Marple: Twelve New Mysteries (Miss Marple Mysteries)

Given the success of Sophie Hannah’s recent additions to the collection of Hercule Poirot mysteries, it’s no surprise that an attempt has been made to extend the Miss Marple canon too—and what a delightfully successful attempt it has been!

In Marple: Twelve New Mysteries, an eclectic group of contemporary authors contribute short stories featuring Agatha Christie’s famous sleuthing spinster, Miss Jane Marple. While the approaches and tones of the stories vary, all the writers do a great job of capturing the essence of Christie’s famous character and crafting intriguing puzzles for her to solve.

There are, of course, a number of standout stories. For instance, “Murder at the Villa Rosa” by Elly Griffiths is told from the perspective of original character Signor Jeffries and so provides novel insights into perceptions of Miss Marple and her approach to sleuthing, while in “The Murdering Sort” Karen McManus suggests the possibility of there being a successor to Miss Marple. Moreover, “Miss Marple’s Christmas” by Ruth Ware evokes the spirit of the classic “Christie for Christmas” and presents a mysterious disappearance that occurs against a charming festive background.

Although they might not all be cozy, all twelve stories in the collection make for exciting and intriguing reads, and while Marple: Twelve New Mysteries is apparently intended to introduce a whole new generation to Miss Marple, the collection is sure to appeal to long-term fans of the noted village busybody too.