A Murder Is Announced
by Agatha Christie is available to buy here.
Synopsis
All the villagers of Chipping Cleghorn are intrigued when they read that a murder is due to take place on October 29th at Little Paddocks - its obviously a murder game that the owner, Letitia Blacklock, is planning - right? Only, Letitia doesn't know anything about it and at the fateful hour - 6.30 - a real muder does occur! Enter Miss Marple to find out 'who-done-it'.
Marple
The 4th Novel by Agatha Christie to feature Miss Jane Marple after an 8 year gap from the last one published in 1942.
when to read
The best time to read 'A Murder is Announced' is obviously in October - ideally on the 29th with the central heating on and a sherry in your hand!
murder mystery
With only a select group of suspects this is a classic closed circle mystery to get you playing detective.
England
An English country crime - perfect.
Publishing info
This novel was published in 1950. The previous Marple novel was 'The Moving Finger' in 1942, the next book is 'They Do It With Mirros' in 1952.
overall rating
On Screen
Watching Agatha Christie
‘A Murder is Announced’ by Agatha Christie was filmed as part of the ITV feature length episodes and is Season episode 4 starring Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple.
Previous adaptations starred Joan Hickson in an 1985 adaptation and June Whitfield voiced Miss Marple in the 1999 BBC Radio 4 dramatised audiobook.
A Murder is Announced Character List
| Belle Goedler | Widow of Randall Goedler who is due to leave all her money to Letitia Blacklock |
| Charlotte Blacklock | Twin sister of Letitia, known to be deceased |
| Chief Constable George Rydesdale | Craddock’s superior |
| Chief Constable Georger Rydesdale | Chief Constable of Middleshire, Inspector Craddock’s superior |
| Colonel Archie Easterbrook | Retired Colonel, married to Laura |
| Colonel Wright | Anglo-Indian colonel living in St Mary Mead |
| Constable Edwards | Policeman |
| Constable Legg | Policeman on the case |
| Detective Sergeant Fletcher | Policeman on the case |
| Diane Harmon ‘Bunch’ | The vicar’s wife |
| Dmitri Stamfordis | Sonia’s husband, father of Pip and Emma |
| Dora ‘Bunny’ Bunner | Childhood friend of Letitia and her sister, now living at Little Paddocks with Letitia as her companion |
| Dr Blacklock | Father of Charlotte and Leticia |
| Edmund Swettenham | Mrs Swettenham’s son, writing a book |
| Edward Harmon | Diane and Julian Harmon’s son |
| Elinor Simmons | Mother of Patrick and Julia |
| Emma Stamfordis | Daughter of Sonia and Dmitri, sibling of Pip |
| Florrie | a former maid of Miss Marple. |
| Fred Tyler | Fishmonger at St Mary Mead |
| Harry Haymes | Phillipa’s young son |
| Inspector Dermot Craddock | Investigating officer and godson of Sir Henry Clithering, Miss Marple’s friend |
| Joan Croft | Resident of St Mary Mead |
| Johnnie Butt | Paperboy |
| Julia | Employee at the café |
| Julia Simmons | Living with Letitia |
| Laura Easterbrook | Colonel Easterbrook’s wife |
| Letitia Blacklock | Resident of Chipping Cleghorn living at Little Paddocks who hosts the murder party, expected to become very wealthy one day, twin sister of Charlotte who died |
| Major Vaughan | Anglo-Indian major living in St Mary Mead |
| Miss Amy Murgatroyd | Local lady who lives at Boulders with Miss Hinchcliffe |
| Miss Hinchcliffe | Local lady who lives at Boulders with Miss Murgatroyd |
| Mitzi | Foreign cook for Miss Blacklock |
| Mr Ashe | Words as chief gardener at Dayas Hall for Mrs Lucas |
| Mr Beddingfeld | Lawyer for Leticia Blacklock in Milchester |
| Mr Curtiss | Wesleyan Minister who wouldn’t correct his child’s teeth as it was ‘god’s will’ for them to stick out |
| Mr Elliot | Antique shop owner |
| Mr Hodgson | Bank manager at St Mary Mead used as an example by Miss Marple |
| Mr Rowlandson | Manager of the Royal Spa hotel |
| Mr Totman | The Chipping Cleghorn stationer |
| Mrs Ashe | Wife of Mr Ashe |
| Mrs Cray | Wool shop owner in St Mary Mead |
| Mrs Finch | Housemaid for Mrs Swettenham |
| Mrs Finch | Works for Mrs Swettenham and her son Edmund |
| Mrs Huggins | Resident of Chipping Cleghorn and works at Little Paddocks |
| Mrs Lucas | Employed Phillipa Haymes as her gardener at Dayas Hall |
| Mrs Pusey | Owns the paper shop in St Mary Mead |
| Mrs Swettenham | Mother of Edmund, resident of Chipping Cleghorn |
| Mrs Wotherspoon | Example given by Miss Marple of a lady who drew two pensions |
| Myrna Harris | Rudie’s girlfriend who also works at the Spa where Miss Marple is staying |
| Nurse Ellerton | Worked as a nurse in St Mary Mead and practised euthanasia |
| Patrick Simmons | Living with Letitia |
| Phillipa Haymes | Living with Letitia and gardener for Mrs Lucas |
| Pip Stamfordis | Child of Sonia and Dmitri, sibling of Emma |
| Randall Goedler | Rich financier, deceased, Letitia Blacklock’s employer |
| Reverand Julian Harmon | Local vicar |
| Ronald Haymes | Husband of Phillipa and father of Harry |
| Rudi Scherz | Receptionist at the Spa where Miss Marple is staying and victim |
| Sister McClelland | Carer for Belle Goedler |
| Sonia Goedler | Estranged sister of Randall |
| Sonia Stamfordis | Sister of Randell Goedler |
| Susan Harmon | Diane and Julian Harmon’s daughter |
| Tiglath Pileser | The vicar’s cat |
SPOILERS BELOW!
Rudi Scherz
Dora Bunner (Bunny)
Amy Murgatroyd
Leticia Blacklock
Leticia Blacklock was actually Charlotte Blacklock – Leticia died so Charlotte assumed her ID to inherit the money from Randell and Belle as expected. Rudi recognised her so had to be killed and Dora kept referring to her as Lottie potentially giving her away. Amy Murgatroyd realised ‘Leticia’ hadn’t been in the room when the flashlight was shone around.
Rudi – shot
Dora – Poison
Amy Murgatroyd – Strangled
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