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A review by saareman
Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie
4.0
Mini-Me Marples
Review of the William Morrow Kindle eBook (November 5, 2013) of the collection first released by Penguin Putnam & Dodd Mead (1985) which collected 20 short stories originally released 1932 (13), 1939 (1), 1950 (4), and 1961 (2).
The first 13 stories here were released as the first Miss Marple collection [b:The Thirteen Problems|31309|The Thirteen Problems (Miss Marple, #1)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309305370l/31309._SY75_.jpg|739911] (1932) aka The Tuesday Night Club which I already reviewed here. I won't repeat those summaries here. The other 7 stories in this anthology are:
14. Miss Marple Tells a Story (originally in [b:The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories|16368|The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot, #21; Miss Marple, #2.1)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1401988178l/16368._SY75_.jpg|2720784]) (1939) Miss Marple tells her nephew Raymond and his wife Joan about a time when she helped solve the murder of a Mrs. Rhodes in which Mr. Rhodes had been the prime suspect.
15. Strange Jest (originally in [b:Three Blind Mice and Other Stories|359251|Three Blind Mice and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot, #30; Miss Marple, #2.2)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388799963l/359251._SY75_.jpg|491012]) (1950) Miss Marple helps her friends who are seeking a buried treasure.
16. The Case of the Perfect Maid (same as 15.) Miss Marple helps to clear the name of Gladys, a maid who had been dismissed on the suspicion of stealing a brooch.
17. The Case of the Caretaker (same as 15.) Doctor Haydock brings a mystery to Miss Marple when she is at home recovering from the flu. Why is the caretaker of the childhood home of Mr. Laxton tormenting the new Mrs. Laxton when they move into the new house they have built over the old site.
18. Tape-Measure Murder (same as 15.) Dressmaker Mrs. Spenlow is found dead in her dress shop. Mr. Spenlow is a suspect but he insists that he was with Miss Marple, who denies it.
19. Greenshaw's Folly (originally from [b:Double Sin and Other Stories|140354|Double Sin and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot, #38)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1316137106l/140354._SY75_.jpg|2655941] (1961) Miss Marple becomes involved when her nephew Raymond West meets a Miss Greenshaw who is willing her oddly named house to her companion Miss Crenshaw, instead of her nephew. Then Miss Greenshaw is found shot dead by an arrow. Trivia Along with story #7 The Blue Geranium from The Thirteen Problems, this is the only Miss Marple short story adapted for the TV series Agatha Christie's Marple (2004-2013). Most of the episodes were based on the Miss Marple novels and a few were based on stories in which Miss Marple did not even appear originally.
20. Sanctuary (same as 19.) A man is found shot in a church by the vicar's wife Mrs. Bunch Harmon, a friend of Miss Marple. The man claims "sanctuary... sanctuary" before dying. Miss Marple helps to solve the mystery of who the man was and why he came to the church.
All of these were typically delightful Miss Marple stories, although being on the short side they didn't get into 5 territory. #19 had probably the most ingenious crime.
Review of the William Morrow Kindle eBook (November 5, 2013) of the collection first released by Penguin Putnam & Dodd Mead (1985) which collected 20 short stories originally released 1932 (13), 1939 (1), 1950 (4), and 1961 (2).
“Oh, yes,” said Raymond. “Murder is a speciality of hers.”
“But my dear, how intriguing. What do you really mean?”
“I mean just that,” said Raymond. He paraphrased: “Some commit murder, some get mixed-up in murders, others have murder thrust upon them. My Aunt Jane comes into the third category.”
The first 13 stories here were released as the first Miss Marple collection [b:The Thirteen Problems|31309|The Thirteen Problems (Miss Marple, #1)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309305370l/31309._SY75_.jpg|739911] (1932) aka The Tuesday Night Club which I already reviewed here. I won't repeat those summaries here. The other 7 stories in this anthology are:
14. Miss Marple Tells a Story (originally in [b:The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories|16368|The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot, #21; Miss Marple, #2.1)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1401988178l/16368._SY75_.jpg|2720784]) (1939) Miss Marple tells her nephew Raymond and his wife Joan about a time when she helped solve the murder of a Mrs. Rhodes in which Mr. Rhodes had been the prime suspect.
15. Strange Jest (originally in [b:Three Blind Mice and Other Stories|359251|Three Blind Mice and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot, #30; Miss Marple, #2.2)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388799963l/359251._SY75_.jpg|491012]) (1950) Miss Marple helps her friends who are seeking a buried treasure.
16. The Case of the Perfect Maid (same as 15.) Miss Marple helps to clear the name of Gladys, a maid who had been dismissed on the suspicion of stealing a brooch.
17. The Case of the Caretaker (same as 15.) Doctor Haydock brings a mystery to Miss Marple when she is at home recovering from the flu. Why is the caretaker of the childhood home of Mr. Laxton tormenting the new Mrs. Laxton when they move into the new house they have built over the old site.
18. Tape-Measure Murder (same as 15.) Dressmaker Mrs. Spenlow is found dead in her dress shop. Mr. Spenlow is a suspect but he insists that he was with Miss Marple, who denies it.
19. Greenshaw's Folly (originally from [b:Double Sin and Other Stories|140354|Double Sin and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot, #38)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1316137106l/140354._SY75_.jpg|2655941] (1961) Miss Marple becomes involved when her nephew Raymond West meets a Miss Greenshaw who is willing her oddly named house to her companion Miss Crenshaw, instead of her nephew. Then Miss Greenshaw is found shot dead by an arrow. Trivia Along with story #7 The Blue Geranium from The Thirteen Problems, this is the only Miss Marple short story adapted for the TV series Agatha Christie's Marple (2004-2013). Most of the episodes were based on the Miss Marple novels and a few were based on stories in which Miss Marple did not even appear originally.
20. Sanctuary (same as 19.) A man is found shot in a church by the vicar's wife Mrs. Bunch Harmon, a friend of Miss Marple. The man claims "sanctuary... sanctuary" before dying. Miss Marple helps to solve the mystery of who the man was and why he came to the church.
“Murder?” said Miss Marple.
“Yes,” said Bunch. “Murder. That’s why I came to you, darling.”
Bunch’s remark might have seemed incongruous to an ignorant listener, but in certain spheres Miss Marple had a reputation for dealing with murder.
All of these were typically delightful Miss Marple stories, although being on the short side they didn't get into 5 territory. #19 had probably the most ingenious crime.