The Body in the Library
by Agatha Christie is available to buy here.
Synopsis
Miss Marple's friend Dolly Bantry is stunned when her maid comes into her room in the morning, not with her tea, but to announce that there is a body lying on the floor of the library! Calling in her good friend Miss Marple to investigate, the two find themselves travelling to Danemouth where the girl was a dancer at the hotel and meeting the family of Conway Jefferson - a wealthy man who seems to have been the only person to miss the young girl. Who could have wanted to kill the young girl when did anyone have the opportunity? Miss Marple is sure to find out...
Marple
The 2nd Novel by Agatha Christie to feature Miss Jane Marple. Although only the second Miss Marple novel, it was actually Agatha Christie's 31st novel published.
when to read
Set in the seaside town of 'Danemouth' this is a lovely novel to read during the summer - ideally staying at a grand old hotel on the English coast - or just sat in a comfortable chair at home with your feet up...
Murder Mystery
A fun murder mystery with plenty of suspicious characters and intrigue to keep you turning the pages
England
Set initially in a classic country mansion complete with library before moving to the beautiful English coast.
Publishing info
This novel was published in 1942 just before 'Five Little Pigs' a Poirot novel and the 3rd Marple novel, 'The Moving Finger', all published in the same year
overall rating
On Screen
Watching Agatha Christie
The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie was the first of the series to star Joan Hickson as Miss Marple being aired in a three part series in 1984. It was also filmed as part of the ITV feature-length episodes in 2004 and was also the first episode to star Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple.
Dramatised and unabridged audiobooks are also available to listen to – click on the image to the right to review prices.
The Body in the Library Character List
| Adelaide Jefferson | Daughter-in-law of Conway, Frank Conway’s widow, Peter’s mother |
| Albert Biggs | A labourer who spotted the glow from the car fire |
| Alice | a former maid of Miss Marple. |
| Amanda Hartnell | Miss Marple’s next-door neighbour |
| Basil Blake | A neighbour of the Bantry’s and married to Dinah |
| Beatrice Henniker | Girl Guide and friend of Pamela Reeves |
| Briggs | Used to be head gardener at Old Hall in St Mary Mead’s (Colonel Protheroe’s house) |
| Caroline Weatherby | A resident of St Mary Mead who spreads the news of the body found in the library to Miss Hartnell |
| Clara | Mrs Price-Ridley’s maid |
| Colonel Arthur Bantry | Married to Dolly, owner of Gossington Hall |
| Colonel Melchett | Chief Constable of Danemouth |
| Constable Billy Palk | Constable first notified of the body found in the library at Gossingdon Hall |
| Constable Gregg | The police officer in Danemouth who interviews Albert Biggs |
| Conway Jefferson | Wealthy gentleman staying at The Majestic Hotel |
| David Clement | The baby son of Griselda and Leonard |
| Dinah Lee | Secretly married to Basil Blake |
| Dolly Bantry | Married to Colonel Bantry and mistress at Gossington Hall |
| Dr Haydock | Local doctor in St Mary Mead |
| Dr Metcalf | Doctor in Danemouth who advises on Conway Jefferson’s health |
| Edie Chetty | A young girl who used to bite her nails – used as an example by Miss Marple |
| Edwards | Valet to Conway Jefferson |
| Florance Small | Friend of Pamela Reeves |
| Frank Conway | Jefferson’s deceased son, husband of Adelaide |
| George Bartlett | Young gentleman staying at the hotel |
| Griselda Clement | The vicar’s wife in St Mary Mead |
| Hugo McClean | Friend of Adelaide in love with her |
| Inspector Slack | Investigating officer |
| Janet | A maid working for the Bantry’s |
| Janet | Used to be a maid of Miss Marples |
| Jesse Davis | Girl Guide and friend of Pamela Reeves |
| Jessie Golden | Hard-working daughter of the local baker Mr Golden, she trained as a governess |
| Josephine Turner | Ruby Keep’s cousin and professional dancer at the Hotel, secretly married to Mark |
| Leonard Clement | Local vicar at St Mary Mead |
| Lilian Ridgeway | Girl Guide and friend of Pamela Reeves |
| Lorrimer | Butler for the Bantry’s |
| Major Bury | Used as an example by Miss Marple, he fell in love with a woman and pursued her for years but she ran off ten days before their wedding |
| Major Reeves | Father of Pamela, the missing schoolgirl |
| Margaret Conway | Jefferson’s deceased wife |
| Mark Gaskell | Son-in-law of Conway, widow of Jefferson’s daughter Margaret. Secretly married to Josie |
| Martha Price-Ridley | A local resident of St Mary Mead and next-door neighbour to the vicarage |
| Mary | Maid to the Bantry’s |
| Mary Price | Girl Guide and friend of Pamela Reeves |
| Miss Hardbottle | Spinster sister of Mr Hardbottle who used to keep house for him |
| Mr Badger | Local chemist in St Mary Mead used in one of Miss Marple’s examples |
| Mr Cargill | A dishonest builder used as an example by Miss Marple |
| Mr Golden | Local baker in St Mary Mead |
| Mr Hardbottle | An example given by Miss Marple – he lived with his spinster sister but became very fond of his young maid who admired him and cheered him up. |
| Mr Prescott | Manager of the Majestic Hotel at Danemouth |
| Mrs Badger | Wife of the local chemist who found out her husband was falling for their young dispenser |
| Mrs Eccles | Cook to the Bantry’s |
| Mrs Martin | The new school teacher in St Mary Mead whom the child Tommy Bond pranked |
| Mrs Palk | Married to Chief Constable Palk |
| Muswell | Chauffer to the Bantry’s |
| Pamela Reeves | young girl guide who goes missing |
| Peter Carmody | Adelaide’s son and grandson of Conway Jefferson |
| Rosamond Gaskell | Jefferson’s deceased daughter, married to Mark Gaskell |
| Ruby Keene/ Rosy Legge | A younger cousin of Josephine Turner and also a dancer at the Majestic Hotel |
| Seargent Higgins | Police Officer in Danemouth |
| Selina Blake | Mother of Basil Blake and old school friend of Dolly Bantry |
| Sir Henry Clithering | Friends with the Bantry’s and Conway Jefferson, a retired police commissioner |
| Superintendent Harper | Investigating officer |
| Thomas Ramon ‘Raymond’ Star | Dancer and tennis player at the Majestic Hotel |
| Tommy Bond | Child in St Mary Mead who put a frog in the new school teacher’s clock |
| William Booker | Builder in St Mary Mead who built the house Basil Blake lives in |
SPOILERS BELOW!
Ruby Keene
Pamela Reeves
Mark Gaskell and Josie Turner
Conway Jefferson planned to disinherit Mark and Adelaide in favour of Ruby Keene, leaving her £50,000.
Mark (secretly married to Josie) killed her to secure the inheritance.
Pamela Reeves is strangled by Mark
Ruby is killed by Josie but it is unclear exactly how – possibly by strangulation, poison or bludgeoned.
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