in the United States in Detective StoryMagazine in 1928, "The Idol House of Astarte" appeared in Christie's short story collection, The Thirteen Problems, in 1932.
Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories
Part of the Miss Marple series
Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories gathers together in one magnificent volume all of Agatha Christie's short stories featuring her beloved intrepid investigator, Miss Marple. It's an unparalleled compendium of murder, mayhem, mystery, and detection that represents some of the finest short form fiction in the crime fiction field, and is an essential omnibus for Christie fans.
Miss Marple has lived almost her entire life in the sleepy hamlet of St. Mary Mead. Yet, by observing village life she has gained an unparalleled insight into human nature-and used it to devastating effect.
The Thumb Mark of St. Peter
Part of the Miss Marple series
In this classic short story, Miss Marple steps in to investigate when her niece is accused of murdering her violent husband.
During the first meeting of the Tuesday Night Club at Miss Jane Marple's home, her guests present real tales of mystery. Miss Marple is the first to share a story . . .
Fifteen years ago, Miss Marple's niece, Mabel Denman, was married to an abusive and hot-tempered man-until he suddenly died. Was it the mushrooms he ate? Or the arsenic Mabel had recently purchased? While the village gossips were ready to declare Mabel guilty, Miss Marple was determined to clear her niece's name and set everything straight . . .
Originally published in the United States in Detective StoryMagazine in 1928, "The Thumb Mark of St. Peter" appeared in Christie's short story collection, The Thirteen Problems, in 1932.
The Herb of Death
Part of the Miss Marple series
Previously published in the print anthology The Thirteen Problems. A dinner party takes a deadly turn when somebody poisons the guests.
The Blood-Stained Pavement
Part of the Miss Marple series
A classic Agatha Christie short story, featuring Miss Marple, from the collection Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories. Joyce Lempiere tells the Tuesday Night Club of an incident that occurred five years ago when she was vacationing at a small inn on the Cornish coast. She was painting a picture of the front of the inn, including details of wet bathing suits drying on the balcony of Denis and Margery Dacre, when she realised she had included blood stains on the pavement. A few days later Margery is found dead, having drowned, and the Club are called to solve the mystery.
The Affair at the Bungalow
Part of the Miss Marple series
Previously published in the print anthology The Thirteen Problems. A beautiful actress tells a mysterious tale, but Miss Marple has her suspicions about the story's truth.
The Companion
Part of the Miss Marple series
Previously published in the print anthology The Thirteen Problems. A murder-suicide in a small village mimics events that took place years before.
Tape Measure Murder
Part of the Miss Marple series
Miss Politt has been waiting and waiting outside Laburnum Cottage for Mrs. Spenlow, to no avail. She nervously acquires the help of her next-door neighbor, whose gumption and persistence reveal that Mrs. Spenlow is dead on the hearthrug. The whole of St. Mary Mead is convinced the murderer is Mr. Spenlow, who shows no emotion upon his wife's sudden death, but, with characteristic diligence, Miss Marple reveals that it is perhaps not that simple.
Miss Marple Tells a Story
Part of the Miss Marple series
Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Christie's wildly unconventional investigator, Parker Pyne, all make appearances in The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories-a riveting collection of short stories featuring a host of murderous crimes of passion, pleasure, and profit. There's a body in a trunk; a dead girl's reflection is caught in a mirror; and one corpse is back from the grave, while another is envisioned in the recurring nightmare of a terrified eccentric. What's behind such ghastly misdeeds? Try money, revenge, passion, and pleasure. With multiple motives, multiple victims, and multiple suspects, it's going to take a multitude of talent to solve these clever crimes. In this inviting collection, Agatha Christie enlists the services of her finest-Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Parker Pyne-and puts them each to the test in the most challenging cases of their careers.
The Case of the Perfect Maid
Part of the Miss Marple series
Previously published in the print anthology Three Blind Mice and Other Stories. A maid is blamed for stealing from her employer, but the culprit may be somebody else entirely.
Greenshaw's Folly
Part of the Miss Marple series
Previously published in the print anthology Double Sin and Other Stories. The lady of the house at Greenshaw's Folly is murdered in the midst of drawing up her will.
