There’s nothing like a good whodunnit to while away an idle hour. So I spent an entire day reading one and I can’t say I regret my decision. Nemesis was a delightful Agatha Christie classic, with thread of the eerie to give you a pleasant little spine shiver. Another one of my 20 books is finished!
Plot summary
Miss Marple is feeling a little bored in St Mary Mead, restless now that her poor health is stopping her working in her garden so often. Luckily for her, an old acquaintance has left her a mystery to solve and from the grave, no less! Armed with nothing but some vague directions in his will, Miss Marple sets out to uncover a crime. She isn’t even sure what kind of crime it is, only the injustice has been done.
Little clues lead her along to an unsolved murder, a missing person and some very creepy characters.
What I loved: an intriguing tale with a spot of spine-tingle
Nemesis is thoroughly enjoyable, in part due to the fact that it runs the worn track of a good whodunnit. I would hesitate to call it ground breaking, but I found it unique and certainly enticing enough to keep you reading.
The plot just fantastic enough to be fun and just realistic enough not to be ridiculous. The character of Miss Marple is wonderfully ordinary, helping you connect with her and become invested in the story. I don’t find Christie books to be scary usually, but this one leant into the eerie more than others. I enjoyed it. The haunted thread of the story drew me in, making me want to read more and find out the mystery.
What I struggled with: it’s a predictable whodunnit
I did cotton on to the answer just over halfway through. This robbed me of the total satisfaction of surprise at the end. However, I did read this in one sitting, so that may have made it easier to see the outcome.
If you are particularly sensitive to creepy things, maybe this won’t be for you. Hopefully I’m not overselling this, as it is only mildly out there. It’s also the kind of book you reach for when you want a light read, so don’t expect any groundbreaking literary feats. Miss Marple and Christie have their patterns and this one does stay true to those. But then, that’s what makes her readers keep coming back.
[…] looking forward to another year of writing. There’s still a few of my 20 books left to go. Infertility isn’t going anywhere yet. Who knows what housing adventures we may be […]
[…] While I can’t fault the content, I must admit that I struggled a little with this one. It may have been that I saw it like a textbook. I was there to learn, and it lacked the easy sparkle of good fiction. […]
[…] hope that you have a peaceful and blessed Easter. Next week there will be more book reviews. I’m also sharing some carry on tips, as we’ll be heading over to visit in-laws and I […]
[…] better than a good whodunnit. Unless it’s a whodunnit with an unexpected plot twist! The Murder of Roger Ackroyd has one […]