Marple: Twelve New Stories

 Marple: Twelve New Stories, 370 pages

My grandmother introduced me to Agatha Christie when I was young, and many of the stories have been ingrained in my imagination for many years. My approach to the collection was apprehensive, but my fears were unfounded. The women who penned these short stories have  given us lovely portraits of the Miss Marple they esteem.

I enjoyed all of the stories, but I think perhaps The Second Murder at the Vicarage might be my favorite. It was a delightful return to Miss Marple's very first case. 

Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie

 Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie, 346 pages

Miss Marple is my favorite Agatha Christie sleuth, and I have read the Marple short stories several times. Personally, I think this collection is a great place to start for the Marple uninitiated, because the stories are short enough to read at least one in a sitting, but not so notoriously complicated that, even if you haven't read them before, you can't make an educated guess at the culprit. 

Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

 Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie, 285 pages

When the cantankerous Colonel Protheroe is found murdered in the Vicar's study, the sleepy village of St. Mary Mead is thrown into a hotbed of suspicion, gossip, and mystery. Despite the involvement of the police, the village doctor, and the vicar himself, the murder is solved by none other than Miss Marple, the old maid across the lane. 

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie, 253 pages

This is one of Agatha Christie's classic murder mysteries with Miss. Marple.  When a body is found in the Bantry's Library, Miss. Marple is called in to help solve the case of the murdered young women, Ruby Keene.  Traveling to the Majestic Hotel where Ruby worked as a dancer, Miss Marple, uncovers many clues to the murder.  But, when another girl's body turns up, Miss. Marple really has a mystery to solve.  Agatha Christie's novels are timeless and leave the reader on the edge of their seat!