Rex Fortescue, king of a financial empire, was sipping tea in his ‘counting house’ when he suffered an agonising and sudden death. On later inspection, the pockets of the deceased were found to contain traces of cereals.Yet, it was the incident in the parlour which confirmed Jane Marple’s suspicion that here she was looking at a case of crime by rhyme…

‘A Pocket Full Of Rye‘ was filled with energy, humour and sharp observation from the first page. This seemed like a book where Agatha Christie was enjoying herself. The plot was clever I didn’t see the ending coming but when it did arrive, it left me smacking my forehead at having never even considered the right answer. I particularly like the letter at the end, which, if it had arrived on time, might have prevented so much harm.

I liked that the clever plot didn’t dominate the book. I didn’t feel as if I was involved in a 257-page puzzle-solving exercise. My attention was focused on the people in the household of the bizarrely dysfunctional Forescuefamily and on the police Inspector investigating the crime rather than on solving the crime itself.

Inspector Neele was a wonderful creation. He was a clever, competent policeman who took pleasure in being underestimated by the people he was interrogating. I enjoyed his wild speculations on what might have happened and his cool assessments of what probably had happened. Also, what’s not to like about a police Inspector who quotes ‘Alice In Wonderland’?

Then there was the redoubtable Miss Dove, who leapt off the page and into my imagination. A marvellous woman, inscrutable and so refreshingly and frankly malicious. She was clearly playing a part and relishing her own performance. I enjoyed her amusement both at those who sensed there was something off about her but couldn’t define what it was and at those who were completely unaware that they were her sheep and she was their mischievous collie dog.

Miss Ramsbottom (The names in this book are priceless. I take them as another sign of how much fun Agatha Christie was having) was another character who was not at all what she seemed to be at first. I was fascinated by her combination of religious rigidity and insightful worldliness.

Finally, there was Jane Marple, who doesn’t appear until nearly halfway through the book and who never took centre stage but who, nevertheless, shaped the lives of everyone around her.

I’m a Jane Marple fan. I love how she relentlessly and mercilessly pursues the wicked while staying in the shadows by doing her, ‘Ignore me, I’m just a harmless old lady‘ Jedi Mind Trick. I think this is summed up by how she introduces herself to Inspector Neeles

“I wonder—I suppose it would be great presumption on my part—if only I could assist you in my very humble and, I’m afraid, very feminine way. This is a wicked murderer, Inspector Neele, and the wicked should not go unpunished.”

This sentence, where she demonstrates that she knows how dismal but necessary her worldview is, made me smile:

“Oh yes,’ said Miss Marple fervently. ‘I always believe the worst. What is so sad is that one is usually justified in doing so.”