At Bertram's Hotel

by Agatha Christie is available to buy here.

Synopsis

Miss Marple is enjoying a two week stay at her favourite hotel as a child ' Bertram's. Not only is she surprised to find that almost nothing has changed, but a murder occurs while she is staying there - with American tourists, a forgetful clergyman, the famous Bess Sedgwick and her estranged daughter all gusts as well, there are plenty of suspects who could have committed the murder, but who had the motive?

Marple

The 10th Novel by Agatha Christie to feature Miss Jane Marple.

when to read

I like to read this novel on a drizzly cold day in the winter. Imaging the luxury of Bertram's and the warm interiors with a cup of hot chocolate or a even a hot cider or mulled wine?

murder mystery

With only a select group of suspects this is a classic closed circle mystery to get you playing detective.

england - London

Set in London in a Hotel famed for its retained Edwardian and Victorian atmosphere...

Publishing info

This novel was published in 1965 directly after 'A Caribbean Mystery' in 1964. The next novel published was a Poirot novel in 1966, 'Third Girl'.

overall rating

 3/5

On Screen

Watching Agatha Christie

At Bertram’s Hotel by Agatha Christie was dramatised in 1987 in an episode with Joan Hickson playing Miss Marple. A later version was then filmed in 2007 as part of the ITV ‘Marple’ series (Season 3 episode 1) starring Grealdine McEwan as Miss Marple. This version largely deviated from the original novel though.

To view the audiobook prices on Amazon, click here

At Bertram's Hotel Character List

Amy McAllister	An American acquaintance of Jane Marple.
Archdeacon Abercrombie	A friend of Colonel Luscombe.
Archdeacon Simmons	Friend of Canon Pennyfather who reports him missing
Bridget	Elvira’s school friend
Canon Pennyfather	Clergyman and scholar in ancient languages and the Dead Sea Scrolls who goes missing
Chief-Inspector Fred “Father” Davy	Scotland Yard detective
Colonel Derek Luscombe	Elvira’s guardian and trustee of her fortune, with her at the hotel.
Guido	Elvira’s Italian boyfriend
Henry	Master of the afternoon tea at Bertram’s Hotel.
Inspector Campbell	Scotland Yard inspector
Inspector McNeill	Inspector at Scotland Yard
Ladislaus Malinowski	Racing driver in his 30’s
Lady Bess Sedgwick	Adventurous and estranged mother of Elvira
Lady Selina Hazy	Guest at the hotel.
Lord Coniston	Deceased second husband of Bess, Elvira’s father

Michael “Micky” Gorman	Irish doorman at Bertram’s Hotel.
Mr Bollard	Jewellery shop owner
Mr Robinson	Financier and informant
Mrs Carpenter	Chaperone for Elvira while travelling from Italy to England.
Mrs McCrae	Canon Pennyfather’s housekeeper.
Mrs Mildred Melford	Cousin of Colonel Luscombe who will host Elvira until she turns 21.
Richard Egerton	Solicitor and trustee of Elvira’s inheritance.
Robert Hoffman	Guest at Bertram’s hotel and bother of Wilhelm
Rose Sheldon	Chambermaid at Bertram’s Hotel
Sergeant Wadell	Policeman working on the case
The Bishop of Westchester	A friend of Jane Marple.
The Canon of Ely	Miss Marple’s Uncle
The Honourable Elvira Blake	Daughter of Bess Sedgwick and Lord Coniston staying at the hotel, returning to England after time in Italy for schooling.
Wilhelm Hoffman	Guest at Bertram’s hotel and bother of Robert

SPOILERS BELOW!

VICTIM(S)

Michael “Micky” Gorman

MURDERER(S)

Elivra Blake

MOTIVE(S)

Elvira discovered that when her mother married her father, she was already married to Micky Gorman, therefore, invalidating Elvira’s inheritance so she killed Micky to keep the secret.

METHOD(S)

Micky Gorman was shot

A Murder is Announced (1950)

The residents of Chipping Cleghorn are excited when the local paper reads "A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30 p.m" - everyone turns up for the fun and games, only it's not quite so fun when it turns out it's not a game...Miss Marple is soon on the case to find out the truth..

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Arthur Hastings