Reviews

Marple: Twelve New Mysteries by Natalie Haynes, Kate Mosse, Lucy Foley, Alyssa Cole, Jean Kwok, Naomi Alderman, Elly Griffiths, Ruth Ware, Karen M. McManus, Dreda Say Mitchell, Leigh Bardugo, Val McDermid

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rcd229's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I know Miss Marple was originally written during and for a specific time, but I guess it just isn't my thing. I haven't read any of Christie's original Miss Marple stories, so I have no grounds for comparing how well these authors have adapted the character, but they do all seem to have gotten the same essential notes as each other at least. I just got tired of the repetition of old-fashioned attitudes (again, purposely a specific time and place, I know) and didn't find the way the mysteries were solved seemingly out of the blue as well told as, say, the Sherlock Holmes stories. Also to be honest, I found Miss Marple kind of nosy and pedantic rather than charmingly batty but brilliant. I have loved many of Christie's other works (And Then There Were None was probably the first mystery novel to ever really blow me away) so again, maybe this particular character just isn't for me, or the way the authors have written her isn't my style 🤷‍♀️