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Miss Marple's 6 Final Cases. And 2 Other Stories
Sanctuary, Strange Jest, Tape-Measure Murder, The Case of the Caretaker, The Case of the Perfect Maid and Miss Marple Tells a Story. Also included The Dressmaker's Doll and In a Glass Darkly
138 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
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112 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,775 books75.5k followersAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 25, 2021
This 1979 collection quite incongruously includes two of Christie’s ghost-type stories as well as a choice collection of Marple mysteries. The ghost stories are quite well done but seem rather out of place. What I enjoyed most in these re-reading was Christie’s profound sense of humour in her observations of her fellow men and women. For instance:
- In asking her husband for a meaning of the term ‘sanctuary’, Bunch Harmon is presented with a learned dissertation on the development of the term from ancient and through medieval times. At the end, she kisses him on the forehead and calls him ‘a dear’.
- Miss Burt, called upon a make lunch, presents her employer with such odious fish cakes that he passes them on to their cat, Tigleth Pileser, who also refuses to eat them.
- Marple accepts an invitation to the visit the home of a young couple with a problem even though the statement she responds to was not really meant as an invitation at all.
- A gardener having to use a ladder to rescue a modest, quite naked elderly woman who has slipped on an over-waxed floor getting out of the bath with the door locked.
- Mrs. Sperber’s development from trusting in spiritualism to some Indian religious practice involving deep breathing and then to an orthodox practice of Anglicanism.
- Her city-bred husband’s desire to have a colourful country garden despite his lack of knowledge of anything to do with flowers.
- Emily, a hypochondriac, who ‘continued to live on sofas, to surround herself with strange little pill boxes, and to reject nearly everything that had been cooked for her and ask for something else, usually something difficult and inconvenient to get.’
- Her hair style ‘looking like a bird’s nest of which no self-respecting bird could be proud.’
- Mrs. Carruthers, a ‘rather horsey spinster who dropped her g’s’.
- ‘Mrs. Fellowes-Brown, accompanied by her Pekingese, came puffing into the room rather like a fussy local train arriving as a wayside station.’
Such observations are abundant throughout Christie’s writings, and while it is but rarely that they made me laugh out loud, the smiles of pleasant diversion to which they gave rise were frequent and extremely enjoyable. Christie was truly a wonderful writer, but it was her keen observation of the idiosyncrasies of human character that allowed her to design her characters in such an artful way.
Highly recommended.
- In asking her husband for a meaning of the term ‘sanctuary’, Bunch Harmon is presented with a learned dissertation on the development of the term from ancient and through medieval times. At the end, she kisses him on the forehead and calls him ‘a dear’.
- Miss Burt, called upon a make lunch, presents her employer with such odious fish cakes that he passes them on to their cat, Tigleth Pileser, who also refuses to eat them.
- Marple accepts an invitation to the visit the home of a young couple with a problem even though the statement she responds to was not really meant as an invitation at all.
- A gardener having to use a ladder to rescue a modest, quite naked elderly woman who has slipped on an over-waxed floor getting out of the bath with the door locked.
- Mrs. Sperber’s development from trusting in spiritualism to some Indian religious practice involving deep breathing and then to an orthodox practice of Anglicanism.
- Her city-bred husband’s desire to have a colourful country garden despite his lack of knowledge of anything to do with flowers.
- Emily, a hypochondriac, who ‘continued to live on sofas, to surround herself with strange little pill boxes, and to reject nearly everything that had been cooked for her and ask for something else, usually something difficult and inconvenient to get.’
- Her hair style ‘looking like a bird’s nest of which no self-respecting bird could be proud.’
- Mrs. Carruthers, a ‘rather horsey spinster who dropped her g’s’.
- ‘Mrs. Fellowes-Brown, accompanied by her Pekingese, came puffing into the room rather like a fussy local train arriving as a wayside station.’
Such observations are abundant throughout Christie’s writings, and while it is but rarely that they made me laugh out loud, the smiles of pleasant diversion to which they gave rise were frequent and extremely enjoyable. Christie was truly a wonderful writer, but it was her keen observation of the idiosyncrasies of human character that allowed her to design her characters in such an artful way.
