The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

Colonel and Mrs. Bantry have a problem. A young woman has died and her body was found in THEIR library. They claim not to have known the dead girl, but the town has already decided that where there’s smoke, there must be fire. Their reputation is ruined. Enter Miss Marple, Christie’s sleuth of “a certain age” to find the real killer.

It turns out the young woman, Ruby Keene, had worked at a hotel in a nearby town. While working there, Ruby met an ailing older man who notices that she resembles his late daughter. After winning his affection, Ruby was written into his will to inherit the bulk of his not inconsiderable fortune. His family is not pleased. Was it enough for one of them to commit murder? There were also indications that Ruby had a secret boyfriend. Did he kill her in a jealous rage? Miss Marple must find out from the list of suspects whodunit and save her friends’ reputation.

Although published in 1942, The Body in the Library: A Miss Marple Mystery (Miss Marple Mysteries) is still relatable because what Agatha Christie did best was write about human nature, and that does not change. In addition, this novel gives a delightful look at England in the early 1940s.

Finally, this is the second novel in the Miss Marple series, but they do not build on each other and you can read them out of order.