My Christmas present to myself this year is this – the gorgeous hardback of Marple.

A brand new collection of short stories featuring the Queen of Crime’s legendary detective Jane Marple, penned by twelve remarkable bestselling and acclaimed authors.

This collection of twelve original short stories, all featuring Jane Marple, will introduce the character to a whole new generation. Each author reimagines Agatha Christie’s Marple through their own unique perspective while staying true to the hallmarks of a traditional mystery.
· Naomi Alderman
· Leigh Bardugo
· Alyssa Cole
· Lucy Foley
· Elly Griffiths
· Natalie Haynes
· Jean Kwok
· Val McDermid
· Karen M. McManus
· Dreda Say Mitchell
· Kate Mosse
· Ruth Ware

Miss Marple was first introduced to readers in a story Christie wrote for The Royal Magazine in 1927 and made her first appearance in a full-length novel in 1930’s The Murder at the Vicarage.

It has been 45 years since Agatha Christie’s last Marple novel, Sleeping Murder, was published posthumously in 1976, and this collection of ingenious new stories by twelve Christie devotees will be a timely reminder why Jane Marple remains the most famous fictional female detective of all time.

Amazon

As I’ve been reading Agatha Christie books since the late 90’s (trying not to age myself, darlings), I’m so excited to re-visit one of my favourite literary creations, in a whole new set of adventures!

One of my favourite pastimes as a pre-teen, was settling into our tiny (but magical) tree house, with a glass of Mazoe orange, a pocket full of romany creams and set myself to devouring biscuits as well as whatever book I’d managed to pick up from the school library, a friends (or their mothers!) shelf, three council libraries and second hand shops.

My two chief concerns when it came to Agatha Christie were that I try to figure out a) whodunnit before the end and b) where I’d get my next fix! With 68 books (at least!), what if I’d never manage to finish them all? There would be mysteries left unknown to me! Horrifying thought!

Of her major detectives, it didn’t occur to me not to adore Poirot; Mr Quinn intrigued me most; I loved faithful Tommy and feisty Tuppence but it was in Miss Marple that my imagination took flight. She was so old! So innocent! What could she know about anything! And how long would they keep underestimating her!

Miss Marple was the heroine that every over-energetic, impatient tom-boy like me needed! Proof that no matter how small the village, there would be something to learn! That it didn’t matter how anyone else perceived you – quiet or dithery or interfering or too talkative – you could still solve the crime, save the virtuous, make a difference.

So, I’m excited.

I’m also really curious as to which authors will come closest to capturing Miss Marple’s wry wit; the deceptively quiet village of St Mary Mead and who – if any – of the regulars will make an appearance!

I’ll let you know how I go!