Murder at the Vicarage | Agatha Christie | Book Review | First Miss Marple Mystery Book
Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie is the first mystery that introduces her iconic female sleuth, Miss Marple. A murder mystery that has been baffling readers for over nine decades, read the book summary, book release date, genre, reading age, book quotes, and book review of Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie in this post below.
About Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie:
No. of Pages: 304
Publication Date: 1930
Genre: Murder Mystery, Classic, Crime Fiction, Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Small Town Mystery, Detective Fiction
Series: Miss Marple Book 1
Reading Age: 13 years and above
Can be read as a standalone? YES
Buy From: AMAZON
Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Summary:
"…anyone who murdered Colonel Protheroe would be doing the world at large a service" A Vicar's carelessly spoken words come back to haunt him in Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and #BookQuotes on #NjkinnysBlog… Click To Tweet…anyone who murdered Colonel Protheroe would be doing the world at large a service”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
Vicar Len Clement’s carelessly spoken words come back to haunt him when Colonel Protheroe is found shot in his own library some hours later.
Colonel Protheroe is a thoroughly despised man. There is not one person in the whole village who likes him. His first wife left him. His daughter hates him. And his second wife is also on the verge of running away from him!
He is pompous, a self imposed authority on things he has little knowledge of and a little deaf too so that his voice is always loud. Therefore his death leaves everyone restless because it seems all have a motive for wanting him dead!
In a place filled with old, nosy ladies who know the ins and outs of everyone there is Miss Marple who is the next door neighbour to the Vicar. And who it seems has her own seven suspects who she thinks had perfect opportunity and motive to kill the Colonel.
As she goes sleuthing, shocking secrets are revealed. And what with everyone confessing to the murder, the police are left clueless. So, it’s up to Miss Marple to pick out the real murderer.
But can she find the real murderer or will she also find herself lost in the web of deception and lies surrounding the murder?
"Intuition is like reading a word without having to spell it out. A child can't do that because it has had so little experience. A grown-up person knows the word because they've seen it often before.”- #BookQuote #MurderattheVicarage… Click To TweetIntuition is like reading a word without having to spell it out. A child can’t do that because it has had so little experience. A grown-up person knows the word because they’ve seen it often before.”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Review:
The first mystery novel that introduces Miss Marple:
A classic first novel that introduces Miss Marple, I have lost count of the number of times I have read books by Agatha Christie.
And its no different with Murder at the Vicarage which has always intrigued and hooked me irrespective of all the times I have already read it!
Excellent Character sketches that provide an in-depth study of human nature:
"I often wonder why the whole world is so prone to generalise. Generalisations are seldom if ever true and are usually utterly inaccurate.”- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and #BookQuotes on #NjkinnysBlog… Click To TweetI often wonder why the whole world is so prone to generalise. Generalisations are seldom if ever true and are usually utterly inaccurate.”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
I have always loved Christie’s expertise at sketching her characters and this book also showcases her skill.
"The young people think the old people are fools – but the old people know the young people are fools.”- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and #BookQuotes on #NjkinnysBlog #NjkinnyRecommends #AgathaChristie… Click To TweetThe young people think the old people are fools — but the old people know the young people are fools.”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
Miss Marple:
"There is no detective in England equal to a spinster lady of uncertain age with plenty of time on her hands.”- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and #BookQuotes on #NjkinnysBlog #NjkinnyRecommends… Click To TweetThere is no detective in England equal to a spinster lady of uncertain age with plenty of time on her hands.”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
The character sketch of Miss Marple, who is compared to another busybody of the village Miss Wetherby, is very interesting and creates an instant picture of an old and frail grandmother like figure in our minds.
"Miss Marple is a white-haired old lady with a gentle, appealing manner – Miss Wetherby is a mixture of vinegar and gush. Of the two Miss Marple is much the more dangerous."- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview… Click To Tweet‘Miss Marple is a white-haired old lady with a gentle, appealing manner – Miss Wetherby is a mixture of vinegar and gush. Of the two Miss Marple is much the more dangerous.’
Miss Marple’s physical appearance as described in “Murder at the Vicarage” by Agatha Christie
The only book that shows Miss Marple in a bad light:
This is the only book that has her sketched in a bad light. She is disliked by Griselda who describes her as
"..the worst cat in the village..And she always knows every single thing that happens- and draws the worst inferences from it."- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and #BookQuotes on #NjkinnysBlog… Click To Tweet..the worst cat in the village..And she always knows every single thing that happens- and draws the worst inferences from it.”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
Even the Vicar’s nephew, Dennis calls her the
"terrible Miss Marple"- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and #BookQuotes on #NjkinnysBlog #NjkinnyRecommends #AgathaChristie #MurderMystery #BookBoost Click To Tweetterrible Miss Marple”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
An old lady who everyone discounts as harmless:
In all her other novels she is always sketched as the very tame and perfectly harmless old spinster who is so old that often people thinking her a little gaga share their secrets never once suspecting that behind her facade of fragility is a mind most sharp and alert!