Highly recommended.
October 7, 2013
Boring
November 22, 2021
4.5 stars
I love Miss Marple and I love Agatha Christie
This collection consists of six Miss Marple stories and two "other" stories.
First, the Miss Marple mysteries. These are all delightful little mystery stories where Miss Marple solves it all with some special insights. They aren't all the same format, which was also refreshing.
The other two were not mystery stories at all. The one was a creepy story about a doll. I didn't really like it much (not my kind of thing). And the other was a little less creepy but still had an element of the mystical about it. I liked that one a little better but still wouldn't rave about it.
Thankfully the format of the book was five mysteries, two "other", and then the final mystery - so the collection ended on a high :-)
I love Miss Marple and I love Agatha Christie
This collection consists of six Miss Marple stories and two "other" stories.
First, the Miss Marple mysteries. These are all delightful little mystery stories where Miss Marple solves it all with some special insights. They aren't all the same format, which was also refreshing.
The other two were not mystery stories at all. The one was a creepy story about a doll. I didn't really like it much (not my kind of thing). And the other was a little less creepy but still had an element of the mystical about it. I liked that one a little better but still wouldn't rave about it.
Thankfully the format of the book was five mysteries, two "other", and then the final mystery - so the collection ended on a high :-)
May 4, 2020
The first six stories in this book are quite interesting and give some flavour of the thinking associated with Miss Marple, but they are too short to be really engaging.
The other two stories in the book have a supernatural element and are again quite interesting, but lack real tension.
The other two stories in the book have a supernatural element and are again quite interesting, but lack real tension.
April 8, 2021
4 Stars. Here's what I said for the larger entry of "Miss Marple's Final Cases." Actually 3.5 but it's Christie. Seven good ones about Miss M. Essentially the short stories that followed the first group published in "The Thirteen Problems." Between the two you have all twenty Miss Marple short stories. Two stand out. "Tape-Measure Murder" asks the reader to help find out what's happened to Miss Spenlow. She never misses appointments and her dressmaker, Miss Politt, is knocking at the door with no answer. "Greenshaw's Folly" is really about a misshapen house built decades earlier; who would want it? Raymond West is visiting his aunt, Miss Marple, and has brought along his friend Horace Bindler. He collects photos of monstrosities, buildings which no one can imagine why they were ever built. The Folly will be #310 in his collection! Apparently some people would like to remove the current owner permanently. There are two non-Marple stories included. I didn't take to "The Dressmaker's Doll," creepy. But "In a Glass Darkly" is interesting. Replete with many questions on time, fate and premonition. There you have it. (March 2021)
July 12, 2022
A 3.5 really, I liked it but think I would have enjoyed it more if I've read more of Miss Marple as this was my first time
December 18, 2025
Últimos casos de Miss Marple y otras dos historias es un libro de relatos policiacos escrito por Agatha Christie, que reune los ultimos casos de la famosa detective Miss Marple. En estas historias, la protagonista demuestra una vez mas su gran capacidad de observacion, resolviendo misterios a partir de detalles cotidianos que otros personajes pasan por alto.
Los relatos presentan crímenes y situaciones sospechosas que se desarrollan en distintos ambientes, aunque mantienen el estilo clasico del misterio ingles. Miss Marple utiliza su conocimiento de la naturaleza humana, para descubrir la verdad detras de engaños y apariencias, lo que hace que las historias resulten interesantes y faciles de seguir.
Uno de los aspectos mas destacados del libro, es el cierre que se le da al personaje de Miss Marple. Aunque los relatos son cortos, logran transmitir tension y sorpresa en cada caso. Sin embargo, algunos lectores pueden sentir que las historias son demasiado breves o sencillas.
Últimos casos de Miss Marple y otras dos historias es una obra recomendada para quienes disfrutan del genero policial clasico y quieren despedirse de uno de los personajes mas emblematicos de Agatha Christie. Es una lectura rapida, pero entretenida y significativa.
