Written by Agatha Christie
SUMMARY:
First published in 1930, this 247-page paperback reprint of the first Miss Jane Marple novel was released by Signet via Penguin Putnam Inc. in 2000. In the quaint, small-world atmosphere of St. Mary Mead, there hasn’t been a homicide for several years. This idyllic reality chills when self-righteous village elder, Col. Lucius Protheroe, is found shot to death at point-black range in the vicarage’s study.
The vicar, Leonard “Len” Clement, narrates the subsequent murder investigation. Frequently consulted by the police, Clement aids Inspector Slack and Col. Melchett search the gossiping village for clues. Two confessions only makes who had the motive and opportunity to ruthlessly kill Protheroe even more nebulous. What Clement, the police, and the suspects don’t anticipate is the force of nature that local busybody, Miss Jane Marple, really is.
REVIEW:
Conveyed as a supporting character, Marple’s frequent off-screen-time isn’t so much a disappointment, as it’s a bore. Specifically, Christie’s likable ‘everyman’ vicar-narrator, Len Clement, and his less-than-suspenseful recurring interactions with the ensemble cast incessantly drag on.
It’s only when Marple at last reveals the ingenious solution that this mystery finally springs to life. While the audience gets sporadic glimpses of her observations, the depth of Marple’s deductive reasoning isn’t nearly as persuasive when too much explanation is saved for the finale. Not nearly as charming as she later becomes, the mildly condescending Marple comes off nearly omniscient, just like Len Clement too often claims she is.
A related consequence of Christie’s starched plotting is that several St. Mary Mead inhabitants are caricatures (including Marple’s visiting blowhard nephew, Raymond West). An exception, of course, is Len Clement, but his milquetoast presence as an amateur sleuth barely stirs this plot. Neither does his young wife, Griselda, as her own contrived plot twist near the novel’s end is an instance of too little too late. Other possible red herrings are constructed better, but Marple’s non-involvement in these plot threads won’t likely sway much interest with readers.
Wasting some amusing zip to Christie’s parody of a rural British village, the novel muddles too much to generate sympathy or even mild curiosity re: the fates of this batch of suspects. The mystery’s intricate solution and the final few pages, however, serve a welcome refreshment after the stagnant maze Len Clement, the two cops, and Miss Marple traverse searching for the elusive culprit.
Considering its historical value for Marple fans, the single-read nature of Murder at the Vicarage makes it an ideal find at the library (for ages 15 and up).
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
Besides the usual Christie-related ads, Penguin Putnam Inc. includes a full page of its Christie title inventory.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5 Stars
