I have the urge to read all of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple novels, of which there are only twelve. Less than I thought when she has written 66 detective novels, six romances and 14 collections of short stories - as well as the world's longest running play, The Mousetrap. First published in 1930, Vicarage introduced the elderly Jane Marble, and was the only Marple mystery until The Body In The Library ten years later.
If you think it's about the ever present and observant Miss Marple investigating and solving a murder case, you'd be wrong.
Vicarage introduces the Clement (the Vicar) and his younger wife Griselda, who find old Mr. Protheroe shot in the Vicarage study. The time of the murder is set between 6:15 and 6:30 when they were both out of the house, the maid heard nothing, and visiting artist Mr. Redding has an alibi, as do his wife and daughter. No one was seen coming or going from the house at the time. Clement is the star of this novel (it is told in his voice), becoming amateur sleuth and discovering village secrets, motives and red herrings alongside Inspector Slack, Dr. Haydock and Chief Constable Colonel Melchett.
Along the way he receives notes and clues from the gossipy old matrons of St. Mary Mead including Miss Wetherby, Miss Hartnell, Mrs. Price Ridley and Miss Marple, a white haired old lady with a gentle manner and the uncanny knack of always being right (which is what makes her unpopular, comments the Vicar). There aren't many in the village who regard these ladies as more than "nasty old cats" with nothing better to do than watch their neighbours at all hours.
Miss Marple has only sporadic appearances in the novel, as she shares her observations of peculiar things with Clement, mostly though for her own curiosity.
There are subplots about local archaeologist Dr. Stone and his assistant, stolen money from the church, local artist Mr. Redding, young love, the mysterious Mrs. Lestrange, a shot in the woods, and adulterous affairs. Jane Marple's visiting nephew Raymond West derisively compares St. Mary Mead to a stagnant pool, to which Miss Marple points out "Nothing, I believe, is so full of life under a microscope as a drop of water from a stagnant pool".
The surprise here was Marple's supporting role, and that she is somewhat of a nuisance to be dismissed. Clement does a great job of sleuthing, along with Melchett, and the mystery is held right up until the end - literally pages left when Marple fits the final piece of the puzzle and turns the case on its ear. Vicarage contains all the elements of the classic detective novel and is an auspicious debut of a character, who will grow into one of the ultimate sleuths of the genre. Excellent.
1930 / Hardcover / 288 pages
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