"Miss Marple is not the type of elderly lady who makes mistakes. She has got an uncanny knack of being always right."- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and #BookQuotes on #NjkinnysBlog #NjkinnyRecommends… Click To TweetMiss Marple is not the type of elderly lady who makes mistakes. She has got an uncanny knack of being always right.”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
Griselda:
I also loved the character of Griselda, the Vicaress, who is introduced in a very engaging manner by the Vicar.
"My wife's name is Griselda- a highly suitable name for a parson's wife. But there the suitability ends. She is not in the least meek."- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and #BookQuotes on #NjkinnysBlog… Click To TweetMy wife’s name is Griselda- a highly suitable name for a parson’s wife. But there the suitability ends. She is not in the least meek.”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
This quote is frightfully true!
"It's awfully easy to appear silly, Mr. Clement. It's one of the easiest things in the world.”- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and #BookQuotes on #NjkinnysBlog #NjkinnyRecommends #AgathaChristie… Click To TweetIt’s awfully easy to appear silly, Mr. Clement. It’s one of the easiest things in the world.”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
Vicar:
The Vicar is the narrator of this book. And he is a simple man of the cloth.
I loved this quote about marriage that is a wise advice to live by!
"Marriage, I have always held, is a serious affair, to be entered into only after long deliberation and forethought, and suitability of tastes and inclinations is the most important consideration.”- #bookQuote #MurderattheVicarage… Click To TweetMarriage, I have always held, is a serious affair, to be entered into only after long deliberation and forethought, and suitability of tastes and inclinations is the most important consideration.”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
Narration and the mystery:
Vicar is the narrator of “Murder at the Vicarage” book by Agatha Christie:
The narration is from the point of view of the Vicar and it adds a fresh perspective of a common spectator to the already very interesting plot. Though not the best Miss Marple case yet this is a very challenging case which exercises all the reader’s investigative prowess.
"One's own troubles sharpen one's eyes sometimes.”- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and #BookQuotes on #NjkinnysBlog #NjkinnyRecommends #AgathaChristie #MurderMystery #BookBoost Click To TweetOne’s own troubles sharpen one’s eyes sometimes.”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
Highlight of this book:
"Inestimable harm may be done by foolish wagging of tongues in ill-natured gossip”- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and #BookQuotes on #NjkinnysBlog #NjkinnyRecommends #AgathaChristie #MurderMystery… Click To TweetInestimable harm may be done by foolish wagging of tongues in ill-natured gossip”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
But I think the most appealing aspect of this book which lures me again and again to read it is the humor in it. There is Griselda who is extra protective of her maid Mary, despite her being a terrible cook, because as long as she’s a bad cook nobody else will want to hire her!
Then there are the old gossipy women who know everything about everyone and news through them spreads faster than even an eye blink!
As the Vicar aptly puts it,
"It is a mystery to me how any one gets any nourishment in this place. They must eat their meals standing up by the window so as to be sure of not missing anything."- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and… Click To TweetIt is a mystery to me how any one gets any nourishment in this place. They must eat their meals standing up by the window so as to be sure of not missing anything.”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
"Miss Marple always sees everything. Gardening is as good as a smokescreen, and the habit of observing birds through powerful glasses can always be turned to account."- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and… Click To TweetMiss Marple always sees everything. Gardening is as good as a smokescreen, and the habit of observing birds through powerful glasses can always be turned to account.”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
Conclusion:
"I know that in books it is always the most unlikely person. But I never find that rule applies in real life. There it is so often the obvious that is true.”- #bookQuote Murder at the Vicarage by @AgathaChristie #BookReview and #BookQuotes… Click To TweetI know that in books it is always the most unlikely person. But I never find that rule applies in real life. There it is so often the obvious that is true.”
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Book Quote
A typical Christie mystery where any and everyone is a suspect. And when the real culprit comes to light at the end it’s always someone who was as far down in our list of possible murderers as expecting snow to fall in the summers!
So I sat spell bound all through and give 4.5 out of 5 stars to this thrilling murder mystery by Agatha Christie. And Njkinny recommends that you read and meet the enigmatic Miss Marple as she solves her first case.
Buy From:
Also read Miss Marple’s Last Case:
Read Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie Book Review and Book Quotes
Also Read:
- A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie (Miss Marple Mystery) Book Review and Book Quotes
- The Jewel Robbery At The Grand Metropolitan by Agatha Christie Short Mystery Book Review
- Peril at End House by Agatha Christie Book Review and Book Quotes (Hercule Poirot Mystery)
- The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie Book Review and Book Quotes (Hercule Poirot Mystery Book 1)
- Soul’s Despair by Vivek Bhanot Book Review and Book Quotes
- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Review and Book Quotes
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I have to admit I prefer Poirot to Miss Marple – great review 🙂
Thanks..:) I like both these characters..They both have their quirks but are exemplary in their methods of crime solving.. 🙂