The Moving Finger
by Agatha Christie is available to buy here.
Synopsis
Jerry Burton has moved with his sister to the small village of Lymstock for some rest and recuperation. It is not long though before they become the latest targets for a writer of unpleasant anonymous letters...most of the residents have received them and although apparently harmless and generally untrue, the mutterings of 'no smoke without fire' soon start to grate on Jerry. And when one of the residents, Mrs. Symmington kills herself after receiving a letter the writer is deemed the culprit - and the hunt for the guilty party begins...
Marple
The 3rd Novel by Agatha Christie to feature Miss Jane Marple and her 33rd novel over all. Narrated by the character Jerry Barton.
when to read
This is a great read no matter the time of year or weather. Why not enjoy with a cocktail so you can sip along with Megan as she tastes her first one too!
Murder Mystery
With only a select group of suspects this is a classic closed circle mystery to get you playing detective.
England
Set in the quiet fictional village of Lymstock
Publishing info
This novel was published in 1942, the same year as 'The Body in the Library' and the Poirot novel 'Five Little Pigs'. The next Marple novel Agatha Christie wrote was in 1950, 'A Murder is Announced'
overall rating
On Screen
Watching Agatha Christie
The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie was filmed as part of the Joan Hickson TV series as well as for the ITV feature length episodes of ‘Marple’ and iappears as Season 2 episode 2 starring Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple alongside Emelia Fox as Joanna Burton and James D’Arcy as Jerry.
To view the audiobook prices on Amazon, click here
The Moving Finger Character List
| Agnes Barton | Deceased sister of Emily Barton |
| Agnes Woddell | Parlour maid at the Symmington household |
| Aimee Griffith | Doctor Owen’s sister |
| Beatrice Baker | Maid at Little Furze |
| Bert Rundle | Local police constable in Lymstock |
| Brian Symmington | Young son on Mona and Richard Symmington to whom Elsie is governess |
| Captain Hunter | Megan Hunter’s father |
| Colin Symmington | Young son on Mona and Richard Symmington to whom Elsie is governess |
| Colonel Appleton | Lives near Lymstock at Combeacre |
| Colonel Appleton | A resident of Lymstock of plays bridge at the Symmington’s |
| Dr Owen Griffith | Doctor at Lymstock who loves Joanna, brother of Aimee |
| Edith Barton | Deceased sister of Emily Barton |
| Elsie Holland | Governess to Mona and Dicks young sons |
| Emily Barton | Owner of the property Little Furze which Jerry and Joanna let and friend of Florence Elford |
| Emory | Daily help at Little Furz where Jerry and Joanna are staying |
| Florence Elford | Friend of Emily Barton who is staying with her |
| George | Boyfriend of Beatrice Baker |
| Inspector Graves | Scotland Yard inspector who advises on poison pen letters |
| Jasper Harrington-West | Deceased cousin of Maud Dane Calthorpe |
| Jennifer Clark | The barmaid at the Three Crowns pub in Lymstock who handed in her anonymous letter to the police |
| Jerry Burton | The narrator, an injured pilot staying Lymstock to recuperate with his sister Joanna |
| Joanna Burton | Jerry’s younger sister staying with him in Lymstock |
| Mabel Barton | Deceased sister of Emily Barton |
| Marcus Kent | Jerry’s Doctor in London |
| Mary Grey | Joanna’s dressmaker in London |
| Maud Dane Calthrop | The vicar’s wife and friend of Miss Marple |
| Megan Hunter | Daughter of Mona and her first husband. |
| Minnie Barton | Deceased sister of Emily Barton |
| Miss Batworthy | Teacher at the boarding school Megan used to attend |
| Miss Ginch | Clerk for Mr Dick Symmington |
| Miss Ginch | A clerk who used to work for Richard Symmington but left after an anonymous letter insinuated an affair between them |
| Mona Symmington | Married to Dick her second husband, mother of Megan by her first marriage and two sons with Dick |
| Mr Cleat | Husband of Mrs Cleat, he is an odd jobs gardener |
| Mr Pye | Antique collector living in Lymstock |
| Mrs Baker | Beatrice’s mother |
| Mrs Baker | Beatrice Baker’s mother |
| Mrs Cleat | Local witch in Lymstock, accused of writing the letters |
| Mudge | Wife of the local butcher in Lymstock |
| Partridge | Maid at Little Furze |
| Paul | Joanna’s ex-boyfriend |
| Reverend Caleb Dane Calthrop | Local vicar |
| Richard Symmington | Solicitor, married to Mona and stepfather of Megan |
| Rose | Cook at the Symmington household |
| Sergeant Parkins | A police officer working with Nash investigating the anonymous letters |
| Superintendent Nash | County superintendent |
SPOILERS BELOW!
Mrs Symmington
Agnes Woddell
Mr Symmington
Mr Symmington had fallen in love with the beautiful governess Elsie Holland – knowing she would never get involved with a married man though he decided to kill his wife and make it look like it was related to anonymous letters which he wrote to cast suspicion away from himself as the husband.
Mrs Symmington is poisoned with Cyanide.
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