4.50 from Paddington

Maybe some readers would be disappointed if they read this crime novel and realized that it's not like the famous film. But apart from the famous film, this crime thriller has its charm. Jane Marple investigates in the usual way and just as creatively as in the famous film.

Wer die Romanverfilmung mit Margaret Rutherford kennt, wird sich an der ein oder anderen Stelle über Abweichungen wundern. Dies macht das erneute Lesen des Falles aber besonders spannend. Miss Marple wird sehr charmant charakterisiert und der Mordfall erst auf den letzen Seiten aufgeklärt. Sehr schöne Lektüre.

I really enjoyed this book!Agatha Christie's writing style is my cup of tea, and it was so much fun guessing alongside Lucy Eyelesbarrow and Miss Marple who the mystery-man who strangled a woman on the train next to the one Mrs Elspeth McGillicuddy was on. Mrs McGillicuddy, who was on her way to her old friend, Jane Marple, for Christmas, saw everything, and though she reported it to security at the next trainstation, her accounts weren't met with a plan to action. Naturally, she would speak to her friend, Miss Marple, about this who, unlike security, believed her straight away and chose to initiate her own investigations by the help of Lucy Eyelesbarrow. It's a story that truly let's you guess at who could have done it. We get more information as Lucy and Miss Marple find out more, which is so rewarding, as I don't like it when revelations and clues are just spoon-fed to the reader. I did struggle with the names a bit in this book. They were a mouthfull (McGillicuddy, Eyelesbarrow, Craddock, Crackenthorpe - of which there are at least 5 …) Plus, the questions regarding Lucy's love interests felt a bit out of place - at least, I wasn't really interested in this part of the story. As it is quite small, I won't hold it against the book too much All in all, I was very much entertained - I love it when you start questioning everything and don't take any statement at face value (in books, that is, not in real life ^^). In conclusion: If you are a fan of mystery and/or of Agatha Christie's you will most likely enjoy this book at least as much as I did.