The definitive companion to the MISS MARPLE novels, short stories, films and TV appearances, now revised and updated.

"The book opens with a description of Miss Marple's hometown, St. Mary Mead, a village south of London. The reader is introduced to many of the residents, from the Vicar to the fishmonger's delivery boys (all of whom are named Fred). From the Marple works Hart extracts references to the detective's past, and reconstructs her girlhood and the genesis of her career. The author also follows Miss Marple through the 1930s and World War II, and describes her appearance and personality, daily routine, travels and relationships with relatives and friends."--Publishers Weekly.

My Name Is Hercule Poirot And I Am Probably The Greatest Detective In The World.' The Dapper, Moustache-Twirling Little Belgian With The Egg-Shaped Head, Curious Mannerisms And Inordinate Respect For His Own 'Little Grey Cells' Has Solved Some Of The Most Puzzling Crimes Of The Century. Yet Despite Being Familiar To Millions, Poirot Himself Has Remained An Enigma Until Now. From His First Appearance In 1920 To His Last In 1975, From Country-House Drawing-Rooms To Opium Dens In Limehouse, From Mayfair To The Mediterranean, Anne Hart Stalks The Legendary Sleuth, Unveiling The Mysteries That Surround Him. Sifting Through 33 Novels And 56 Short Stories, She Examines His Origins, Tastes, Relationships And Peculiarities, Revealing A Character As Fascinating As The Books Themselves.

In utter disbelief, Miss Marple read the letter addressed to her from the recently deceased Mr. Rafiel—an acquaintance she had met briefly on her travels. He had left instructions for her to investigate a crime after his death. The only problem was, he had failed to tell her who was involved or where and when the crime had been committed. It was most intriguing. Soon she is faced with a new crime—the ultimate crime—murder. It seems someone is adamant that past evils remained buried. . . .

At Bertram’s Hotel the intrepid Miss Marple, on holiday in London, must solve a deadly mystery at the end of a chain of very violent events. An old-fashioned London hotel is not quite as reputable as it makes out to be.… When Miss Marple comes up from the country for a holiday in London, she finds what she’s looking for at Bertram’s Hotel: traditional decor, impeccable service, and an unmistakable atmosphere of danger behind the highly-polished veneer. Yet, not even Miss Marple can foresee the violent chain of events set in motion when an eccentric guest makes his way to the airport on the wrong day.…

Soon after Gwenda moved into her new home, odd things started to happen. Despite her best efforts to modernize the house, she only succeeded in dredging up its past. Worse, she felt an irrational sense of terror every time she climbed the stairs. In fear, Gwenda turned to Miss Marple to exorcise her ghosts. Between them, they were to solve a “perfect” crime committed many years before.

Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories gathers together in one magnificent volume all of Agatha Christie’s short stories featuring her beloved intrepid investigator, Miss Marple. It’s an unparalleled compendium of murder, mayhem, mystery, and detection that represents some of the finest short form fiction in the crime fiction field, and is an essential omnibus for Christie fans. Described by her friend Dolly Bantry as “the typical old maid of fiction,” Miss Marple has lived almost her entire life in the sleepy hamlet of St. Mary Mead. Yet, by observing village life she has gained an unparalleled insight into human nature—and used it to devastating effect. As her friend Sir Henry Clithering, the ex-Commissioner of Scotland Yard, has been heard to say: “She’s just the finest detective God ever made”—and many Agatha Christie fans would agree.