It’s been interesting rereading a few Jane Marple books after I so recently viewed the television versions, because although I have known the identity of each murderer, I’ve been better able to judge how fair Christie is playing. That is, are there clues to the solution? In The Mirror Crack’d there are.
The villagers of St. Mary Mead are agog to hear that the famous actress, Marina Gregg, has purchased Gossington Hall (the site of The Body in the Library) and will be hosting the local fête. Miss Marple’s friend Mrs. Bantry, who used to own the house, will be a special guest.
At home, Miss Marple is a bit unhappy. She is no longer allowed to garden, and her doctor thinks she shouldn’t live alone. The solution is the kind but obnoxious Mrs. Knight, who talks in the plural and hovers and doesn’t listen to Miss Marple. One day Miss Marple sends her out shopping so she can escape and goes to investigate the new housing development. She has a fall and is helped by Heather Badcock, a foolish woman who doesn’t consider how her actions affect others.
At the fête, just after Heather has introduced herself to Marina Gregg and is again telling her how she met her, her drink is spilled. Marina gives Heather her own, and after Heather drinks it, she quickly dies. It is poisoned, but was the victim intended to be Heather or Marina? Neither woman seems to have serious enemies.
I think that this novel has one of the most powerful endings of Christie’s novels. You’ll also be happy to know that Miss Marple finds a way to rid herself of Mrs. Knight.
What? Me Read? 
I’m sure I read this one… but I don’t remember much. I remember Mrs. Knight, though!
She’s awful and yet so realistic!
I love this one and I think the crucial clue is one of Christie’s best! I also love the film with Elizabeth Taylor as Marina and Kim Novak as Lola Brewster, both giving fabulous performances as rival actresses!
I do, too, for both the clue and the film.
Christie is one of my always-go-to when I’m hungry for excellent prose, characterization, and plotting. I’m slowing reading/rereading her works, and I spent a couple of good solid hours with this one.
Christie is just SO good at showing, rather than telling. Being about Miss Marple’s age, also dealing with an “aging” body, I was as irritated by Mrs. Knight as she was.
I REALLY didn’t care for Marina Gregg, but somehow felt she suffered from manic-depressive syndrome (is it still called that?) And I certainly didn’t care for the way she treated her adopted children. And, as usual, I had a couple of ideas about “who dun it,” but she fooled me again. As for the end, I hate to be dense, but do you think it was an “assisted suicide”? I agree with you about the ending, but, actually, as I think about it, the entire setup was sad—an avoidable tragedy except for human selfishness. But that’s almost always the basis for murder, isn’t it?
I believe, too, that this book was based on an actual incidence in the life of actress Hedy Lamarr.
Anyway, thanks for reviewing this and sending me to St. Mary Mead!
Sue
I don’t think it was an assisted suicide. I think he killed her.
Okay, I can buy that. Then question arises: did he kill her for her sake. . .or for his???
I’d have seriously considered killing her just because she, in her own way, was as selfish as the woman she killed.
Again, Chrisite hits the big stuff. . .
I didn’t think the ending was that confusing. For hers, of course. He loved her.