A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie (Miss Marple #9)
Author
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world’s longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the “Golden Age of Detective Fiction”, Christie has been called the “Queen of Crime”. She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Non-review Rant
This wasn’t part of the the original stack of books to be read in December, but then, the first two were so bleh, that I wanted to change taste, even if it meant reading on my phone and increasing my screen time.
I ain’t regretting it.
My First Agatha Christie Ever (And It Was a Tropical Murder)
I think this is officially my first Agatha Christie.
Yes. I know.
I don’t know how I managed to live this long without reading even one of her books, but here we are. And honestly? What a way to begin — with sunshine, sea breeze, old ladies on holiday… and of course, murder.
A Caribbean Mystery was a completely random pick, and now I’m sitting here wondering why I waited so many years to meet Miss Marple.
Characters
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Miss Jane Marple – The star of the show. Elderly, sharp, observant, and quietly terrifying in how much she notices. She looks harmless. She is not.
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Mr Rafiel – Loud, rich, rude, wheelchair-bound, and oddly lovable. Grumpy on the outside, surprisingly warm on the inside. Easily my favourite alongside Miss Marple, an unusual ally, too.
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Major Palgrave – A retired major who talks too much and starts a chain of events just by talking… and then ends up dead.
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Molly Kendal – Young, beautiful hotel owner with a shaky past and a lot to hide. Or does she?
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Tim Kendal – Molly’s husband, co-owner of the hotel. Suspicious in that calm, polite way that always makes you nervous. And suspicious.
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Greg Dayson – A man with a shady past.
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Lucky Dayson – A woman with a shady past. Everyone has something shady in their past. How else would they all become suspects, right?
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Esther Walters – Mr Rafiel’s secretary, very patient woman. Turns out, she’s in love with a married man, but I’m not going to tell who.
- Jackson – Mr Rafiel’s errand boy of sorts.
- Victoria – Hotel’s employee. She suspects the murderer after the first one (yes, there are multiple).
- Evelyn Hillingdon – Another guest at the hotel, my third favourite in this lot.
- Edward Hillingdon – Evelyn’s husband, clearly has an affair but Evelyn looks the other way.
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The Hotel Guests – A cocktail of random holidaymakers, each with their own secrets, strange habits, and quiet grudges. Basically, everyone is suspicious. As it should be.
Recap
Miss Marple is on a quiet holiday in the Caribbean — hoping for rest, warmth, and peace. Instead, she lands in the middle of gossip, strange conversations, and a sudden murder. A man who seemed harmless is killed, and what first appears to be a simple case quickly becomes something much more layered.
Clues are hidden in casual conversations, small gestures, and stories that seem irrelevant at first. As more truths come out, it becomes clear that the past never really stays buried — not even on a sunny island.
Miss Marple watches. Listens. Connects dots. And slowly, the truth surfaces.
Review
My Tiny Review (Amazed, Honestly)
I went in with zero expectations. I came out completely impressed.
For a first Agatha Christie, this was:
- Fast-paced
- Clever
- Light but dark in the right places
- And full of deliciously strange characters
Miss Marple is now officially one of my favourite fictional detectives — quiet, underestimated, and brilliant. And Mr Rafiel? What a surprise package. Gruff, annoying, oddly kind, and a perfect contrast to Miss Marple’s calm intelligence. Their dynamic was so fun to read.
The writing never feels heavy. The mystery keeps moving. And the way everything ties together at the end is chef’s kiss.
Some Highlights and Notes
2%
Some of these talkers had been handsome soldierly old boys, some again had been regrettably unattractive; and Major Palgrave, purple of face, with a glass eye, and the general appearance of a stuffed frog, belonged in the latter category.
4%
Nothing to get your teeth into in scandals nowadays. Just men and women changing partners, and calling attention to it, instead of trying decently to hush it up and be properly ashamed of themselves.
28%
But then, how many married men there were who behaved as though they weren’t married!
56%
Miss Marple returned her knitting to her bag. She did this with no undue air of meekness, rather with the air of one who makes allowances for a fractious patient.
61%
She spoke with desperate earnestness and only moderate incoherence.
62%
Gentlemen, she knew, did not like to be put right in their facts.
63%
“Conversations are always dangerous, if you have something to hide,” said Miss Marple.
65%
Some women haven’t. They fall for anyone who tells them a hard-luck story. Always convinced that all the man needs is proper female understanding. That, once married to her, he’ll pull up his socks and make a go of life! But of course that type of man never does.
71%
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil—and what is more, think no evil!
Final Thoughts
Safe to say:
I am officially entering my Agatha Christie era.
If this was your first Christie too, we’re twins. And if you’re a long-time fan — please tell me what I should read next.
Stay tuned for more book reviews.
Until next time, happy reading!
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Shabana Mukhtar