“With the help of mirrors” ( Eng. They Do It With Mirrors ) is a detective novel by Agatha Christie , first published in the USA by Dodd, Mead and Company in 1952 under the name “Murder with Mirrors”, and in Great Britain by Collins that same year Crime Club under the original name. In Russia, the novel was published under the title Focus with Mirrors. The novel talks about the next investigation of Miss Marple .
| Using mirrors | |
|---|---|
| They Do It with Mirrors | |
| Genre | Novel |
| Author | Agatha Christie |
| Original language | English |
| Date of first publication | 1952 |
| Publishing house | Exmo |
| Previous | |
| Following | |
Story
The affair begins with Miss Marple visiting her longtime girlfriend Ruth Van Ridock. Miss Marple, Ruth, and her sister Carrie Louise all together once studied in Italy. Ruth shares her feelings that something was going wrong in the old Victorian Stonigates mansion, where Ruth's sister, Carrie Louise, lives with her husband Lewis Serrocold. She cannot explain the reasons for the unrest, but she fears that Carrie Louise might be in danger. Ruth asks Miss Marple to visit her sister and find out what is happening.
Carrie Louise is happy to see Jane in her house. Despite Carrie owning the house, her husband Lewis, who is her third husband, runs the show. The house is home to juvenile delinquents, who are patronized by husband Carrie Louise. Among the households there are quite a lot of people, but only a few of them are in consanguinity with Carrie Louise. In particular, her daughter from her first marriage, Mildred Street. Carrie also had an adopted daughter, Pippa, who died in childbirth. Her daughter, Gina, is married to an American. Carry’s stepsons from their second marriage often live in the house.
Miss Marple is invited to dinner, where all members of the household and invited guests gather. Among them are Lewis's secretary, Edgar Lawson, as well as Christian Gulbradsen, the son of Carrie's first husband. After lunch, some of the guests gather in a large hall, while others disperse around the house. Miss Marple and the rest of the guests witness a quarrel between Lawson and Lewis. They even hear gunshots, but everyone is alive. However, that night a murder takes place on the estate. Miss Marple is about to figure it out.
Quote
| Already falling asleep, Miss Marple for some reason thought of Edgar Lawson. He reminded her of someone or something. Something about Edgar Lawson bothered her slightly. Or maybe not even slightly. Not fit for life so it seems to be called. But how could this harm Carrie Louise? And could it? Miss Marple mentally shook her head. |
Reviews
According to book observer for The Observer , Maurice Richardson, published in a November 20, 1952 issue , “ The first half is spelled out, and the killer’s false alibi at the time of the stepson’s murder is very clever; there is, however, a significant reduction in pep pace towards the end, but one attempt is better than nothing ” [1] .
Films
The film was filmed several times.
- The first film adaptation was created in 1985. The film was called “Murder with Mirrors” [2] ( English Murder with Mirrors ), the main roles in it were played by Bette Davis and Helen Hayes , who played Miss Marple.
- The novel also formed the basis of one of the episodes of the television series " Miss Marple " [3] of the BBC television company in 1991 . The role of Miss Marple was played by Joan Hickson , in the role of Carrie Louise - Gene Simmons .
- In the framework of another British television series “ Miss Marple Agatha Christie ” [4] in 2009, an episode was shot based on the novel “Using Mirrors”. The role of Miss Marple was played by Julia Mackenzie , in the role of Ruth Van Ridock - Joan Collins .
- In 2013, in the second season of the series Mysterious Murders of Agatha Christie , French television released the series "Jeux de glaces" (Game of Mirrors), which is a free remake of the original book. Jane Marple was not in the series. Instead, the main character enters the journalist Alice Avril performed by Blandin Bellavoir .
Notes
- ↑ First half is lively and the trick alibi for the murder of the stepson neat enough; there is a marked decline in sprightliness later on, but half a shot is better than no dope . Maurice Richardson, The Observer, November 30, 1952 (page 9)
- ↑ Murder with Mirrors (1985)
- ↑ They Do It with Mirrors (1991)
- ↑ Marple: They Do It with Mirrors (2009)
Links
- Agatha Christie Books: Focus with Mirrors (link not available)