The Murder at the Vicarage

Richard E. Grant introduces listeners to Reverend Clement, vicar of St. Mary Mead, and his neighbor, Miss Jane Marple. The weathered male voice narrating this first Miss Marple mystery may surprise some listeners, as later episodes are often told from the spinster sleuth's point of view. Grant does his best with the male characters, delivering the various accents that help listeners distinguish class and status in the English village. His women are less successful, and while Grant has the proper British formality and tone, the characters barely come alive. Christie fans will enjoy the audiobook's multiple plot diversions and this 1930 introduction of the author's enduring character. R.F.W. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine