Nemesis is the last Marple novel Agatha Christie wrote, and has everything wished for in a series finale - nods to past novels and characters, and an ingenious premise of a mystery within a mystery.
It was published in 1971, followed by the final Poirot novel Curtain, and the final Tommy and Tuppence novel Postern Of Fate. The "12th" Marple novel Sleeping Murder had been written in 1940 but was published after her death in 1976.
Nemesis is a completely different murder mystery - there is no body, no murderer and of course, no clues!
Mr. Rafiel (from A Caribbean Mystery) has passed away and left Jane a sum of money if she can investigate a certain crime within one year using her "natural flair for justice". That is all the letter says, leaving Marple without a clue. Unlike The Body In The Library where the murder precedes the investigation, or The Mirror Crack'd where all the clues to solve the mystery are presented within the first two chapters, Nemesis presents an unknown mystery with unknown players - it's waiting for Marple to discover. Shortly, tickets arrive for a bus tour of the homes and gardens of England, which she goes on, sizing up the other fourteen passengers.
Resting at a village, Marple is approached by one of three sisters living in the Old Manor House who were instructed by Mr. Rafiel to invite her to stay with them overnight. She learns of crimes many years ago where a local girls were strangled (one found, another body still missing) and that the culprit locked away was none other than Mr. Rafiel's son. While she is visiting, the others walk to a nearby site and one is struck dead by a falling rock. Strangely, the dead woman also knew one of the strangled girls and was on her own investigation. The tour comes to a halt for a few days, giving Jane time to discover who her fellow passengers really are, the history of the three sisters, and the truth behind the forgotten murders.
There came a point near the end when I finally solved the case and knew who the killer was, only to have it revealed just one page later! She keeps you hanging on to the last. There is also a terrific finale, with frail Marple defenceless in bed without even a knitting needle, as she unmasks the approaching killer! There are many other surprises, which I'll let you discover for yourself.
The Moving Finger was one of the best Marples, as is Nemesis. An amazing accomplishment considering it was her 62nd mystery novel and she was 80 when she wrote it.
The premise is so unique as we uncover the mystery along with Marple; the characters and drama surpassing the usual who-done-it. Jane is getting older as the novels pass and needs extra help, and luckily, she finds her fellow tourists are not all what they seem. Everyone on the bus tour has secrets or motives to conceal, and the village is rife with old gossip. There are references to The Body In The Library and past novels which help to tie the whole series together.
Completely unique within a series of great mysteries. It's a great finale for Marple.
1971 / Tradeback / 256 pages
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