Authors who write everything from YA to romance to thrillers--Naomi Alderman, Leigh Bardugo, Alyssa Cole, Lucy Foley, Elly Griffiths, Natalie Haynes, Jean Kwok, Val McDermid, Karen McManus, Dreda Say Mitchell, Kate Mosse and Ruth Ware--each contribute a short story to Marple: Twelve New Mysteries. Putting a fresh spin on an iconic character, this glittering assortment of a dozen authors--in their own distinctive styles--presents a series of charming adventures that feature Agatha Christie's beloved elderly detective.
Miss Jane Marple finds murder happening everywhere--Italy, New York City, Singapore--as she travels the world, all thanks to the largesse of famous novelist Raymond West, her nephew. But no matter whether she is in exalted circles or among familiar neighbors in her village of St. Mary Mead, Miss Marple is indisputably herself. The amateur sleuth, tapping into her knowledge of human nature, manages to solve murders involving old school friends, wedding guests and fellow vacationers. She even solves a case in which murder only seems to have happened.
Clever and gentle, Marple is a lovely homage to Agatha Christie's often under-appreciated detective. As Miss Marple herself notes, "it wouldn't be the last time she was dismissed as a silly old woman." But as she works her magic, time and again her perspicacity shocks victims and investigators alike. Readers, whether longtime Christie fans or new to Miss Marple, will quickly come to appreciate her charm and intelligence. They are sure to love each story. --Jessica Howard, freelance book reviewer