A Caribbean Mystery
by Agatha Christie is available to buy here.
Synopsis
Whilst on holiday on St Honore island in the Caribbean, Miss Marple is invited to see 'the snapshot of a murderer' - but before she can see it, Major Palgrave the man who offered it whips it away having seen something - or someone... when Major Palgrave is then found dead in his room at the hotel Miss Marple becomes suspicious.
Marple
The 9th Novel by Agatha Christie to feature Miss Jane Marple.
when to read
Its got to be on a beach somewhere - this is the perfect holiday read. Miss Marple only leaves England once in the novels so of course you should read this while joining her on a sandy beach somewhere - ideally the Caribbean!
As 'Nemesis' (the 11th Novel - published in 1971) refers back to this novel and some of its characters you should read this before Nemesis.
murder mystery
A tight group of suspects all residents at the hotel - this is a classic 'who-done-it' by Agatha Christie the 'Queen of Crime'.
the caribbean
Unlike Poirot who is a frequent traveller, this is the only time Miss Marple leaves England. She does go on lots of holidays and even bus tours but they are always in England. This is her one adventure abroad.
Publishing info
This novel was published in 1964 following on from the Poirot novel 'The Clocks' in 1963. The next Marple book is 'At Bertram's Hotel' which was published the following year in 1965.
overall rating
On Screen
Watching Agatha Christie
A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie has been adapted for the screen many times – Helen Hayes played Marple in the 1983 Warner Bros film. It’s a personal favourite of mine and I could watch it again and again!
Joan Hickson appeared as Marple in the 1989 episode as part of the series she films and there is also a french adaptation as part of the ‘Les Petits Meurtes d’Agatha’.
The ITV Marple series also filmed a feature-length episode and is Season 6 Episode 1 starring Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple and its another good adaptation well worth watching.
A Caribbean Mystery Character List
| Admiral Wicklow | Typical ex-military gent full of tall tales like Major Palgrave |
| Arthur Jackson | Mr Rafiel’s valet |
| Big Jim Ellis | The father of Victoria’s two children |
| Canon Jermey Prescot | Clergyman and brother of Joan on holiday |
| Captain Flemming | Typical ex-military gent full of tall tales like Major Palgrave |
| Commander Richardson | Typical ex-military gent full of tall tales like Major Palgrave |
| Daventry | Local islander and friend of Dr Graham |
| Dr Graham | Local doctor at St Honore |
| Dr Robertson | Police surgeon for St Honore |
| Edward Hillingdon | Guest at the hotel and married to Evelyn – a pharmacist |
| Enrico | The chef at the hotel |
| Esther Walters | Mr Rafiel’s secretary |
| Evelyn Hillingdon | Married to Edward |
| General Leroy | Typical ex-military gent full of tall tales like Major Palgrave |
| Georgy Wood | A resident of St Mary Mead who’s ‘mother’ came to visit |
| Gregory Dyson | Guest at the hotel and married to ‘Lucky’ and studier of nature |
| Inspector Weston | Investigating officer for St Honore police |
| Jason Rafiel | Wealthy Englishman and invalid at the hotel |
| Joe Arden | A resident of St Mary Mead who quarrelled with his wife |
| Lady Caroline Wolfe | The first wife of Peter Wolfe who committed suicide and a lady Miss Marple compares Esther Walters to |
| Leslie James | Another lady Miss Marple thinks of when considering Esther Walters’ character – Leslie James sold up and left St Mary Mead without ever telling anyone |
| Lucky Dyson (nee Miss Greatorex) | Gregory’s American wife |
| Major Harper | A man Miss Marple considers when thinking of what she knew about Colonel Hillingdon – little was known about Peter Wolfe and then one day he killed himself |
| Major Palgrave | Elderly soldier on holiday and victim |
| Marleen | Girl to whom Miss Marple compares Lucky Dyson, she was employed at The Three Crowns in St Mary Mead |
| Miss Joan Prescot | Guest at the hotel and sister of Canon Prescot |
| Molly Kendal | The proprietress of the hotel, married to Tim |
| Mr Murdoch | Butcher at St Mary Mead whom Miss Marple also likens to Gregory Dyson because of his bad reputation |
| Mrs Dyson | Gregory Dyson’s first wife who died quite suddenly |
| Mrs Joe Arden | A resident of St Mary Mead who quarrelled with her husband |
| Mrs Linnett | A resident of St Mary Mead who had a mix up with her cough mix |
| Peter Wolfe | A man whose wife killed herself, used as a reference by Miss Marple when considering the character of Esther Walters |
| Senora de Caspearo | Guest at the hotel from South America |
| Sir George Trollope | man to whom Miss Marple likens Gregory Dyson |
| Tim Kendal | Owner of the hotel at St Honore and married to Molly |
| Victoria Johnson | Maid at the hotel |
| Young Mr Polegate | A resident of St Mary Mead, a young man who displayed ‘odd behaviour’ |
SPOILERS BELOW!
Major Palgrave
Victoria Johnson
Lucky Dyson
Tim Kendal
Tim Kendal was planning to kill Molly as he only married her for her money. As the Major recognised him as a killer he’s seen before though he would have been suspected and so Tim killed the Major.
Victoria realised about the serenite so had to be killed to keep her silence and finally, Lucky was killed in a case of mistaken identity as Tim thought she was Molly.
Major Polgrave was poisoned – ‘
“They found he’d had a lethal dose of something that only a doctor could pronounce properly. As far as I can remember it sounds vaguely like diflorhexagonalethylcarbenzol. That’s not the right name. But that’s roughly what it sounds like.”
Victoria is stabbed and Lucky Dyson is drowned.
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