Los relatos presentan crímenes y situaciones sospechosas que se desarrollan en distintos ambientes, aunque mantienen el estilo clasico del misterio ingles. Miss Marple utiliza su conocimiento de la naturaleza humana, para descubrir la verdad detras de engaños y apariencias, lo que hace que las historias resulten interesantes y faciles de seguir.
Uno de los aspectos mas destacados del libro, es el cierre que se le da al personaje de Miss Marple. Aunque los relatos son cortos, logran transmitir tension y sorpresa en cada caso. Sin embargo, algunos lectores pueden sentir que las historias son demasiado breves o sencillas.
Últimos casos de Miss Marple y otras dos historias es una obra recomendada para quienes disfrutan del genero policial clasico y quieren despedirse de uno de los personajes mas emblematicos de Agatha Christie. Es una lectura rapida, pero entretenida y significativa.
September 29, 2017
I do love Miss Marple - AC confessed she was based on her own grandmother who appears to have been a formidable lady!
These last 8 short stories in this novel, a reprint of a Crime Club edition, are:
Sanctuary - when Bunch Harmon, the niece of Miss Marple, whom we met in 'A Murder is Announced', finds a dying man on the steps of her husband's church, she is intrigued by his last words and the odd dislikeable people who turn up claiming to be his relatives. She heads to Miss Marple, her godmother, for advice and guidance.
Strange Jest - Jane Helier, who also features in 'Lord Edgeware Dies', introduces two friends to Miss Marple with a promising legacy which they have been left but are unable to find.
Tape Measure Murder - a St Mary Mead lady is found strangled in her own home with a tape measure. Her reticent husband is the main suspect - by Miss Marple is not convinced...
The Case of the Caretaker - a charming rogue made good returns home with a lovely young and rich bride to rebuild his childhood home. However the displaced widowed caretaker's wife takes malevolently against the new Bride and lays curses upon her - and then the newly wedded lady dies.
The Case of the Perfect Maid - Miss Marple and the case proving the adage that somethings are too true to be good.
Miss Marple Tells A Story - Miss Marple tells how a woman is murdered while her husband studies in the next door room. He is the immediate suspect - but is he really the killer?
The Dressmaker's Doll - a doll with an unsettling aura seems to stalk the dressmaker's business she has appeared in. What starts as a strange and slightly unsettling object starts to create real fear.
In A Glass Darkly - a man falls in love with his best friend's sister - but forsees her death at the hand of her fiance. The Great War intervenes and the story marches forward. Again, unsettling...
A really good, enjoyable read - and some of the stories are unsettling creepy!
These last 8 short stories in this novel, a reprint of a Crime Club edition, are:
Sanctuary - when Bunch Harmon, the niece of Miss Marple, whom we met in 'A Murder is Announced', finds a dying man on the steps of her husband's church, she is intrigued by his last words and the odd dislikeable people who turn up claiming to be his relatives. She heads to Miss Marple, her godmother, for advice and guidance.
Strange Jest - Jane Helier, who also features in 'Lord Edgeware Dies', introduces two friends to Miss Marple with a promising legacy which they have been left but are unable to find.
Tape Measure Murder - a St Mary Mead lady is found strangled in her own home with a tape measure. Her reticent husband is the main suspect - by Miss Marple is not convinced...
The Case of the Caretaker - a charming rogue made good returns home with a lovely young and rich bride to rebuild his childhood home. However the displaced widowed caretaker's wife takes malevolently against the new Bride and lays curses upon her - and then the newly wedded lady dies.
The Case of the Perfect Maid - Miss Marple and the case proving the adage that somethings are too true to be good.
Miss Marple Tells A Story - Miss Marple tells how a woman is murdered while her husband studies in the next door room. He is the immediate suspect - but is he really the killer?
The Dressmaker's Doll - a doll with an unsettling aura seems to stalk the dressmaker's business she has appeared in. What starts as a strange and slightly unsettling object starts to create real fear.
