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Lunchtime Listen February 2024
Wonderful listen to all the stories in this book of short stories.
Still definitely a 4 star book, especially when read by the wonderful Joan Hickson.

Group read 2021
So, recently when reading a book with a collection of short stories, I commented briefly, story by story, so here we go:-
The Tuesday Night Club
The initial meeting of the club, at which Miss Marple is almost an afterthought, discusses the poisoning of a housewife, but who could have done it as everyone eat the same meal. Sir Henry puts forward the case, but it is our heroine who solves it, 1-0 Miss Marple.
The Idol House of Astarte
Proposed as a mystery by the Rev Dr Pender, this story focusses on what at first sight appears to be an impossible murder, with over a yard (metre) between the possible murderer and the victim, with a crowd of people watching. 2-0 Miss Marple
Ingots of Gold
This is Miss Marple's nephew's story, Raymond West the famous author. Set in the depths of Cornwall, this story focusses on Pirate Gold, or is it ? 3-0 Miss Marple.
The Bloodstained Pavement
Joyce Lemprière, the famous artist, is the next of the Tuesday Club members to put forward a mystery, again set in Cornwall. Set 5 years previously this mystery looks at the unexpected death of a man's wife whilst bathing. Her and her husband had met a friend of her husband the day before. But was it murder 4-0 Miss Marple. (view spoiler)[ to me this theme is something used in a couple of novels, including Evil under the Sun and A Caribbean Mystery (hide spoiler)]
Motive vs Opportunity
Mr Petherick the lawyer goes next, and he puts forward the tale of a man heavily swayed by a clairvoyant against his family. Changing his will, to leave all his money to the spirit guide, his quickly occurring death sees a blank piece of paper instead of the new will. solution provided by JM, 5-0
The Thumb Mark of St Peter
Miss Marple herself goes next and tells the story of the unexpected death of her niece's husband, and the subsequent rumours circulating about his possible murder. When an exhumation does not solve the problem, the result is non conclusive, Miss Marple focusses on his final words about fish.
The Blue Geranium
A slight change of format for this story, sees Sir Henry Clithering persuade Dolly Bantry to invite Miss Marple to be the 6th person at their dinner party. Colonel Bantry provides the story this time of a friend of his, rumoured to have killed his wife. Flowers in the wallpaper changing colour and a mystic who disappears do not stop Miss Marple from solving the problem.
The Companion
Dr Lloyd the village doctor goes next, and recounts the tale of many years ago when he worked in the Canary Islands. Two middle aged English women, arrive on holiday, and within a day one of them accidentally drowns whilst swimming, or did they ? Miss Marple is reminded of Mrs Trout in her village parallel and solves the case.
The Four Suspects
Sir Henry goes next and remembers a tale from his police days involving a secret society and a brave man who acted as a witness, before having to hide under an assumed name. Unfortunately he is is murdered so it seems obvious he has been tracked down, however only 4 people could have murdered him, and none of them have an alibi. All should have been above suspicion, but now all were under suspicion, despite no evidence against any of them. Miss Marple's knowledge of flowers leads to a solution.
A Christmas Tragedy
Miss Marple is persuaded to share another story next. On a vacation at a spa , she is struck by a supposedly loving couple, and how to her the man is not as loving as he seems. When his wife has two "accidents" in quick succession, Miss Marple is convinced but has no proof. Expecting a delay before he tries again, Miss M is shocked to find the man's wife dead the next day, with the husband having a cast iron alibi, or has he. Miss Marple solves the problem when a hat doesn't fit.
The Herb of Death
Dolly goes next and provides a few basic details of what seems an accidental murder when digitalis leaves are mixed up with herbs. Or was it deliberate. And although everyone who eat the meal was ill, why did only one person die? And who had the most to gain? Miss Marple uses her knowledge of local people to identify who had the most to gain by the death of the young woman.
The Affair at the Bungalow
Next to put forward a story is the beautiful but dim actress Jane Helier.Pretending this mystery concerns a "friend" of hers, fools no-one, and she soon trips up on her pronouns ! Regardless, who did lure her fan to the bungalow, drug him and ransack the house whilst the real owners were absent ? Typically Jane has not understand the game, and has no answer either, but unsurprisingly Miss Marple has, and it is not the answer Jane was expecting.
Death by Drowning
The following morning to the night before's mysteries sees Sir Henry having breakfast with Arthur Bantry when news of the suicide of a local girl, who had got herself pregnant is announced and discussed by the Bantrys. Shortly after Miss Marple calls to speak to Sir Henry, she knows its not suicide and passes Sir Henry a piece of paper with the name of who she thinks is the murderer upon it. Trusting her, Sir Henry makes himself known to the local investigators and tags along as they discover it was murder after all. Despite all the evidence pointing towards a ne'er do well from the smoke, Sir Henry perseveres and unsurprisingly Miss M is correct.

Group Read of all AG Marple's 2017
Another wonderful Marple book, this time 13 short stories (not that you'd guess from the title lol). As per usual Joan Hickson, sorry I mean Miss Marple, was at her absolute best. As with the majority of Agatha Christie books, I know I read this eons ago, but thankfully I only remembered a couple of the stories, so was able to play "guess the perpetrator" along with the collected ensemble at St Mary Mead. Very enjoyable again, now onto the next ha ha. What a fantastic challenge this is.