Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie
May 21, 2014 | by Becky Oeltjenbruns
Garsington Manor, 1865
Our previous Cause A Frockus book club selections have focused on new books with a vintage theme. But today we’d like to introduce you to a dear friend, Miss Marple. She gives us hope for the future. You see, Miss Marple is a kind old lady who doesn’t let age stop her from being smart as a whip, daring, and courageous. Even though she is a fictional creation, something about her amazing nature inspires us to embrace all the years ahead of us – and make the most of them. “Sleeping Murder” is the conclusion to the Miss Marple series and Agatha Christie’s words show us that she saved the best for last!
Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie
Miss Jane Marple debuted to the public literary world in the late 1920s via the short story “The Thirteen Problems.” As her character developed over the following decades, Miss Marple evolved from gossip to shrewd detective, relied on by police departments throughout England. Her mixture of kindness, wisdom, and toughness came from the mature women in Christie’s own life. Because Miss Marple is grounded in reality, it’s easy to relate to her – she feels like someone you may already know. In true Agatha Christie style, her investigations are both detailed and terrifying. It’s easy to get wrapped up in Miss Marple’s world, feeling the goosebumps on your skin as she inches closer to the murderer.
Dame Agatha Christie plaque
“Sleeping Murder” is the last chapter in Miss Marple’s adventures and her adoring public had to wait a while to get the scoop. Dame Christie first wrote the novel around the time of the Second World War, but did not release it for publication until 1976. Because of this time lapse some inconsistencies naturally pop up, but they don’t distract from the power of the narrative. The plot revolves around a young bride who finds her perfect home, only to discover through a series of eerie coincidences that the place isn’t as new to her as she previously understood. Christie fully captures the internal torment our main character, Gwenda, experiences as she grapples with unfamiliar memories.
The cornflower, with red poppies in the background
As with other Christie novels, descriptive elements play a large role. Sights, sounds, and colors come together to form a layered, but complete picture. In the second chapter Gwenda describes a cornflower and poppy wallpaper to her contractor, only to discover that’s the original pattern underlying the newer wall coverings. That uncanny incident is not a lone occurrence; soon it is compounded with other half-remembrances and gut feelings that can’t be explained. A chance meeting with Miss Marple advances the plot from a tale living within Gwenda’s mind to an active investigation. Marple’s ability to delve into the world of forgotten crimes displays her keen sleuthing skills. She is at the height of her ability and the brilliant plot twists don’t sway her from the chase (and serve to keep even the most stoic reader on their toes). “Sleeping Murder” is relatively short as far as novels go, but it makes the pace of reading fly by quicker and quicker, feeding into the suspense and matching the pace of the case’s developments. By the time you’ve finished the story you’ll find yourself coming back to details days later – it’s the kind of work that sticks with you long after the book is back on your shelf. We strongly encourage you to meet this amazing lady detective and check out other books in the series.
Cause A Frockus would like to thank the incredible Dame Agatha Christie and the people who post their images without restriction.
For our readers: Do you love reading mystery novels, if so who’s your favorite fictional detective and why?