The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

INTRODUCTION

The Body in the Library is one of the novel written by Agatha Christie.She is the most widely published author of all time. In a career that spanned more than fifty years, Christie wrote eighty novels and short-story collection, nineteen plays.One of it is, The Mousetrap, is the longest-running play in history and five nonfiction books, including her autobiography. In addition she wrote six romantic novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. Two of the characters she created, the ingenious Belgian Hercule Poirot and the irrepressible and relentless Miss Jane Marple, became world-famous detectives, immortalized on television by David Suchet and Joan Hickson.

Agatha Christie achieved Britain's highest honor when she was made a Dame of the British Empire.She died in 1976.

SYPNOSIS

In English village of St. Mary Mead, Colonel Banstry and his wife has been woke up by a maid.The maid tells him that there is a dead body in the library.Both of them are dumbfounded.They went to see the dead body.It was an unknown teenager who had been strangled wearing satin evening dress.The police are called and investigation ensues.The investigation is conducted by Colonel Melchett. Mrs. Bantry is afraid that her husband might be the suspicion of the town, therefore she called Miss Marple Jane, a local sleuth who is also her friend.

After further investigation, the victim is known as Ruby Keene, a professional dancer.The focus of the investigation then shift from St. Mary Mead, to Danemouth, and the Majestic Hotel.Ruby should have turn up in the dance exhibition with Raymond Starr, who is also a tennis coach for the hotel, but her cousin Josie had to replace her.She was missing that night.The last person who was seen to be with Ruby is George Bartlett.Bartlett does not have the obvious motive to kill Ruby, in fact he is the victim of the crime.His car was stolen near the courtyard.

There is a rather a group of guests that linked to Ruby Keene.The centre of the group is Conway Jefferson, a rich man who lost his legs in a plane crash.He also lost his wife, a son, and a daughter. He now lives with Mark Gaskell, his daughter's husband and Adelaide Jefferson, the wife of his son, and a grandson, Peter Carmody. All four of them are staying in the hotel.

Conway Jefferson is interested in Ruby as she is very naive. He decided to adopt Ruby as his daughter. He tells his family about this and also going to give Ruby fifty pounds as she reach 25. The family members have been given a large sum before so he decides that there is no need for him to fulfil their request anymore.

The situation had become more complicated as the second murder victim was found in the George Bartlett's car.The body is charred beyond recognition but has been identified as Pamela Reeves, a sixteen years old Girl Guide who had been reported missing.Somehow she was linked with a suspect, Basil Blake whom is also connected with the case.

Finally, all the points have gathered.Two dead bodies, which one of it was badly burnt.There are also a number of suspects involved. They are Colonel Bantry, Josie Turner, Raymond Starr, Basil Blake, George Bartlett, Mark Gaskell, and Adelaide Jefferson.

The true killer are Josie Turner and Mark Gaskell who is secretly married for a year.They switched Pamela Reeves and Ruby Keene's body.So, the unknown teenager that was found in Bantry's library is Pamela and the one who badly burnt is Ruby Keene.The motive is the amount of money that going to be given to Ruby Keene.So, they killed her.

NEW WORDS FOUND IN THE NOVEL

dumbfounded - extremely surprised
candor - thee quality of being honest and telling the truth even when the truth is may be unpleasant and

              embarrassing

benevolent - kind and generous

despot - someone especially a ruler, who uses power in a cruel and unfair way

quiver - a slight trembling

recalcitrant - formal refusing to do what you are told to do even after you have been punished
vanity - too much pride in yourself, so that you always thinking about yourself and your appearance

FAVOURITE QUOTE

"Brainless young ass," said Colonel Melchett. - Colonel Melchett is expressing his thought toward George Bartlett.

COMMENT

From what we have read, we find this novel is very well written. We like investigation and mystery so, we do not find this novel boring. Eventhough we do not understand some part because of the words used in this novel, we still find it rather interesting. Everytime we done reading one page, we feel excited to know what is going to happen next.Miss Marple Jane is our favourite of course seem she is the one who solved the case. Other than that, we find that Miss Marple is smart and rather understands people very well.This novel is quite hard to read, i mean the plot, we cannot even guess who kills the victims until the last page until Miss Marple state the evidence and the fact.So this is a very good novel to read.

THE MORAL VALUES

1. We should not judge the book by its cover same goes on with people.
2. We should be grateful for everything that we have now.
3. Money is not everything.
4. We should care about the people we love.
5. You cannot run from the justice.