Miss Marple – Miss Marple and Mystery: The Complete Short Stories

24. The Idol House of Astarte

25. Ingots of Gold

26. The Bloodstained Pavement

27. Motive v. Opportunity

28. The Thumb Mark of St Peter

29. A Fruitful Sunday

30. The Golden Ball

31. Accident

32. Next to a Dog

33. Sing a Song of Sixpence

34. The Blue Geranium

35. The Companion

36. The Four Suspects

37. A Christmas Tragedy

38. The Herb of Death

39. The Affair at the Bungalow

40. Manx Gold

41. Death by Drowning

42. The Hound of Death

43. The Gipsy

44. The Lamp

45. The Strange Case of Sir Arthur Carmichael

46. The Call of Wings

47. In a Glass Darkly

48. Miss Marple Tells a Story

49. Strange Jest

50. Tape-Measure Murder

51. The Case of the Caretaker

52. The Case of the Perfect Maid

53. Sanctuary

54. Greenshaw’s Folly

55. The Dressmaker’s Doll

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Appendix: Short Story Chronology

Also by the Author

Also in this Series

Agatha Christie: Miss Marple Omnibus

Agatha Christie: Miss Marple Omnibus

Agatha Christie: Miss Marple Omnibus

Agatha Christie: Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories

Also Available

Agatha Christie: The Mary Westmacott Collection

Agatha Christie: The Mary Westmacott Collection

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

Author’s Foreword to Miss Marple and the Thirteen Problems (#ulink_49ec5f75-ef4d-5f6f-993d-d22b254fb33a)

These problems were Miss Marple’s first introduction to the world of detective story readers. Miss Marple has some faint affinity with my own grandmother, also a pink and white pretty old lady who, although having led the most sheltered and Victorian of lives, nevertheless always appeared to be intimately acquainted with all the depths of human depravity. One could be made to feel incredibly naïve and credulous by her reproachful remark: ‘But did you believe what they said to you? You shouldn’t do that. I never do!’

I enjoyed writing the Miss Marple stories very much, conceived a great affection for my fluffy old lady, and hoped that she might be a success. She was. After the first six stories had appeared, six more were requested, Miss Marple had definitely come to stay.

She has appeared now in several books and also in a play – and actually rivals Hercule Poirot in popularity. I get about an equal number of letters, one lot saying: ‘I wish you would always have Miss Marple and not Poirot,’ and the other ‘I wish you would have Poirot and not Miss Marple.’ I myself incline to her side. I think, that she is at her best in the solving of short problems; they suit her more intimate style. Poirot, on the other hand, insists on a full length book to display his talents.

These Thirteen Problems contain, I consider, the real essence of Miss Marple for those who like her.

AGATHA CHRISTIE