"4:50 from Paddington"

Elspeth McGillicuddy was quite sure what she had seen. While riding on a train, the elderly woman was looking out her window as another train passed slowly by hers. And through the window in one of the carriages on that passing train, she had seen a man murdering a woman. She reported it, of course - but, as no dead bodies were discovered on any train that afternoon, and as nobody else had seen the crime, they assumed that the elderly woman had fallen asleep and dreamed it all. That's what everyone said.

Everyone, that is, except Miss Jane Marple, a good friend of Mrs. McGillicuddy. When Miss Marple heard about her friend's experience, she decided that some more investigation was in order. What she found out is revealed in 4:50 From Paddington, by Agatha Christie. The 1957 mystery, originally published as What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw! is the subject of today's audio review on the Classic Mysteries podcast, and you can listen to the full review by clicking here.

I have always enjoyed 4:50 from Paddington, which I think is one of Christie's better Miss Marple novels. The puzzle is fascinating - how could that body have disappeared? And Miss Marple's way of dealing with that problem is quite clever. The book is full of Christie's usual subtle - but fairly clued - misdirection, and I think newcomers are likely to be surprised by the eventual solution of the murder.

The Challenge

As part of my continuing commitment to the Vintage Mystery Bingo Reading Challenge under way at the My Reader's Block blog, I am submitting this to cover the Bingo square calling for one book with a time, day, month, etc., in the title. For details about the challenge, and what I'm doing for it, please click here.

Comments

[Margot Kinberg]

Les - I've always like this one quite a lot too. You're quite right that the puzzle itself is interesting, and the solution 'fits.' I also like the interactions among the various members of the Crackenthorpe family. Oh, and I love the character of Lucy Eyelesbarrow :-) Thanks for reminding us of this one. :-)

[Les Blatt]

Lucy really is a great character, isn't she? I think this is one of the best of the Marples.

[Yvettespaintbox]

This is one of my all time favorite Christie books, Les. I too love Lucy. :) But I have one quibble: who exactly does she wind up with in the end?

I want her to wind up with the former RAF flyer and his boy. But was it the artist? All too subtle for me, I'm afraid.

I didn't even mind the Joan Hickson adaptation. It was pretty good even if the male characters didn't quite fit my idea of them.

I also loved the Margaret Rutherford version even if they tinkered with the story and ELIMINATED Lucy!

[Les Blatt]

I'm not sure, Yvette, even if Miss Marple knows. I didn't see the Joan Hickson version, but I think Lucy is such a great character that it's hard to see how the story would work without her.