The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie

This will be a relatively short review, because these were thirteen short stories. I enjoyed each and felt that they introduced some recurring characters for the future Miss Marple novels.

The first six stories were told by each one of the "Tuesday Club" as Miss Marple's nephew calls them. 6 individuals who meet up at Miss Marple's home and tell a story from a time in their lives that was never really solved.  Readers, this is human nature. The next 6 stories work in a similar fashion, only these ones are at a dinner party with a few new faces. Again, they tell stories about unsolved mysteries in that person's life. I particularly enjoyed the one that readers later find out is a "hypothesis" story. IT NEVER ACTUALLY HAPPENED. Again, human nature. The final story isn't one told by anyone. This time, the reader is engaged in the mystery. I found that as a perfect symmetry to Agatha Christie's whole philosophy of Miss Marple and St. Mary Mead.

I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars, however, because I wished for more. Sir Henry Clithering finds out immediately that Miss Marple has a brilliant way of deducing the solutions. But I was secretly hoping that he would be in league with, or being a challenge for, Miss Marple's genius.


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