Review: “The Body in the Library” by Agatha Christie

Thumbs up for The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie. Mystery.

Seeing a reference to Christie reminded me that I had never read any of the Miss Marples. In fact I realized I had done Christie a misservice, many years ago, by reading several of her mysteries (which I enjoyed well enough) and then following them by the horrible Passenger to Frankfurt, which left a bad taste in my mouth. That needed to be remedied. Well, in reading The Body in the Library I remembered what I had thought the first time around: She does what she does with untouchable skill, but she is at the huge disadvantage of being a pioneer. Mysteries have moved on since. So while The Body in the Library was a very pleasurable way to kill a few hours, I’ll have to wait until I’m in an old-fashioned sort of mood to read another. (Which will, I’m certain, happen again.)

“But you’re very good at murders. She’s been murdered, you see; strangled. What I feel is that if one has got to have a murder actually happening in one’s house, one might as well enjoy it, if you know what I mean. That’s why I want you to come and help me find out who did it and unravel the mystery, and all that. It really is rather thrilling, isn’t it?”