I could swear that I have never read this book before, but I knew immediately who the murderer was! Maybe there was a television version? I did watch Joan Hickson as Miss Marple back in the day. That's my only explanation for my conviction on this point.
Despite that I enjoyed the mystery. Like many of Christie's novels, it took a rhyme, this time Tennyson's poem The Lady of Shalott, and worked it into the novel just as she did with several nursery rhymes. Quite effectively too. It also allowed me the luxury of being able to observe Christie's careful structuring of the crime.
Of course I do adore Jane Marple, who seems to be Aunt Jane to ever so many detectives. Just like her characters Tommy and Tuppence, Christie allowed Miss Marple to age, with all the tribulation that entails. I had great sympathy for her, being saddled with the dense, controlling Miss Knight. I have a sister who seems to think that because one of my knees doesn't work so well that I can't take care of myself. Our last serious spat resulted from her trying to “help" without asking whether help was required or desired (it was not). I laughed out loud when Miss M declared to Inspector Craddock that she was tempted to murder the woman!
Book 4 of my 2025 Read Your Hoard challenge.
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