'Murder at the Vicarage' by Agatha Christie

‘Anyone who murdered Colonel Protheroe,’ declared the parson, brandishing a carving knife above a joint of roast beef, ‘would be doing the world at large a favour!’ It was a careless remark for a man of the cloth. And one which was to come back and haunt the clergyman just a few hours later – when the colonel was found shot dead in the clergyman’s study. But as Miss Marple soon discovers, the whole village seems to have had a motive to kill Colonel Protheroe.

MY THOUGHTS: 

This is the first full length novel featuring Miss Marple and takes place in the village she calls home, St Mary Mead. The story is narrated by the vicar, Leonard Clement, who has a likeable blend of wisdom, curiosity and self-deprecation. He makes such wry observations as, 'I preceded to follow the example of the devil in quoting scripture for his own ends.' 

One of Len's church wardens, Colonel Lucius Protheroe, is discovered shot through the head in the study of the vicarage. The thing about Colonel Protheroe is that nobody really liked him, including his wife and daughter. Protheroe was a dour and outspoken advocate for a more militant Christianity, with far stronger punishment in the name of justice. Needless to say, that attitude got lots of people's backs up. 

He was also a tedious know-it-all. Dr Stone, the archaeologist, says, 'Because he had read a few books, he set himself up as an authority, against a man who has made a lifelong study of the subject.' We all know the type. Colonel Protheroe was one of those guys. 

Motives for Protheroe's murder are everywhere. In fact, several people recently stated that the world would be far better off without him, including the vicar himself. Len was using exaggerated hyperbole, which he regrets, especially after the murder took place in his own house. But presumably, some other person meant every word. 

At first I found it a stretch to believe that so many people would tell the vicar, of all people, that they wished the colonel would die. Surely it would make more sense for the real murderer not to say it outright at all. Miss Marple's nephew, Raymond West, agrees with me. He says, 'Of course, if your subconscious were really planning to do him in, it would never have allowed you to make that remark.' Does that general rule hold true for everyone who vocalised that wish? Hmm, maybe or maybe not. 

The rude and abrasive Inspector Slack is assigned to the case, but he has not half the skill of the modest but astute Miss Marple, whose favourite hobby is people watching. The twist, which only she manages to unravel, is very smart. Some slick and clever crime is uncovered.

As an interesting philosophical aside, the local GP, Dr Haydock muses that some poor criminals may have medical conditions that cause them to commit crimes they cannot really help. This was 1930 and nearly a century later, the issue of such accountability is still a bit of a grey area. Haydock is so passionate about the subject, I wonder if he was the mouthpiece for one of Dame Agatha's own hobby horses. 

We get to meet the illustrious Raymond West, who is often merely mentioned by his aunt in other stories. He's portrayed as one of those pretentious, down-his-nose literary authors. (The sort who writes poems with no capital letters.) 

I also found out what trencher salts and tazzas are; knowledge I never realised I lacked until now. Friends, don't assume you know the name of everything that may sit upon a table top.  

Overall, it's a great debut for a lovable sleuth, but a bit sad to think that such unlovable people as Colonel Protheroe exist in the world, not to mention filling church eldership roles. The ironic phrase, 'It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy,' fits him to a tee. 

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