Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our December 25 challenge read of They Do It with Mirrors Published in 1952 this is the sixth book in the Miss Marple series.

Miss Marple senses danger when she visits a friend living in a Victorian mansion which doubles as a rehabilitation centre for delinquents. Her fears are confirmed when a youth fires a revolver at the administrator, Lewis Serrocold. Neither is injured. But a mysterious visitor, Mr Gilbrandsen, is less fortunate – shot dead simultaneously in another part of the building.

Pure coincidence? Miss Marple thinks not, and vows to discover the real reason for Mr Gilbrandsen’s visit.

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

I down graded this to three stars because I know Christie can do better. I found the final explanation of elaborate banking schemes with the object of setting up a community of juvenile delinquents ridiculous. Then there was that strange red herring that Gina's mother was the daughter of a murderer. It was quickly mentioned but not developed. Miss Marple did very little detecting. The police were inconsistent, at one time recognizing her reputation, then treating her dismissively. Nor did I understand treating the hall as a stage as the veranda with the various exits was not visible from the hall (according to the map in my hard copy).

I know I am being picky as I enjoyed the book. Time spent with Miss Marple is never wasted. The fake poisoning plot was well done.

Sandy wrote: "I down graded this to three stars because I know Christie can do better. I found the final explanation of elaborate banking schemes with the object of setting up a community of juvenile delinquents..."

Yes I find all these secret society-type explanations haven't aged as well as the more personality-based solutions. As this was a second (at least) read for me, it was fun to see all the references to plays and theatricals and the stress on how theatrical it all felt, nudging us towards the sense that it was all staged.

I also enjoyed the characters in this one-the lovely Gina sticking with her solid American husband instead of the arty Londoners, Carrie Louise and Mildred solidifying their relationship, the weird Philanthropists with their wacky ideas, the bizarre family relationships at the house with all the husbands and step-children and exes more or less happily co-residing.

I also am enjoying Miss Marple more and more with these reads. However I do notice that there is a frequent use of the trope of Marple or Poirot "losing it" when they are pursuing something far-fetched or asking apparently off-topic questions.

Sandy, you raise several valid and fair points about the weaknesses of this plot and I agree. This has never been a favorite, and I wasn’t looking forward to rereading it, but as you say, any time with Miss Marple is time well spent.

I also agree with Frances, there were some enjoyable characters in this one that had me enjoying my reread more than I expected.

I did find the motive sketchy and ridiculous (the fraudulent banking scheme, supposedly stealing money to create a juvenile delinquent utopia island or something), I’d forgotten about it, but remembered the supposed philanthropic husband was indeed, the bad guy.

I didn't like this much first time around, but this time I really enjoyed it, especially Miss Marple, and disagreed with my own review! I had to change my rating from 2 to 4 stars. :)

I do still think some aspects of the plot are weak, but I find the characters and the writing style really enjoyable, even though I remembered who the villain was. The bit about Gina being the daughter of a murderer is weird - maybe that is where the killer got the idea of the arsenic red herring?

Judy wrote: "I didn't like this much first time around, but this time I really enjoyed it, especially Miss Marple, and disagreed with my own review! I had to change my rating from 2 to 4 stars. :)

I do still t..."

Yes, as I’d forgotten the elaborate crime syndicate motive but remembered the husband was the killer, I was hoodwinked into thinking I’d spotted a clue, Gina’s mother or grandmother was a murderer. I wasn’t sure how it fit in, but then remembered from the Joan Hickson tv version that she stayed with her moody American lump of a husband, and returned to the States with him, so couldn’t have done it.

Odd the way that Carrie Louise just knows so many things (but not the truth about her husband) - she seems to be pretty much the opposite of Miss Marple, by believing the best of everyone!

Judy wrote: "Odd the way that Carrie Louise just knows so many things (but not the truth about her husband) - she seems to be pretty much the opposite of Miss Marple, by believing the best of everyone!"

The three of them must have been an odd group in school perhaps demonstrating that opposites attract. The sister we met at the beginning is very much the high society lady; C-L believes the best of everyone and is devoted to 'lost causes'; and MM the worst and is immensely practical.