The Moving Finger

First Published: 1942

Setting: Lymstock

Starring: Miss Marple, Jerry and Joanna Burton

Important Other People: Megan, Superintendent Nash, Owen Griffith, Aimee Griffith, Emily Barton, Reverend and Mrs. Dane Calthorp, Miss Ginch, Elsie Holland, Mr. Pye, Mr. and Mrs. Symmington, Agnes Woddell

The Moving Finger is all about rumors in a small community spreading like wildfire, leading to a variety of different outcomes. The book belongs in the class of novels that are in first person narration, but the narrator, Jerry Burton, is a character we don't see in any other novels. And, like Jerry, it is easy to become tired of the phrase, "there's no smoke without fire," as it is constantly repeated in the book.

What I don't really like about this book is how slow the plot seems to go, mainly due to the fact that we don't encounter Miss Marple until halfway through the book. There is a lot of talk about what is happening with the letters being sent, and suspicions thrown about (along with some romance), causing the plot to drag at some points. Another aspect of the book that I don't really like is how Jerry is invited to involve himself as much as he wants in the police investigation. I don't think they let regular people just join in while they are investigating scandal and murder.

I have to say that I do enjoy the romantic aspect of the book, mainly because we usually only see romance from Agatha when it is Hercule Poirot setting couples up or married couples being interrupted by murder (except Tommy and Tuppence). It's nice to see some regular people falling in love, and some good coming out of the mess left behind by murder in the ruins of the town called Lymstock.

Interesting facts: One of Agatha Christie's favorites. Also written during the bombing of London. Also, according to Matthew Bunson, "In a way, many parts of the novel are more reminiscent of Christie's romances (penned under the pseudonym of Mary Westmacott) than the Marple murder mysteries. The Moving Finger contains several subplots involving the romantic aspirations of Jerry Burton for the young Megan Hunter."

Favorite? I can't really say that it is. Agatha likes it though; "Rather to my surprise on rereading them the other day, I find that another one I am really pleased with is The Moving Finger. It is a great test to reread what one has written some seventeen or eighteen years before. One's view changes. Some do not stand the test of time, others do."

Death by: Cyanide, stabbing

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 87

The Count: Poirot-21, Miss. Marple-3, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-3, Superintendent Battle-4, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 3, Mrs. Oliver-1, Albert- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: In everybody's life there are hidden chapters which they hope may never be known. Even a blind man might stab to the heart by pure chance. Everything has to have a beginning. A man's got to stick up for his wife. Don't attribute to God the evils that man does of his own free will. God doesn't need to punish us- we're so very busy punishing ourselves. Hate doesn't last; love does. Girls with brains are so liable to turn into morons. Things never come when they are expected. We are not put into this world to avoid danger when an innocent fellow creatures' life is at stake.

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