In A Glass Darkly - a man falls in love with his best friend's sister - but forsees her death at the hand of her fiance. The Great War intervenes and the story marches forward. Again, unsettling...
A really good, enjoyable read - and some of the stories are unsettling creepy!
January 15, 2018
Loved the short stories. Agatha Christie can weave a mystery into a few short chapters and draw you in to the intrigue quickly. This is a great one to listen to on audio as you don't need a long time to hear each story.
July 25, 2018
Not exactly bowing out with a bang, rather formulaic and predictable....even if Miss Marple was the great Dame's favoured detective over the leetle grey cells of the Belgian, who personally I prefer.....light reading if you have hours to spend on a train or a plane.
December 25, 2020
I think I am biased. I just love Agatha and esp Miss Marple! She's just my fav! Enjoyed the short stories. Chapter a short story. I especially liked the last story with the old lady and the house. Truly enjoyable
July 11, 2017
This compiles several Miss Marple stories as well as a couple others. All good examples of Agatha Christie at her best. Recommended to mystery fans.
October 1, 2020
One of my favorite characters!
October 12, 2020
Good, short stories to read it. I enjoyed it.
January 12, 2021
This year I am trying to read as many Agatha Christie books as my library has available.
July 8, 2021
When I decided to finish off the Agatha Christie novels I had never read, I was a bit daunted by the number of books remaining. So, to get back in to mood, I started with the short story collections… Surprise, surprise! While there were a fair number of publications, there is an amazing number of duplicate inclusions. Read one collection and you have read a fair percentage of the other collections.
Considering the vast quantity of notebooks Christie kept — packed full of ideas & sketches for future novels — it is no surprise that some of these shorts were the basis for future full length books. And I always enjoy thinking about how Christie’s mind could come up with some of these plots; why, she could have had a run as a master criminal herself!
Considering the vast quantity of notebooks Christie kept — packed full of ideas & sketches for future novels — it is no surprise that some of these shorts were the basis for future full length books. And I always enjoy thinking about how Christie’s mind could come up with some of these plots; why, she could have had a run as a master criminal herself!
May 12, 2024
A fun collection of short stories about Miss Marple. One, I think, might have become a longer story later. The Dressmaker’s Doll isn’t really a mystery and doesn’t have Miss Marple and is just creepy. (I’m not a fan of dolls) And In a Glass Darkly I feel like I’ve read as a longer version. Maybe a lot of older writers fleshed out short stories into novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2022
All very good stories, with three being excellent in my opinion. Notably, Strange Heat, The Case of the Caretaker, and The Dressmaker's Doll. Marple is a great character that factors into her stories in just the perfect ways.
August 12, 2022
Some fun short stories, mostly featuring the titular Miss Marple. My favourite story of the bunch however was The Dressmaker's Doll, though it felt out of place when put in the same book with the other stories.
May 10, 2025
I really enjoyed these stories, (including the non-Marple one's in the end.) This is actually my introduction to Miss Marple - and I must say, she is really sweet! She is very modest and charismatic compared to other detectives, which I appreciate.
September 8, 2021
i found the stories too short to develop an interest in the case, or to get to know the characters. You do get to look into Agatha Christie's writing style, and some of the cases were interesting.
February 8, 2022
Really Really boring I literally had a straight face reading this and that never happens
April 1, 2022
Some stories were better than others, but overall so-so.
January 31, 2023
Excellent boiled potatoes… too short to give a higher rating but I did enjoy and thought the stories, although short, were quite brilliant. 3.5-3.75 stars
November 25, 2023
Very cosy
February 10, 2024
As with all short story collections there are some duds and some that are very good indeed.
This collection has all the humour and fun (yes) that you expect from a Dame Agatha book.
This collection has all the humour and fun (yes) that you expect from a Dame Agatha book.
February 15, 2024
A nice bundle of short stories. Just right when you have a few minutes to kill and don't want to get caught up in a page turner.
March 11, 2024
Recommended read
May 5, 2025
A series of short stories - some good and some not so good. Helps to pass time I guess.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews