The Body in the Library

The Body in the Library begins in the style of a “country house mystery,” but then becomes something different. Compare the novel to other Christie mysteries that follow this more traditional template, such as The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Hollow, or 4:50 from Paddington. In what ways does Christie subvert the genre?

Miss Marple’s more “feminine” perspective and outlook give her unique insights into the case. What clues and/or character details does she notice, owing to her experience as a woman, that the male detectives overlook?

Miss Marple says that her long residency in the quiet village of St. Mary Mead has given her a close familiarity with “evil.” Cite at least three examples from The Body in the Library of “village parallels” that help her to solve the murder mystery by relating its particulars to her own experience. How do these anecdotes inform her understanding of human nature?