The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side
by Agatha Christie is available to buy here.
Synopsis
The famous actress Marina Gregg is the new owner of Gossinton Hall and when a local lady dies after drinking a poisoned cocktail intended for the star, all the household comes under suspicion. Miss Marple soon discovers there are plenty of secrets lurking which link Marina not only to the household but the locals in the village of St Mary Mead too...
Marple
The 8th Novel by Agatha Christie to feature Miss Jane Marple.
The previous Marple novel is '4.50 from Paddington' (published in 1957).
when to read
This has to be read in the English summer time when there are garden fetes a plenty to enjoy. Grab some tea and scones with cream and jam or perhaps a large slide of Victoria sponge to enjoy as you read...
There are some references back to characters in this novel from the first novel 'The Murder at the Vicarage' so you may want to read that first.
Murder Mystery
A great murder mystery with Agatha Christie dropping in plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep you guessing all the way to the end.
England
A classic country house murder but with a larger pool of suspects to pick from
Publishing info
This novel was published in 1962 just after 'The Pale Horse' was published the year before. The next Miss Marple novel in the series is 'A Caribbean Mystery' published in 1964.
overall rating
On Screen
Watching Agatha Christie
Joan Hickson played Marple in the 1992 adaptation for the TV series she appeared in throughout the 80s and in 2010 an episode was filmed with Julia McKenzie as Marple in the ITV series 5 as episode 4. Joanna Lumley appeared for the second time as Dolly Bantry and Lindsay Duncan is brilliant as Marine Gregg. One to enjoy!
Later adaptations have also been filmed for French TV (2017) and in Japan (2018).
To view the audiobook prices on Amazon, click here
The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side by Agatha Christie was a feature length film starring Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple in 1980.
The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side Character List
| Alfred Pike | Younger of two sons whom Miss Marple used as an example, he now resides in ‘Fairways Mental Home’ |
| Alice | An orphan from ‘St Faith’s’ whose girls often came to work for and be trained by Miss Marple |
| Alison Wilde | An acquaintance of Miss Marple who is used by her in an example |
| Amanda Hartnell | An old resident of St Mary Mead and neighbour of Miss Marple |
| Amy | An orphan from ‘St Faith’s’ whose girls often came to work for and be trained by Miss Marple |
| Anne Protheroe | A resident of St Mary Mead who appeared in ‘The Murder at the Vicarage’ |
| Ardwyck Fenn | A personal friend of Marina Gregg |
| Arthur Badcock | Heather Babcock’s husband |
| Bianca | An ‘ear witness’ who hears a gunshot |
| Briggs | Gardner for Dr Sandford |
| Canon of Chichester Cathedral | Miss Marple’s Uncle |
| Cherry Baker | Cleaner for Miss Marple, married to Jim |
| Chief Inspector Craddock | Scotland Yard Detective |
| Clara | An orphan from ‘St Faith’s’ whose girls often came to work for and be trained by Miss Marple |
| Councillor Allcock | Councillor of St Mary Mead and guest at Marina Greggs private reception |
| Dolly Bantry | Friend of Miss Marple and previous mistress of Gossington Hall |
| Donald McNeil | A reporter covering the fete at Gossington Hall |
| Dr Gilchrist | Private doctor to Marina Gregg |
| Dr Haydock | Miss Marple’s doctor at St Mary Mead |
| Ella Zielinsky | Secretary to Jason Rudd |
| Emily Waters | An acquaintance of Miss Marple who nearly married a curate |
| Florence Hill | Former maid to Miss Marple who now runs a boarding house |
| Florrie West | Works at the same estate agents as Arthur Badcock |
| Frank Cornish | Policeman |
| Gerald French | An acquaintance of Miss Marple who is used by her in an example |
| General Barnstaple | A resident of Much Benham and guest at Marina Greggs private reception |
| Giles | Former farmer of St Mary Mead whose land was used to build ‘The Development’ on |
| Gladys Dixon | Served drinks at the film studio canteen |
| Griselda Clement | Married to the vicar of St Mary Mead |
| Giuseppe | Marina Gregg’s butler |
| Hailey Preston | Employed to Marina Gregg |
| Harry Price | Young man looking to buy a house in ‘The Development’ with his wife Lily |
| Heather Badcock | Fan of Marina Greggs, she is married to Arthur Bdcock |
| Jason Rudd | A director and married to Marina Gregg |
| Jim Baker | Handyman married to Cherry |
| Jim Galbraith | A reporter covering the fete at Gossington Hall |
| Johnny Jethroe | A colleague of Margo Bence the photographer |
| Joshua Grice | Farmer at Lower Farm in St Mary Mead and guest at Marina Greggs private reception |
| Laycock | Old gardener in St Mary Mead who helps Miss Marple with her own |
| Lily Price | Young woman looking to buy a house in ‘The Development’ |
| Lola Brewster | American actress and Marina’s third husband’s second wife |
| Lucius Protheroe | A resident of St Mary Mead who appeared in ‘The Murder at the Vicarage’ |
| Margot Bence | Young photographer taking pictures of the fete at Gossington Hall |
| Marina Gregg | Famous and much-married film star, currently married to Jason Rudd and new owner of Gossington Hall |
| Mary Bain | A resident of ‘The Development’ in St Mary Mead and neighbour of Heather and Arthur Badcock |
| Miss Grundle | Works at the same estate agents as Arthur Badcock |
| Miss Knight | Companion to Miss Marple |
| Mr Barnes | Grocer in St Mary Mead |
| Mr Roberts | Manager of Inch’s Taxis firm |
| Mr Sampson | The oldest resident of St Mary Mead who is impressed by Marina Greggs swimming pool |
| Mr Toms | Used to own the basket shop in St Mary Mead |
| Mr Upshaw | Businessman living in St Mary Mead |
| Mrs Allcock | Married to the Councillor at St Mary Mead and guest at Marina Greggs private reception |
| Mrs Grice | Wife of Joshua living at Lower Farm and guest at Marina Greggs private reception |
| Mrs Hartwell | A resident of ‘The Development’ in St Mary Mead and neighbour of Cherry and Jim Baker |
| Mrs Jameson | Hairdresser in St Mary Mead |
| Mrs Meavy | Dolly Bantry’s daily help in her new home East Lodge |
| Mrs Pike | Woman who had two sons, one of whom (Alfred Pike) is used in an example by Miss Marple |
| Mrs Wisley | Owner of the wool shop in St Mary Mead |
| Raymond West | Miss Marple’s nephew |
| Sir Henry Clithering | The former head of Scotland Yard and friend of Miss Marple |
| William Tiddler | Inspector assisting with the investigation |
SPOILERS BELOW!
Heather Badcock
Guiseppe (the butler)
Ella Zielinsky
Marina Gregg
Revenge! This is one of the few times Agatha Christie has a murder act out of rage in revenge – Marina discovers, while talking to Heather, that is was her fault she contracted German measles which resulted in her son’s disabilities. This makes Marina Gregg one of the most interesting characters to my mind as she has such an unusual motive. She later kills Ella and Guiseppe as they tried to blackmail her.
Heather Badcock is poisoned as is Ella Zielinsky but Guiseppe is shot.
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Miss Marple is enjoying the sunshine while on holiday in the Caribbean...when she's asked "Want to see the snapshot of a murderer?" - before she can see it, Major Palgrave hurriedly puts the picture away away... Why? When he is then found dead Miss Marple's suspicions are aroused...
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