Sleeping Murder is a true Agatha Christie classic and one of my favorite mysteries featuring Miss Jane Marple. Even though it was written during WWII, it was the last Miss Marple mystery to be published, appearing in 1976, the year of Agatha Christie’s death.
In Sleeping Murder, young and newlywed Gwenda Reed comes to England from New Zealand to look for a perfect house for her and her husband who will join her at a later date. Before too long she finds an exactly right house called “Hillside” on the edge of a charming seaside resort. However, the house feels a little too much like home and Gwenda has inkling that she has been there before. But how is that possible? Gwenda was born in India, raised in New Zealand and this is her first time in England or is it not? Soon some strange coincidences cause Gwenda to feel very uneasy. Most disturbing of all is the time when Gwenda’s child memory is triggered during her visit to the theatre and she recalls standing on the landing of her house ”Hillside”, looking through the banister and seeing a young strangled woman lying in the hallway.
Against better judgment and against the advice of kind Miss Marple to let the sleeping murder lie, Gwenda and her husband Giles decide to solve the mystery. Somewhere, there is a murderer who committed an almost perfect crime and has been comforted by the years of safety. Thankfully, there is also charming Miss Marple not only to assist but also to rescue with the aid of insect repellent.
Sleeping Murder is a fast paced exciting mystery. The plot is interesting, characters are likeable and well drawn and there is a complex puzzle to solve. I enjoyed this book because of the suspense and the way Agatha Christie presented all the clues. I recommend it to anyone who likes a good book. Remember to treat yourself with a good cup of tea and scones like Miss Marple and her compatriots!