With all the snow and ice around I felt in need of some cosy comfort reading with an added ingredient – sunshine. I may have been sitting in snowy Birmingham feeling very chilled indeed, but my mind at least was transported to the much pleasanter surroundings of a Caribbean island.
As so often is the case with these old Agatha Christie novels – I was fairly sure I had forgotten “whodunit” however as the book progressed I did guess who the culprit was – so I wasn’t sure if I had just been clever or whether I was remembering something. It might seem strange to choose to re-read a mystery story – but I think there is something about the nostalgic and cosy nature of Agatha Christie that is perfect for re-reading. Curling up with favourite characters is always comforting – after all you know where you are with Miss Marple.
In ‘A Caribbean Mystery’ Miss Marple is enjoying a well-earned rest on the Caribbean island of St. Honore – although finding things maybe just a little too quiet. One day Miss Marple is sat talking to another guest at the hotel Major Palgrave. Poor old Major Palgrave is something of a bore – rattling on endlessly he tells the same stories over and over to anyone who has his attention for a short time. As Major Palgrave talks about his years in India, Miss Marple finds her attention wandering; she’s not really listening, as the Major switches stories to talk about murder. The Major reaches into his wallet to show Miss Marple a picture of a murderer but is interrupted. Suddenly the Major has changed the subject – and the following day he is dead.
Good old Miss Marple – she is soon on the case – she knows when something isn’t right. More deaths occur – one is rarely enough for Mrs Christie – and the redoubtable Miss Marple in cahoots with the wealthy Mr Rafiel sets out to discover the truth about her fellow hotel guests.
There have been over the years many differing TV adaptations of Miss Marple stories. I have to say I have enjoyed them all very much, the more recent Miss Marple incarnations played by Gereldine Mcewan and Julia Mackenzie were great. Each of those excellent actresses brought something different to the role, however neither of them were the real Miss Marple for me. There can only be one real Miss Marple on the screen – the marvellous Joan Hickson. Thinking about Joan Hickson – who played Miss Marple in an adaptation of A Caribbean Mystery on TV – reminds me of my Dad strangely enough. He hated Joan Hickson’s Miss Marple – she drove him to distraction, actually driving him from the room while we watched. He found her irritatingly simpering and nosey. Of course that irritating old lady routine was what made her such a genius.
I have to admit that I have always been slightly more of a Poirot fan than a Marple fan – but I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with her again – and the setting of this particular novel was an added attraction. Written in the 1960’s and set on a Caribbean island there are, maybe unsurprisingly, a few wincey un-pc moments – some of the language is unfortunate rather than very offensive. I try to accept these things in novels as being true to the times in which they were written and of the people who were writing them. Still ‘A Caribbean Mystery’ is a good old fashioned cosy mystery – probably not among Agatha Christie’s best – the plot is fairly thin and the culprit easily guessed at – still for me even a poor Agatha Christie novel is a good read.
What a lovely mix of classics and old comfy cosies we’re having this month!
We are yes : ) classics and cosies – perfect re-reading fodder I would think.
Love the idea of getting some warmth on a cold day by reading.
As for who is the best actress in the Marple role, like you there is only one who truly brings the character to life and that is Joan Hickson. McEwan for me was a travesty.
Yes I was being kind – McEwan – great actress though she is – was in no way right for Miss Marple.
“still for me even a poor Agatha Christie novel is a good read.” Me, too, Ali! Me, too.
She’s great isn’t she – perfect for curling up with.
I can’t think of anything more perfect than curling up with an Agatha Christie of any persuasion – such a pleasure to be reminded of this one too. Have you read the follow-up, Nemesis, where Mr Rafael sets her a puzzle from beyond the grave? Not a great one, but a neat puzzle.
Yes I did read Nemesis, it’s a really good one.
Ive always been put off re-reading Agatha Christie because I’d know “whodunit” before I started – you’ve made me think that might not matter ( and might not be the case that I will remember anyway – I read this years ago and have been wracking my brains to remember whodunit, but to no avail!)
As for screen Miss Marples my favourite was Margaret Rutherford.
Ah yes Margaret Rutherford now that’s going back a bit : )
I know exactly what you mean about late Christie and I do love this one nevertheless! I certainly agree it doesn’t matter if you know whodunnit – they’re still a joy to read. I do like the Rutherford films but she’s not at all an accurate Marple. I thought the Hickson ones were definitely the best – avoided the recent ones like the plague. Incidentally, have you heard the story that Hickson played a small part in one of the Rutherford films and apparently Christie saw her and told her that one day she should play Miss Marple!
No I didn’t know that, what a wonderful story : )