Clues to Christie
An Introductory Guide To Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Tommy & Tuppence And All Of Agatha Christie's
Part of the Miss Marple series
Dying to read Agatha Christie for the first time or to re-read one of her classic mysteries but don't know where to start? This fully authorized and comprehensive guide to the Queen of Mystery includes an introduction by award-winning Agatha Christie expert John Curran with features on each of her classic detectives including Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot and Tommy & Tuppence; guides to reading each of her series and her stand-alone novels; and an A to Z of Agatha Christie. Interspersed throughout are quotes from Christie, a list of the Christie novels that were her personal favorites and three of her classic short stories: The Affair at the Victory Ball, Greenshaw's Folly and A Fairy in the Flat. Clues to Christie Table of Contents: "Agatha Christie: An Introduction" by John Curran; The Hercule Poirot Mysteries; "The Affair at the Victory Ball"; The Miss Marple Mysteries; "Greenshaw's Folly"; The Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries; "A Fairy in the Flat"; Agatha Christie's Stand-Alone Mysteries and Short-Story Collections; The Queen of Mystery's Personal Favorites; Ten Other Ways to Read Agatha Christie; "On Agatha Christie and Poisons"; The A to Z of Agatha Christie
Death by Drowning
Part of the Miss Marple series
Previously published in the print anthology The Thirteen Problems. A young girl finds out she's pregnant and throws herself off a bridge, but Miss Marple is not so sure it was suicide.
The Case of the Caretaker
Part of the Miss Marple series
Doctor Haydock, the resident GP of St. Mary Mead, hopes to cheer up Miss Marple as she recovers from the flu with a little story. The tale revolves around the return of the prodigal son of Major Laxton, the devilishly handsome Harry Laxton. Harry, after leading a life of childish indiscretions and falling head over heels for the village tobacconist's daughter, has made good and returned to lay claim to his tumbling childhood home and introduce the village to his beautiful new wife. But, the villagers are prone to gossip about young Harry's past, and one person in particular cannot forgive him for tearing down the old house. Will Miss Marple's acumen be up to the task of solving the story?
Motive v. Opportunity
Part of the Miss Marple series
A classic Agatha Christie short story, featuring Miss Marple, from the collection Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories. At a meeting of the Tuesday Night Club, attorney Mr. Petherick relates an incident involving the late Simon Clode, a wealthy client. Obsessed by his granddaughter's death, Clode turned to spiritualist Eurydice Spragg to contact her in the afterlife, and then decided to write a new will leaving Eurydice as the benefactor and excluding his family. To everyone's surprise, when the envelope containing the will is opened, the paper is blank. The Tuesday Night Club goes on the case…
The Four Suspects
Part of the Miss Marple series
Previously published in the print anthology The Thirteen Problems. A doctor who helped bring about the downfall of a secret German organization is convinced that the members will seek revenge
The Tuesday Night Club
Part of the Miss Marple series
A classic Agatha Christie short story, featuring Miss Marple, from the collection Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories. After a supper of canned lobster and a dessert of canned trifle, three people become ill and Mrs. Jones is found dead. Although a bout of botulism is suspected, the Tuesday Night Club is keen to investigate further…
Sanctuary
Part of the Miss Marple series
Bunch, engrossed in her flower arrangements for the church, is placing the chrysanthemums when she sees a man crumpled over on the chancel steps, dying. The man can only utter one word, "sanctuary." No one at the vicarage understands what he means, and nothing can be done to stop his death. But, when his relatives promptly arrive to pick up his possessions, Bunch can't get the word out of her head. She knows just who to turn to, her godmother, Miss Marple. What Bunch and Miss Marple discover is more exciting than anything that could be expected to happen in a sleepy village like Chipping Cleghorn. Who is this man, and what does "sanctuary" mean?
The Blue Geranium
Part of the Miss Marple series
Previously published in the print anthology The Thirteen Problems. A woman is warned by a psychic of the evil and danger in her house. On a full moon, she must watch for the signs: blue primrose means caution, blue hollyhock is danger, and blue geranium is death!
The Thumb Mark of St Peter
Part of the Miss Marple series
A classic Agatha Christie short story, featuring Miss Marple, from the collection Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories. Fifteen years ago, Miss Marple's niece, Mabel Denman, was accused of murdering her abusive and violent husband. Can Miss Marple clear her niece's name and reveal the true perpetrator?