The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side by Agatha Christie

 

The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side by Agatha Christie.

This edition published 11th May 2023 by Harper Collins.

Originally published 1962.

From the cover of the book:

A movie star.
A deadly cocktail.
A murder.

When glamorous Marina Gregg came to live in St Mary Mead, tongues were sure to wag.

But, with a local gossip’s sudden death, has one tongue wagged a bit too much?

As the police chase false leads, and two more victims meet untimely ends, Miss Marple starts to ask her own questions.

What secrets might link a peaceful English village and a star of the silver screen?

Never underestimate Miss Marple...

***********

When aging movie star, Marina Gregg, moves to St Mary Mead, the locals can hardly contain themselves. There is lots of talk about the transformation of Gossington Hall, former home of Dolly Bantry who has retired to the East Lodge, particularly when it comes to marble bathrooms - and the chance for a glimpse of the make-over comes with the annual fete at the grounds of the Hall in aid of St John Ambulance.

Marina Gregg and her husband, film director Jason Rudd, open their doors to chosen members of the St Mary Mead community during the fete, including local do-gooder Heather Badcock, a life-long fan of the star. Everyone is shocked when a few minutes after boring her her idol with a long tale of a former meeting, Heather Badcock collapses and dies - a victim of a poisoning.

Who could have wanted to kill annoying, but apparently harmless Heather? Was the poison intended for another? Miss Marple has a few ideas...

Written in 1962, this book begins with Miss Marple reflecting on the the big changes that have happened in St Mary Mead, particularly when it comes to the 'development' which has attracted a whole new crowd of residents to the village. She is also very much regretting the meddlesome presence of nurse-companion Miss Knight, foisted on her with good intentions by her nephew Raymond, who insists on treating the wily old sleuth as a fragile creature in her dotage.

The fun begins when a murder happens at the newly transformed Gossington Hall, where Hollywood royalty, Marina Gregg, has set up home. Tongues which were already wagging are sent into over-drive speculating at the unlikely murder of one of the residents of the 'development'. Scotland Yard, under the auspices of my very favourite Marple detective, Chief Inspector Dermot Craddock, have a tough time working out exactly what has gone on here, but fortunately he is able to rely on the razor-sharp instincts of his 'aunt' Jane.

Christie has a ball in this story by delving into clashes between old and new, beginning within St Mary Mead itself and then broadening the plot to encompass the madness of the Hollywood film scene. As she always does well, social change and the passing years are examined with remarkable insight, but, ultimately, this mystery hinges on the timeless emotions that motivate us all, which Miss Marple understands - particularly when it comes to revenge.

There are some lovely interactions in this story. Miss Marple's quiet battle with Miss Knight is full of comic moments, and her conversations with Dermot are wonderful, with much twinkling on her side and admiration on his. Dolly is as marvellous as always, and proves key to unravelling the whole business with her observations about Tennyson's lyrical ballad The Lady of Shallot, which gives the novel its title. Many of the other characters are unlikeable for one reason or another, but this all adds to the delicious pot for Christie to exploit with her twisty imagination, and there is intriguing poignancy in the motive that drives the murderer to go on their killing spree - this is really one where you find yourself questioning what you would do under the circumstances too (or maybe that is just me?).

I had not read this one before, although was aware of the story from the excellent Joan Hickson adaptation (my favourite Miss Marple). Inevitably, there is much more to be enjoyed in Christie's original text, which was a joy.

This is my October pick for #ReadChristie2024 as a book written by Christie in the 1960s/70s and I loved it from start to finish. 

The Mirror Crack'd from Side To Side is available to buy now in various formats.

About the author:

Agatha Christie is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in English with another billion in over 70 foreign languages. She is the most widely published author of all time and in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections, 20 plays, and six novels written under the name of Mary Westmacott.