At Bertram’s Hotel

This is one of Christie’s later Marple novels, providing an interesting view into Miss Marple’s degree of adaptation to a rapidly changing world. This particular Wm Morrow edition, however, is filled with glaring typos (quotation mark rather than apostrophe to indicate the possessive, lack of spacing between words, double periods, etc.) that detract from the work. For such a widely-read author it is a bit puzzling these errors fell through. If it weren’t for the high quality paper, cover, and binding I would wonder if it were a genuine copy. It clearly is, which makes the lack of copy editing even more frustrating.

Miss Marple is revisiting her girlhood by staying at Bertram\’s (based on one of Christie\’s favorite places to stay, Brown\’s, which still offers tea). She meets old acquaintances like Selina Hazy, who had stayed at St.Mary Mead during the war to be near the base where her son had been stationed. But she also meets people who look like old acquaintances, but on second glance aren\’t. Bertram\’s hasn\’t changed — the scrumptious teas, the breakfasts (in bed, British, and, of course American, with juice and cereal), even the chambermaids. But somehow, it seems too good to be true. Then Bess Sedgewick, an adventuress who doesn\’t SEEM the Bertram\’s type, checks in, at the same time as a young Elvira Blake and her guardian, who turn out to have a connection with her. What\’s that about? And a series of mysterious robberies where the suspects all seem to resemble prominent, respectable people — Justice Ludgrove, for example, who had a very solid alibi, being in court on the day the crime was committed. And then, the murder of Bertram\’s doorman, Mickey Gorman (off-stage, of course, with Elvira Blake screaming beside the body). What is going on at Bertram\’s?

I came to Miss Marple late, having enjoyed Poirot\’s adventures and the various (and sometimes superior) stand-alones. My favorite, after all these years, remains \’The Mysterious Mr. Quin\”. That said, I find the \’Marple\’ books to be a step above Poirot. I was always put off by her film representations, but the novels are terrific. I\’ve yet to see a Marple book given the treatment that \’Murder on the Orient Express\’ has received. Sure, that was a great story. But many \’Marples\’ are even better. She\’s not a doddering fool, and Hollywood could benefit from her presence.

This book arrived timely and well packaged. However, I do not remember the product description given detailing that multiple page in this book would have the names of major characters on a particular page, hand written across the top of the page. Once or twice was novel, the third and up to about number thirty-five, was absolutely irritating. If i\’d known about this before ordering, I would have purchased it elsewhere WITHOUT the writting.

I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie\’s work and upon seeing this title wanted to read it right away. Not terribly impressed with the small role played by inveterate sleuth Ms Marple. Kudos though to the wonderful description of this jewel of a hotel in the heart of London. Who knew it was the base for a crime syndicate. Frankly I was kept guessing right until the end as to who the perpetrator of the murder was. Enjoyable reading.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member