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Miss Marple #SS 10
A Christmas Tragedy: a Miss Marple Short Story
At a health resort, Miss Marple becomes suspicious that a man she meets is planning on murdering his wife. It's the Keston Spa Hydro just prior to Christmas where she sees a husband and wife couple, the Sanders, and senses that there's something wrong. Is she becoming desensitized to murder and crime? Or is there something to it?
Librarian's note: previously published in the print anthology, The Thirteen Problems.
Librarian's note #2: this entry relates to the short story, A Christmas Tragedy. Collections and the other stories by the author are located elsewhere on Goodreads. The Miss Marple series includes twelve novels and 20 short stories. Entries for the short stories can be found by searching Goodreads for: a Miss Marple Short Story.
Librarian's note: previously published in the print anthology, The Thirteen Problems.
Librarian's note #2: this entry relates to the short story, A Christmas Tragedy. Collections and the other stories by the author are located elsewhere on Goodreads. The Miss Marple series includes twelve novels and 20 short stories. Entries for the short stories can be found by searching Goodreads for: a Miss Marple Short Story.
38 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1930
310 people are currently reading
2058 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,803 books75.4k 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 219 reviews
December 15, 2022
A short book by Agatha Christie in the Miss Marple series with the word Christmas mentioned in the title is more than enough for us to get excited.
Miss Marple gets suspicious about a person and thinks he is plotting something against his wife. Then all of a sudden, his wife dies in a totally unexpected situation. Was Miss Marple's intuition correct? Was the person responsible for his wife's death? Is the real murderer hiding behind while people suspect the deceased's husband? Agatha Christie will answer all these questions in this book.
My favorite three lines from this book.
Even though there are not that many Christmas-related things mentioned in this book, it is still an excellent choice to read during the Christmas season.
Miss Marple gets suspicious about a person and thinks he is plotting something against his wife. Then all of a sudden, his wife dies in a totally unexpected situation. Was Miss Marple's intuition correct? Was the person responsible for his wife's death? Is the real murderer hiding behind while people suspect the deceased's husband? Agatha Christie will answer all these questions in this book.
My favorite three lines from this book.
"My nephew, who writes books—and very clever ones, I believe—has said some most scathing things about taking people's characters away without any kind of proof—and how wicked it is, and all that. But what I say is that none of these young people ever stop to think. They really don't examine the facts. Surely the whole crux of the matter is this: How often is tittle tattle, as you call it, true! ”
"One can do a lot with superstition sometimes."
"I was forced to admit that if the man was acting, he was acting marvellously. He looked dazed and bewildered and scared out of his wits."
Even though there are not that many Christmas-related things mentioned in this book, it is still an excellent choice to read during the Christmas season.
December 13, 2023
Miss Marple shares a story to a group of friends about how, years ago, she suspected a man was going to kill his wife. Later on, the wife is found dead, but the husband appears to be innocent of the crime, even to Miss Marple. Or is he? Another clever mystery by Agatha Christie. Not much Christmas in this, though.
August 18, 2025
‘My nephew, who writes books—and very clever ones, I believe—has said some most scathing things about taking people’s characters away without any kind of proof—and how wicked it is, and all that. But what I say is that none of these young people ever stop to think. They really don’t examine the facts. Surely the whole crux of the matter is this: How often is tittle tattle, as you call it, true! And I think if, as I say, they really examined the facts they would find that it was true nine times out of ten! That’s really just what makes people so annoyed about it.’
Miss Marple discusses the power of first impressions, or sub conscious judgements based on some actions or words in A Christmas Tragedy. These sub conscious judgements are of course supported by decades of observing and understanding people, and in this instance make her persevere in finding how exactly the suspected murderer committed the heinous act.
This story is interesting case where Jane Marple actually suspected something might go wrong, but was up against a quite shrewd person and couldn't prevent the tragedy. And there's yet another mention of her sophisticated and worldly nephew writing extremely clever books on the human condition, and she's really quite fond of him, but it's good to see her confidence in her simpler yet clear world-view and succeeds in uncovering the truth.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
[One star for the premise; One star for the characters; One star for the plot; One star for the world-building; One star for the writing - Five stars in total.]
Miss Marple discusses the power of first impressions, or sub conscious judgements based on some actions or words in A Christmas Tragedy. These sub conscious judgements are of course supported by decades of observing and understanding people, and in this instance make her persevere in finding how exactly the suspected murderer committed the heinous act.
This story is interesting case where Jane Marple actually suspected something might go wrong, but was up against a quite shrewd person and couldn't prevent the tragedy. And there's yet another mention of her sophisticated and worldly nephew writing extremely clever books on the human condition, and she's really quite fond of him, but it's good to see her confidence in her simpler yet clear world-view and succeeds in uncovering the truth.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
[One star for the premise; One star for the characters; One star for the plot; One star for the world-building; One star for the writing - Five stars in total.]
