The Body in the Library (Miss Marple, #2)
Author: Agatha Christie
Rating: ā 3/5
Date Read: 2014/09/20
Pages: 191
True story: I picked this up because it was in the bargain bin, and I had been meaning to read some Agatha Christie, and I worked in a library at the time. I started working at the library in 2006 and left that position in 2009, so that gives you some idea of how long this has been sitting on my bookshelf, unread.
Agatha Christie sure makes murder seem quite civilized, which probably goes a long way in explaining her appeal. Unfortunately, Miss Marpleās detective work feels a bit too much like a parlor trick. Miss Marple doesnāt do much real investigation, but simply stands back, observes, and connects random aspects of the scene to people in her small village. Of course, she solves the crime anyway. Itās cute, but the whole thing smacks of disingenuousness to me.
Part of this is that, admittedly, Iām not big on cozy mystery novels. I prefer my detectives to have a difficult past and an uncertain future.
Perhaps the most bizarre aspect of this novel is the subplot in which weāre supposed to feel worse for the rich dude in whose library the body was found than the actual murder victim. The idea being that the body might tarnish his reputation. Um, okay?
Still, this was a fun little read, and Iām starting to understand why Christie is such a best seller. Sheās somewhat like the Bud Light of novelists: wonāt fill you up, but never let you down. But, you know, more civilized.