Therefore, much of the book came fresh and new to me on this re-reading. I could only remember a little of the story primarily the opening scene, which Christie herself described as “The best opening I ever wrote”, and some of the scenes at the Majestic Hotel – mainly those involving the professional dancers. Unusually, the publication in America preceded the publication in the UK. The full book was first published in the US in February 1942 by Dodd, Mead and Company, and the subsequently in the UK by Collins Crime Club in May the same year.

The Body in the Library was first serialised in the US in The Saturday Evening Post in seven parts in May and June 1941. The book is dedicated to “my friend Nan.” This was Nan Kon, formerly Nan Pollock, née Nan Watts, whom Agatha Christie knew since they were children and whose friendship remained strong throughout their lives. As usual, if you haven’t read the book yet, don’t worry, I promise not to tell you whodunit! Several police from a number of forces lend a hand in identifying the culprit, but it is Miss Marple who, as always, follows her unique suspicions to get to the truth. ‘The acknowledged queen of detective fiction.In which the body of an unknown young woman is found in the library of Arthur and Dolly Bantry’s home, so, naturally, Mrs Bantry doesn’t hesitate to tell her old friend Miss Jane Marple. ‘One of the most ingeniously contrived of all her murder stories.’ Birmingham Post ‘Miss Marple is spry, shrewd and compassionate.’ Sunday Telegraph

The 18 Marple books, novels and collections of short stories, would appear at intervals over the next 49 years, with Miss Marple’s Final Cases published in 1979, three years after Agatha Christie’s death. When The Murder at the Vicarage was published in October 1930, little did the literary world realise that Agatha Christie, already famous for her early Poirot titles, was introducing a character who would become the best-loved female sleuth of all time. Miss Marple’s investigations uncover a scandal far darker than either of them could have imagined, and this time she may be out of her depth. The body in the library has been murdered and Miss Marple is so very good at solving murders. But she hasn’t called her old friend for comfort. When Mrs Bantry wakes to find a body in her library, there’s only one woman to call: her good friend Jane Marple.

The Body in the Library is Agatha Christie’s second Miss Marple mystery.

Agatha christie death in the library