December 28, 2025
Cool Christie Miss Marple short where she recounts a murder mystery to a group- very succinct & yet it's all you need is there, which is quite a skilled bit of writing!
December 31, 2025
Miss Marple knows a murdering husband when she sees one.
Even if she can't prove it right away.
Jane Marple recounts the time she couldn't save an adoring wife from her treacherous spouse. Without any proof and only her intuition to go on, she couldn't convince the young woman that her husband was eyeballing the windfall he would receive upon her death.
But when the young bride turns up dead and the husband has an airtight alibi for the time of her murder, even Miss Marple starts to believe that she might have been wrong.
OR SO THE HUSBAND THINKS.
You can't pull the wool over Jane Marple's eyes for long, sir.
Originally published as The Hat and the Alibi in 1930 in The Story-Teller magazine.
Read in the short story collection Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery.
Even if she can't prove it right away.
Jane Marple recounts the time she couldn't save an adoring wife from her treacherous spouse. Without any proof and only her intuition to go on, she couldn't convince the young woman that her husband was eyeballing the windfall he would receive upon her death.
But when the young bride turns up dead and the husband has an airtight alibi for the time of her murder, even Miss Marple starts to believe that she might have been wrong.
OR SO THE HUSBAND THINKS.
You can't pull the wool over Jane Marple's eyes for long, sir.
Originally published as The Hat and the Alibi in 1930 in The Story-Teller magazine.
Read in the short story collection Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery.
November 30, 2021
A quick short story of Miss Marple relating a crime she was unable to prevent while staying at a resort around the Christmas holiday. I liked the story but what was even better was getting to know Jane more. She is staunchly pro-death penalty and not sorry! That surprise alone was enough to win four stars from me but the mystery is worthy too. It wasn't something I'd ever thought about before but it's always nice to learn more about my favourite sleuths' personalities. To the mystery, the killer was certainly clever and used everything available to their advantage including a sad trend of happenstance deaths that occur.
It's quick, in season and recommended.
It's quick, in season and recommended.
December 19, 2022
Short short story
A quick little 30 minute read starring Miss Marple. You won't be disappointed with this short Christmas story. Definitely recommend.
A quick little 30 minute read starring Miss Marple. You won't be disappointed with this short Christmas story. Definitely recommend.
September 23, 2023
As a fan of Agatha Christie, I picked this e-book up from by local library. It was part of a set of twelve novellas Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery. I found each individual story entertaining with a great mystery. I would recommond to readers of Agatha Christie. 2023
May 23, 2017
A case that almost got away from Miss Marple. She gets frustrated that wives won't listen when she tries to warn them. I can just see one of them bouncing off the side of the mountain on the way down shouting, "Damn, the old lady was right!"
December 27, 2020
A Christmas Tragedy is a Miss Marple short story first published in 1930. The story was originally titled The Hat and the Alibi when it first appeared in the Story-Teller Magazine. In 1932, A Christmas Tragedy was published as part of The 13 Problems, a short story collection featuring all the stories told by members of the Tuesday Night Club. The Tuesday Night Club is a group of friends, including Miss Marple, that met on Tuesday nights to share mysterious or unusual stories. One member would share a story and the others would try to figure out the truth behind it. Or, rather, Miss Marple would figure it out....
These stories are very short. They focus only on the bare details and the reveal. There is very little character or setting development. But -- and this is important -- there isn't meant to be any. The purpose of these short stories is to introduce a mystery or unusual circumstance....then quickly get to the reveal. Agatha Christie published many of these short tales in detective and fiction magazines. Smart marketing move on her part! The short stories got people interesting in her characters, which helped her sell more novels. These tales were never meant to be fleshed out short stories....just short snippets to showcase Miss Marple. A hook for the book, so to speak. Both casual readers and Christie fans will have a much better time reading these in that light. Don't expect anything more than a quick one-minute mystery from these early short mysteries (both the ones featuring Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple). These 13 stories featuring the Tuesday Night Club were later woven together into a story collection, The 13 Problems. Christie just added in a bit of segue here and there, then published the stories in book form for her readers who hadn't read them in the magazines.
I wish I could see a copy of even one edition of these old detective magazines that ran her stories! I have seen an illustration here and there, but never a full copy. It would be so much fun to see what else ran in these issues, the advertisements, the other writers who were included, the page layouts, etc. :)
A Christmas Tragedy is the 10th story featuring the Tuesday Night Club. The group is gathered at a dinner party, sharing tales of crimes and other unusual happenings. Miss Marple tells a story this time about a tragedy she witnessed at a spa.
For me, this is another fun story showcasing Miss Marple's keen insights into human nature! I read along while listening to an audio book version narrated by Jean Hickson who played the elderly sleuth in the Miss Marple television series. Very entertaining!
