The Murder at the Vicarage (1930) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Characters edit see section history

• Miss Jane Marple: Amateur sleuth in the unassuming package of little old village spinster. Excellent eye, and excellent memory.
• Miss Marple: Spinster who lives next door to the vicarage.
• Colonel Lucius Protheroe: Old man who is unliked by the entire village. Serves as the churchwarden.
• Mrs. Anne Protheroe: Wife of Colonel Protheroe, in love with Lawrence Redding.
• Miss Lettice Proterhoe: Daughter of Colonel Protheroe and step-daughter of Anne Protheroe.
• Inspector Slack: The narrator describes him as "Rude and overbearing."
• Mr. Lawrence Redding: Artist in love with Mrs. Anne Protheroe.
• Mr. Hawes: New curate, a "High Church" Anglican.
• Mary Hill: Maid in service at the vicarage.
• Dr. Haydock: Village doctor, first to examine the body.
• Mrs. Griselda Clement: Wife of the vicar and narrator.
• Dr. Stone: Archaeologist.
• Miss Gladys Cram: Assists Dr. Stone
• Mrs. Lestrange: Mysterious woman who has taken a house in the village.
• Colonel Melchett: Chief Constable of the County, described as "a dapper little man."
• Mrs. Price Ridley: Difficult old woman described as "devout member of the congregation."
• Dennis Clement: The narrator's 16 year old nephew.
• Mr. Raymond West: Miss Marple's nephew, an author.
• Reeves: Colonel Protheroe's butler.
• Archer: The vicar's maid's "young man."
• Old Mr. Archer: Charged with poaching.
• Miss Hartnell: "Weather-beaten and jolly and much dreaded by the poor."
• Miss Weatherby: "A mixture of vinegar and gush."
• Dr. Roberts: Coroner of Much Benham
• Old Mrs. Archer: Cleans Lawrence Reddings cottage.
• Mr. Len Clement: Vicar and narrator.

Quotes edit see section history

• “And even in the middle of her evident distress and agitation she could not keep a little smile from her lips. The smile of a woman who sees something very beautiful and wonderful.”

  Len Clement

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• ‘The young people think the old people are fools; but the old people know the young people are fools!’”

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• There is no detective in England equal to a spinster lady of uncertain age with plenty of time on her hands.”

  Highlighted by 34 Kindle customers

• I often wonder why the whole world is so prone to generalize. Generalizations are seldom if ever true and are usually utterly inaccurate.

  Highlighted by 33 Kindle customers

• For sheer primitive rage, commend me to a thoroughgoing humanitarian when you get him well roused.

  Highlighted by 30 Kindle customers

• It’s so much nicer to be a secret and delightful sin to anybody than to be a feather in their cap.

  Highlighted by 29 Kindle customers

• Intuition is like reading a word without having to spell it out. A child can’t do that because it has had so little experience. But a grown-up person knows the word because they’ve seen it often before.

  Highlighted by 27 Kindle customers

• Marriage, I have always held, is a serious affair, to be entered into only after long deliberation and forethought, and suitability of tastes and inclinations is the most important consideration.

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• There is, as Miss Marple would say, a lot of human nature in all of us.

  Highlighted by 18 Kindle customers

• “What they need,” said Griselda, “is a little immorality in their lives. Then they wouldn’t be so busy looking for it in other people’s.”

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• The Mysterious Affair at Styles The Murder on the Links

  Highlighted by 13 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• St. Mary Mead
• England
• The Vicarage: Home of the vicar and narrator, and site of the murder
• Old Hall: Home of Colonel Protheroe and his family, outside St. Mary Mead
• Blue Boar: Village pub in St. Mary Mead
• Much Benham: Town adjoining St. Mary Mead

First Sentence edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Followed by The Thirteen Problems.

Preceded by 4:50 from Paddington, and followed by Cards on the Table.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Agatha Christie (Author)

Other Contributors:

1. John M. Vermeys (Translator) - Dutch translation of 'The Murder at the Vicarage'

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PR6005.H66 M642 2006
• Dewey: 823.912

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Add a note to help parents select a book for a child.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Authors, A-Z › ( C ) › Christie, Agatha
• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Mystery › British Detectives
• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Mystery › Women Sleuths

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Agatha Christie: The Official Agatha Christie website.

Movie Connections edit see section history

• Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage (IMDb): the UK 2004
• The Murder at the Vicarage (IMDb)
• Murder at the Vicarage (TV 1986) (IMDb): This version stars Joan Hickson. It also stars Paul Eddington, who was in "Good Neighbors" and "Yes, Minister."