At Bertram's Hotel
Ratings55
Average rating3.4
Pleasant and diverting, but the mystery, such as it is, is unsatisfactory, and Miss Marple is much more an observer than an amateur detective. Certainly a minor novel, and though I didn't dislike it, I didn't find it satisfying.
As I am coming towards the end of reading all of Christie's mysteries chronologically, I am finding that most of her later ones are less ingenious than in her younger days. Maybe it is that I know her style so well by now and I can guess at what twist will come next.
That said, I didn't actually guess this one since there wasn't much to guess. It was less of a mystery and more of a...thriller? I'm not sure. All I know is there wasn't a murder until the end and by then you already have a lot buzzing in your mind about a large and sinister criminal organization.
Christie loves criminal organizations and they always tend to be large and uncomprehendingly dangerous. Honestly I would prefer if it were a smaller criminal organization that was very specialized and baffling because it starts to come off as contrived.
All in all, I liked the setting of the hotel and Miss Marple is always charming, even if she only has a minor part in this one. A decent read, but nowhere near her best.
On reflection, this story winds up being rather silly and implausible, but it's a fun read in the meantime. And it epitomizes the “cozy” mystery. I found myself really yearning to eat “real muffins” and old-fashioned seed cake at proper afternoon tea and then accompany Miss Marple to shop for crisp bed linens and non-tacky kitchen towels.
The mystery in this one's a bit weak, but the cast of characters are good enough to make up for it.