Real Life of an MSW

It’s extraordinarily intriguing.  The whole thing. Every new development that arises is like the shake you give to a kaleidoscope—The thing changes entirely in aspect (273)

Five Complete Murder Mysteries: Secret Adversary, Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Boomerang Clue, Moving Finger, and Death Comes as the End. By Agatha Christie. (1985, 671 pages) Murder and murderers abound in this collection of five stories, with flawless plotting, masterful characterization and enough twists and turns to keep even the most talented armchair detective puzzled.  I confess when I hear the name Agatha Christie I only ever thought of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, without thinking about other work she had done. Two of the five books each contain one of these characters. The other three books introduced me to wonderful new characters. I greatly enjoyed Tommy and Tuppence and was delighted to learn she has written a series of books around these characters, a spunky female and her childhood friend who became young detectives. I don’t know how Agatha Christie’s brain worked– but what a beautiful brain to come up with all these series and stand-alone books. I often found myself so engaged in the books that I read right to the end without spending a long time trying to figure out the mysteries myself. Therefore, I say, I was quite surprised at the end of Murder of Roger Ackroyd and Death Comes as the End. I really didn’t see it coming. Have you read these books or seen the films? Do you have a favorite Agatha novel?