4:50 From Paddington (What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw)

First Published: 1957
Setting: Brackhampton 

Starring: Miss Marple, Lucy Eyelesbarrow, Dermot Craddock

Important Other People: Luther, Cedric, Harold, Alfred, and Emma Crackenthorpe, Bryan and Alexander Eastley, Dr. Quimper

Let's just forget the fact that the way Miss Marple figured out what train the murder occurred on is highly improbable, and that she discovered where the body would have fallen is definitively impossible, and just go with the fact that she is amazing to have deduced all that. I like that her efforts are carefully documented so that we see that it is minutely possible for her to have figured everything out because it makes it more realistic. It is so useful to have such illustrious neighbors and relatives! 

Obviously, the Crackenthorpe's are very similar to the Lee's (Hercule Poirot's Christmas). I like some of them anyways. Luther and Simeon are both sneaky and creepy, but it makes them endearing. I like the setup of the family (also similar to A Pocketful of Rye) because there are lots more characters to be killed off so that the ones we like don't end up dying. Also, that much more intrigue is added to the plot. Lucy is amazing. I have no idea why she didn't appear in any other books. She is resourceful, excellent at her job, and loyal to all of her employers. I appreciate how she goes along with Miss Marple's plan simply because she is interested- as she should be! I would be too, with that crazy story about a dead body from a train.

One thing that is alluded to in the book is that the war and its effects are still very much present in 1957. Bryan suffers heavily in that he is unable to find a job that suits him; the courageous lifestyle he had during the war was more his style. Also, how the house has gone to ruin since the war negatively affects Emma and Luther. There is also the idea that people no longer knew who others were- people could claim their own histories, and no one was able to disprove them because everything had been disrupted since the war. 

One last thing: usually, Hercule deals with romance, and we know exactly what will happen. But here, who does she end up with??? Miss Marple says its obvious, but I'm not sure! What do you think??

Interesting facts: Raymond West and Sir Henry Clithering are mentioned. The train in the book leaves at 4:54, even though the title is 4:50- one of the publishers changed the title from 4:54. I always wondered about that.

Favorite? Yes. Lucy is awesome, Alexander is awesome, Miss Marple is awesome. The way she figured things out is amazing, to say the least.

Death by: strangulation, arsenic, acontine 

Body Count: 3; Cumulative: 134

The Count: Poirot-26, Miss Marple-7, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-4, Superintendent Battle-5, George-6, Goby-2, No Recurring Character- 6, Mrs. Oliver-3, Albert- 2, Superintendent Spence-1, Miss Lemon-2

Agatha's Life Lessons: A true lady can neither be shocked nor surprised. To gain money one must exploit shortage. One gets used to everything. Young men are fools. You despise money when you haven't got any. If you look prosperous, people think you are prosperous. 

Up Next: Ordeal by Innocence