2. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
September 15, 1890-January 12, 1976
South West part of England (Devon)
Spent some time in France with her family
Homeschooled by her Father-mother wouldn’t let her read until age 8,
so she taught herself at age 5
Age 11 her father died
Age 18 she was writing short stories
1912 met Archie Christie, 1914 they were married
3. CHRISTIE’S WRITINGS
Wrote under the name Mary Westmacott until 1946
During the First World War she began writing mysteries
1st mystery novel: The Mysterious Affair at Styles
Following the war, Christie continued writing in which the Miss
Marple series was born
4. CHARACTERS
The Vicar Leonard Clement
The Vicar’s wife, Griselda Clement
Lawrence Redding
Colonel Protheroe
Anne Protheroe
Lettice Protheroe
Dennis Clement
Dr. Haydock
Mrs. Lestrange
Mary Adams- Vicar’s housemaid
Dr. Stone- archeologist who digs at Protheroe’s
land
Colonel Melchett
Miss Marple
Hawes
Inspector Slack
5. PLOT
Colonel Protheroe dies in the Vicarage’s study waiting to have a
meeting with the Vicar. Immediately suspects are chosen.
Suspect 1: Anne Protheroe, the Colonel’s wife was having a
relationship with the new guy in town, Lawrence Redding
Suspect 2: Lawrence Redding, with the relationship with Anne,
who else would want to kill off her dreadful husband?
Suspect 3: Lettice Protheroe, the daughter of the Colonel who
was somewhat jealous of her mother’s and Lawrence’s
relationship
6. PLOT (CONTINUED)
Suspect 4: Mrs. Lestrange, she had some kind of relations with
Protheroe for she was seen the night before the murder arguing with him.
Suspect 4: Dr. Stone, Colonel Protheroe had a lot of money and Dr.
Stone was an archeologist that dug out on his land. Maybe this was his
chance to take all the goods?
Suspect 5: Griselda, who mentioned liking Mr. Redding and having a
small crush on him back before she married the Vicar.
7. OTHER HAPPENINGS
The Vicar is walking back up to his house after receiving a faulty call
about someone needing him at a house and discovers Mr. Redding
coming out of the house with a pistol in his hand.
The Vicar then discovers that Colonel Protheroe is dead in his study.
Mr. Redding confesses the murder, a day later
Anne Protheroe confesses to the murder and both are ruled innocent
once they’ve given their alibies.
8. OTHER HAPPENINGS
Inspector Slack then goes investigating every other suspect and
receiving alibies for where they were.
Miss Marple, who the book is somewhat named after is a fairly
newcomer to the town of St. Mary Mead. This is her first real case.
Miss Marple is very sensitive and observant and lives right by the
Vicarage so she is a great asset in this story to help solve the murder.
9. WHO IS THE MURDERER?
Mr. Lawrence Redding and Mrs. Anne Protheroe were responsible
for killing Colonel Protheroe and had almost gotten away with it with
their faulty alibies and fake “turning themselves in” so that the
spotlight would be off of them.
After a slight mistake of accusing Hawes of killing the Colonel,
Miss Marple found a needle in a haystack and began to unravel the
mystery.
