Apologies to Ellen Byron, I accidentally scheduled this post a week early and it published right after hers! Let’s try this again on the right date, today, October 19th.
Murders at the Grand Alpine Hotel, is a new Miss Marple mystery by celebrated mystery author Lucy Foley.
Murders at the Grand Alpine Hotel is set at a glamorous retreat in the Swiss Alps with an array of interesting guests, including Miss Jane Marple. Characters include a well-to-do British widow named Mrs. Bantry, her companion Diane, and her friend, Miss Marple, who is traveling with her. Along the way, they encounter a politician, his much younger wife, an old friend of his, a socialite, and, of course, murder. The book is set in the 1950s and draws a few references from the war.
By the end, Miss Marple figures it all out. And Lucy Foley does a fine job, in my opinion, with her rendition of Miss Marple. It doesn’t quite read like a fast-paced Lucy Foley book. But it doesn’t read quite like an Agatha Christie book, either, although more in that milieu.
I enjoyed the snowed-in aspect of the book after a blizzard locks down the hotel area, and I definitely recommend it for Marple friends, as well as Lucy Foley fans.
I have read all of Agatha Christie’s novels, but am still going through to make sure I’ve read all of her short stories. Kenneth Branagh has made a career of combing through all of Agatha’s Hercule Poirot movies. I’m excited for this look back at Miss Marple.
You may wish to pull out one of your favorite Miss Marple stories for a reread after you finish reading the Murders at the Grand Alpine Hotel. What novel would you suggest?
Thanks for this. I like Lucy Foley’s books and have read everything by Agatha Christie (never cared for the Tuppences) but was skeptical of this one. Based on your recommendation, I may give it a go!
Great, Judy! Let us know what you think!
It’s sitting on my TBR shelf waiting patiently for me to get to it. Oh for more time! Thanks for the review – may have to push it higher in the stack!
Yay! Let us know what you think of Foley’s turn at Marple!
Yay! Let us know what you think of Foley’s turn at Marple!
I heard that Foley wrote another Marple novel. Thanks for the review! I’m a definitely a fan of Miss Marple, and I like that she’s being revisited. I read the Marple: Twelve New Stories collection and appreciated contemporary writers crafting new tales. If I had to reread one of Dame Agatha’s novels, I’d probably do The Murder at the Vicarage.
Jen, I could go for a reread of Murder at the Vicarage. Hope you enjoy Foley’s version of Miss Marple!
Jen, I’d enjoy a reread of Murder at the Vicarage. Hope you enjoy Foley’s version of Miss Marple!
Jen, I thought Foley had a Marple story in the short story collection with other authors.
I must admit I am not as familiar with Agatha Christie as I should be. (Part of the same confession from last week about Holmes.)
Hope you have fun with Lucy Foley’s Marple turn, Mark!
Looks like a fun read. Deborah deborahortega229@yahoo.com
Hope you enjoy this one, Deborah!!
The Mirror Crack’s from Side to Side is a great one! Gotta admit, I’m on the fence about contemporary authors writing Dame Agatha’s characters. Regardless, I hope readers enjoy the book!
While I prefer Poirot, I have read a lot of Marple. I think my favorite is Sleeping Murder.
Sleeping Murder is a good story! I’d love a new spin on that!
Vickie, thanks for the review–I’m looking forward to reading this! I’m a Marple fan over Poirot. I think my choice would be A Pocketful of Rye. I found the nursery-rhyme aspect rawther chilling.
All those stories she made with nursery rhyme origins!
I do like some of the nursery rhymes, Lisa!
Thanks for the review, Vickie. It’s weird because I keep feeling like I already read this book but I can’t think how. Maybe I got an ARC and just don’t remember for some reason.
For a Marple story, I think I’d pick 4:50 from Paddington!
Going to have to keep an eye out for this one! I do love a little Christie and that setting sounds fantastic.
Melissa, the ski resort is a great setting!!
Oh, I’m so happy to k ow there’s a new Ms. Marple mystery. Thank you for sharing your review, Vickie.