It does make me wonder though if Christie pulled any of these little stories out of her own experience? Maybe she knew a gossipy tale or two of murders, disappearances or robberies....made a change or two....and let her fictitious detectives have a go at the solution?? :)
Moving on to the next short story -- The Affair at the Bungalow!
Agatha Christie has been my favorite author since I was 9 years old and bought a box set of Hercule Poirot novels at a garage sale. After that summer spent reading those 5 novels, I have had a love for her classic mysteries. I always wanted to read everything she wrote, but back in the day living in a very small town in the middle of nowhere (too small to even have a book shop!), it wasn't easy to get ahold of some of the books. I couldn't even get an exhaustive list! Now with my kids raised, book shops within easy reach and the internet, I'm on a mission -- Agatha Christie's works...all of them....in publication order. Having so much fun!! :) I'm taking my time....going down rabbit holes to research little tangents when I want....and backtracking when I make a mistake in book order....just having a great time!
These stories are very short. They focus only on the bare details and the reveal. There is very little character or setting development. But -- and this is important -- there isn't meant to be any. The purpose of these short stories is to introduce a mystery or unusual circumstance....then quickly get to the reveal. Agatha Christie published many of these short tales in detective and fiction magazines. Smart marketing move on her part! The short stories got people interesting in her characters, which helped her sell more novels. These tales were never meant to be fleshed out short stories....just short snippets to showcase Miss Marple. A hook for the book, so to speak. Both casual readers and Christie fans will have a much better time reading these in that light. Don't expect anything more than a quick one-minute mystery from these early short mysteries (both the ones featuring Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple). These 13 stories featuring the Tuesday Night Club were later woven together into a story collection, The 13 Problems. Christie just added in a bit of segue here and there, then published the stories in book form for her readers who hadn't read them in the magazines.
I wish I could see a copy of even one edition of these old detective magazines that ran her stories! I have seen an illustration here and there, but never a full copy. It would be so much fun to see what else ran in these issues, the advertisements, the other writers who were included, the page layouts, etc. :)
A Christmas Tragedy is the 10th story featuring the Tuesday Night Club. The group is gathered at a dinner party, sharing tales of crimes and other unusual happenings. Miss Marple tells a story this time about a tragedy she witnessed at a spa.
For me, this is another fun story showcasing Miss Marple's keen insights into human nature! I read along while listening to an audio book version narrated by Jean Hickson who played the elderly sleuth in the Miss Marple television series. Very entertaining!
It does make me wonder though if Christie pulled any of these little stories out of her own experience? Maybe she knew a gossipy tale or two of murders, disappearances or robberies....made a change or two....and let her fictitious detectives have a go at the solution?? :)
Moving on to the next short story -- The Affair at the Bungalow!
Agatha Christie has been my favorite author since I was 9 years old and bought a box set of Hercule Poirot novels at a garage sale. After that summer spent reading those 5 novels, I have had a love for her classic mysteries. I always wanted to read everything she wrote, but back in the day living in a very small town in the middle of nowhere (too small to even have a book shop!), it wasn't easy to get ahold of some of the books. I couldn't even get an exhaustive list! Now with my kids raised, book shops within easy reach and the internet, I'm on a mission -- Agatha Christie's works...all of them....in publication order. Having so much fun!! :) I'm taking my time....going down rabbit holes to research little tangents when I want....and backtracking when I make a mistake in book order....just having a great time!
December 6, 2022
✩ 3 stars
~
read this for christmas in july 🎄
~
read this for christmas in july 🎄
November 22, 2014
Beautifully constructed murder mystery solved by the fabulous Miss Marple - a short but sweet pleasure.
December 24, 2021
Very interesting.
November 4, 2025
2.75⭐️
I was just bored. 🤷🏼♀️ I can’t seem to connect to the Miss Marple stories
I was just bored. 🤷🏼♀️ I can’t seem to connect to the Miss Marple stories
December 27, 2025
An inconceivable murder as only Christie can create. This short story was so far fetched that it’s actually good.
December 25, 2025
3 Stars. We're still at Gossington Hall and Sir Henry complains that the three mysteries told that evening had all been by the men. The three women had not challenged the men. Miss Marple is prevailed upon. She recounts a visit of hers one year close to Christmas to Keston Spa Hydro, I presume to take the rejuvenating waters. The 21 page mystery first appeared in Story Teller in 1930 but I read it as the tenth in a collection of 20 in Miss Marple: the Complete Short Stories of 2011. Readers will have to pay attention; Miss Marple acknowledges her tendency to ramble, and I am certain that the author played up that trait on this occasion! At the same spa were a couple named Sanders, and Miss Marple knew instinctively that Jack was thinking of murdering his wife Gladys. Her question was how. Of course Gladys soon died. Miss M had tried to prevent it to no avail. But the woman was young and trusting. Did I mention she was wealthy compared to her husband? Miss Marple herself was part of Jack's alibi. Were the natural deaths of two of the staff related to the murder? A fine mystery. (No2020/De2025)
December 16, 2022
Masterful story telling per usual!
