A Pocket Full of Rye

Book cover of A Pocket Full of Rye

Book description

A classic Marple mystery, superbly read by Joan Hickson. Available for the first time on audio.

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…

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Nursery rhyme

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Why read it?

2 authors picked A Pocket Full of Rye as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

J.J. Cagney

Author

Ah, Miss Marple! She’s probably the most iconic amateur female sleuth and spawned an entire mystery genre (I love a good cozy!).

I chose this novel because the plotting is excellent, and I appreciate Agatha Christie’s subtleties. She respected her readers’ intelligence…and enjoyed playing with our observation skills. We get a slew of culprits, all with the motivation to murder the Fortescue patriarch.

So when Inspector Neele, whose perspective overtakes much of the book, needs help to understand why the bickering family is more interested in Mr. Fortescue’s fortune than his untimely death and pocketful of rye that seem to…

From J.J.'s list on Agatha Christie books you should definitely read.

Susan McCormick

Author

I love Miss Marple, as she is the iconic senior sleuth (though actually not that old) who is written off and underappreciated and unseen right up until she fingers the killer.

She solves the case, as always, and this mystery is quintessential Christie, with poison and family feuds and class inequities, and as usual, all the clues laid bare.

I had trouble choosing between my favorite Miss Marple books, The Mirror Crack’d, A Murder is Announced, A Moving Finger, A Body in the Library, and so many more.

From Susan's list on mysteries with senior sleuths and older characters.