The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

 

Title:  The Body in the Library

Author:  Agatha Christie

Narrated by:  Stephanie Cole

Publisher: Harper Audio

Length: Approximately 5 hours and 21 minutes

Source: Amazon Music

Are you involved in any book challenges or book clubs this year?  I am once again a part of the #ReadChristie2026 challenge this year, although I am running a bit behind.  The theme for 2026 is Biggest, Best, Beloved Stories.  The January theme was “Best Opening.”  The Body in the Library certainly has a great opening…

The Bantrys wake up one day to find the body of a dead woman in their library.  Who is this woman and how did she end up in their library?  The Bantrys ask Miss Marple to help solve the case.

My thoughts on the novel:

·       This is the second novel in the Miss Marple series.  I love how sharp Miss Marple is and how she is able to use her knowledge and observations of human nature and behavior to solve mysteries.

·       This seemed a slightly more gruesome Agatha Christie mystery to me with the burned body of a “Girl Guide” (equivalent to a girl scout) victim in a car.  The book didn’t go into great detail, but I was very disturbed by it.

·       Stephanie Cole is a new audiobook narrator for me.  She did a good job and this was an enjoyable audiobook.

·       The plot of this novel was very clever.  I did not guess the ending and was intrigued as Miss Marple laid it all out in the end.

·       It is funny how Miss Marple recognizes the small things or clues and is able to put together the scenario while the police have no idea what is going on.

·       The poor Bantrys.  St. Mary’s Mead starts to cut them out of society as they are sure Colonel Bantry had something to do with it.

·       This is one of my favorite Miss Marple mysteries so far.

Overall, The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie was an enjoyable classic mystery with Miss Marple in her prime.