December 12, 2019
Another good one that sat too long on the tbr...
December 15, 2022
Eh, it was okay. But I find Miss Marple kind of annoying. Probably just a me problem.
March 19, 2023
Miss Marple tells of the time she suspected a future murder but was unable to prevent it.
December 23, 2025
A Miss Marple holiday short-story whodunit. She is so bad-ass!
December 12, 2025
This was okay. I'm not super into cozy mysteries, but it reminded me of Knives Out.
December 16, 2025
Wow okay. So if you want to read a mystery about a killer who is super dedicated to finishing the job? This is the short story for you. 😂😂😂😂 By the end I was thinking: huh? Did he really? Still…I love Miss Marple so four stars.
October 22, 2014
Published in 1930 this short story features the redoubtable Miss Jane Marple. I am not that sure what the link with Christmas is, but Miss Marple is staying at a house and this presumably takes place over Christmas. She is pressed by her host to tell a story and while she obviously, in best deprecating Miss Marple fashion, demurs from doing so, eventually she is convinced to share a tale with the company. Obviously, knowing Miss Marple, this is not a tale full of Christmas cheer, but results from her pondering how one person reminds her of another. While staying at a Hydro (some kind of health spa) she comments on how she felt that one of the guests is aiming to kill his wife...
What follows is a tale that is short, but full of twists and turns. Nobody plots like Christie and just when you think the answer is clear she makes you do a double take and reassess what you previously thought. Miss Marple may be genteel and unassuming, but she has a core of steel and she manages to reveal her strength in this story. If you imagine Miss Marple knitting by the fire and not perhaps as exciting to read as Poirot, then this may make you reassess your opinions.
What follows is a tale that is short, but full of twists and turns. Nobody plots like Christie and just when you think the answer is clear she makes you do a double take and reassess what you previously thought. Miss Marple may be genteel and unassuming, but she has a core of steel and she manages to reveal her strength in this story. If you imagine Miss Marple knitting by the fire and not perhaps as exciting to read as Poirot, then this may make you reassess your opinions.
May 12, 2021
After the three male attendants at the Bantry's dinner party told their mystery story, it is the turn of a woman to tell a story. In this short story, Miss Marple tells one, in which a husband killed his wife. She knew right after seeing them for the first time, that the husband was going to kill her.
As unbelievable as that sounds, the plot of how he did it and tried to get away with it, is from my perspective very contrived. After finding the dead body of supposedly the wife, the hotel manager locked the door, but he left the balcony door open so that the room could conveniently still be accessed from the fire escape. Thus the husband could first use another dead body and prep it to give himself an alibi. Even Miss Marple did not recognize that the dead body was not that of the wife at that point because the face was covered by a hat. Sure! And then the husband murders his wife and switches the bodies, undressing and dressing the dead bodies while doing so. A bit too elaborate and unbelievable from my point of view.
As unbelievable as that sounds, the plot of how he did it and tried to get away with it, is from my perspective very contrived. After finding the dead body of supposedly the wife, the hotel manager locked the door, but he left the balcony door open so that the room could conveniently still be accessed from the fire escape. Thus the husband could first use another dead body and prep it to give himself an alibi. Even Miss Marple did not recognize that the dead body was not that of the wife at that point because the face was covered by a hat. Sure! And then the husband murders his wife and switches the bodies, undressing and dressing the dead bodies while doing so. A bit too elaborate and unbelievable from my point of view.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2018
Joan Hickson narrating this Agatha Christie short story of Miss Marple's regret in missing the solution to a mystery. Lovely to hear her voice and excellence in characterization.
Listening for the 2018 #HoHoHo readathon
Listening for the 2018 #HoHoHo readathon
September 27, 2015
Another great short story, this woman is really gifted and lucky us, we're always delighted ;)
December 10, 2017
I enjoyed this short story! I like the characters in this one and love her writing style.
December 11, 2017
3.5 I was quite stumped.
December 27, 2022
I couldn't really get into this one. I understand that, when you've written as many mystery stories as Christie has, some of the tropes will get used over and over. I feel as if I've read the twist about the body several times already from her, so it's hardly much of a surprise when that same narrative trick pops up yet again.
Maybe the tragedy here is that Christie ate a little too much of the brandy butter with her plum pudding, and wrote this, half-drunk, on Christmas evening. That would explain the repetition.
Maybe the tragedy here is that Christie ate a little too much of the brandy butter with her plum pudding, and wrote this, half-drunk, on Christmas evening. That would explain the repetition.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews