Murder with Mirrors (They Do It with Mirrors)

First Published: 1952
Setting: Stonygates 

Starring: Miss Marple, Carrie Louise, Lewis Serrocold

Important Other People: Mildred Strete, Gina and Wally Hudd, Jolly, Alex and Stephen Restarick, Edgar Lawson, Christian Gulbrandsen, Inspector Curry

Agatha tends to set her murders in rich country houses with beautiful gardens, or in exotic places with wealthy people. What I like about Murder with Mirrors is that it takes place in a school for young criminals. Automatically, we start with a whole new type of character than we are used to, which makes the book more exciting. To me, I think Agatha could have done a lot more with the criminals, giving some of them bigger parts in the story and allowing more interactions between them and the family members. I like that we get to see a little bit of Ernie and hear about his escapades, but I think his part could have been bigger. On the other hand, the character of Edgar Lawson was overdone and completely unlikable, which made the story less enjoyable. I think Agatha realized she could have included the younger people more in the book, which may have led to Hickory Dickory Death only a few years later. 

One other thing I would like to point out is how Poirot always suspects the husband in the case of a wife's murder, or the wife in the case of a husband's murder. That being said, Carrie Louise was not killed, so that does not strictly apply here, but there are definite correlations between Lewis Serrocold and Alfred Inglethorp. The characters are basically the same in that they are groveling men who married rich women, ensuring their financial security, but not accepting that as enough. They both are greedy individuals who want more than what they have, and they make everyone's lives turn upside down because of it.

Interesting facts: We learn a lot about Miss Marple's life as a young girl- her adventures growing up and living in Italy for a bit. The novel is also a tad racist against Italians (as we often find with Agatha), which could have had something to do with the recent war. 

Favorite? Hmm. I like that it involves young criminals (because why not, I'm a teacher), and I like the crazy family dynamics that are a result of the different marriages and adoptions that have occurred throughout Carrie Louise's life. I can't say that I know of any families personally that have a story that is remotely similar to hers, but that could have been something that was going on in England in the 50s. Either way, I like it just fine.

Death by: shooting, crushing, drowning

Body Count: 5; Cumulative: 120

The Count: Poirot-23, Miss. Marple-5, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-3, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-2, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: Nobody can improve your life for you but yourself. The secret of existence is that we're all a little mad. Things always have to be faced sooner or later. So few people ever look like what they really are. Women have a much worse time of it in the world than men do. When you only look at one side of a thing, you only see one side. What is reality and what is illusion? So many people with good hearts have no sense. People who can be very good can be very bad, too. If you're good, you have to be humble as well. 

Up Next: Funerals are Fatal