Sleeping Murder
Author: Agatha Christie
Since 2020 I have been reading all of Agatha Christie's mystery novels and short stories in publication order. There were a couple novels I DNF'd because I wasn't enjoying the story. And, I skipped the last 3 Tommy & Tuppence books and one other book (Passenger to Frankfurt) because I had read them before and the stories just did not age well, in my opinion. All of the other books and short stories I read, researched, and reviewed.
And.....this is the final one. The journey took me six years.
Sleeping Murder was published following Christie's death in 1976. It is the final Miss Marple mystery. I have read it multiple times over the years. My old paperback copy [Bantam Books, 1976, 295 pages] had been read so many times it was falling apart. I enjoyed one last read......and put it in the recycle bin.
The Basics: A relative of Miss Marple's has just gotten married. She travels to England ahead of her husband to purchase a house. The minute she buys Hillside, she begins to imagine she's been there before. Her imaginings soon turn very dark. She thinks there may have been a murder. Miss Marple is soon pulled into the strange case.
This story has a very supernatural, spooky vibe. It's the perfect send-off for Miss Marple. And -- she doesn't die in the book. She just goes back to St. Mary Mead, her knitting and her tea....and lived out the rest of her days in peace. With no more dead bodies. I hope.
Adaptations:
Television: Joan Hickson played Miss Marple in the 1987 episode of Miss Marple based on this book.
Some changes were made to the plot and characters, but this episode stays relatively faithful to the original story. I really enjoyed this episode! It's one of my favorites from the show!
Television: Syrian television adapted this story in 1992 as part of a 17 episode show "Jareemeh fee al zakera" I was unable to find this show online.
Radio Drama: BBC Radio 4 broadcast an audio drama based on this book in 2001. The episode is 90 minutes long and stars June Whitfield as Miss Marple. Changes were made to the plot and characters, but it is a very well done show! I enjoyed listening!
Television: Japanese television adapted this story in 2005 as part of the show Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple. I haven't been able to find this show online to watch, so I didn't get to watch this 4-episode adaptation.
Television: In 2006, Agatha Christie's Marple adapted this story with Geraldine McEwan playing Miss Marple. There are a lot of major changes in the plot. This show had a tendency to do that, and as usual, I was not a big fan of the changes. I wish they had kept to the original more closely.
Television: In 2012, French television adapted this story for an episode of Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie. The story is moved to France and features French detectives. The show is an entertaining watch, but only loosely based on the book. If you have access to Kanopy through your local library, they have all of the episodes available.
And with that -- my Agatha Christie reading journey is concluded. I have now read them all.
I can finally read all the non-fiction books I have about Agatha and her writing that I have been saving for the time when I wouldn't accidentally get any spoilers or reminders regarding plots and whodunnit! I have now read all the stories.....so I can read about the crafting of them with no fear! I have a book by David Suchet about his time playing Hercule. I have Agatha's Autobiography, a book about her travels....even two books about the poisons and venom she used to kill victims.
So, I'm not leaving Agatha behind. I'm just moving to a different part of the journey!
And......my final old worn out Agatha Christie paperback has been closed for the last time....and has been sent to the recycle bin.
It is finished.
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