The Body in the Library Agatha Christie

The Body in the Library brings us back to the Village of St Mary Mead home of one of Agatha’s most iconic characters Miss Marple.  We arrive to Arthur and Dolly Bantry being awoken by the housemaid who has found a dead body in the Library – these are recuring characters in St Mary Mead and old friends of Miss Marple. Dolly on confirming the situation gets Miss Marple straight on the case.
The Girl is traced back to The Majestic Hotel Danemouth which is on the boarder between 2 police forces. Shortly after a 2nd body also of a young girl is found in the burnt out car of one of the other guests and with everything pointing back to the Majestic hotel the police turn their focus there.
However is the focus Josie Turner the cousin who got her down there? The flamboyant film man Basil Blake who was seen with Ruby previously, Mark Gaskell the heir who was looking to be pushed out by this new girl or his sister in law Adelaide who wanted money to support her young son. Or what is the tie in with George Bartlett the owner of the car who was also keen on Ruby.
In Agatha’s typical style there are many twists and turns – who is Dinah Lee yet another Platimum blond – will she be next? What did the girl guide see? Mr Jefferson was disabled in a wheelchair but how much power does it take to strangle a girl?
So how do the pieces, motives and alibies fit together? Or more importantly fall apart?

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The body in the library was published in 1942 when the war was still on inspiring Agatha to give her readers an escape to the sea side with this adventure. Agatha was well aquainted with Devon having spent much of her life there and while staying in a hotel one summer she encountered a family with an older wheelchair bound gentleman inspiring the Jefferson family.