There may be nothing fairly like a traditional locked-room thriller, particularly when it takes place in a glamorous, remoted location. After I heard that modern thriller queen Lucy Foley was getting into the legendary footwear of Agatha Christie to write down a brand-new Miss Marple novel, I knew I needed to drop every little thing and browse Homicide on the Grand Alpine Resort. It’s precisely the type of atmospheric, high-stakes thriller you wish to curl up with on a cold night.
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A Chilly and Luxurious Setting
Let’s speak concerning the beautiful backdrop as a result of the setting is virtually a essential character on this story. Excessive within the Swiss Alps and accessible solely by a single, winding railway line, the Grand Alpine Resort is the final word definition of remoted luxurious. It’s a place stuffed with champagne, costly furs, and superb mountain views.
However as stunning because it sounds, Lucy Foley does a superb job of constructing the resort to really feel claustrophobic the second an enormous winter blizzard hits. The howling winds and thick ice mirror the chilly, calculating nature of the crime, and you’ll virtually really feel the temperature dropping on the web page.
A Glittering Solid of Flawed Suspects
Contained in the lodge, we get a captivating mixture of elite friends who’re all hiding darkish histories and outdated grudges. You’ve a infamous actress (Sylvia Sinclair), a high-flying politician (Anthony Narracott ), a society spouse (Catherine Narracott), a reckless buddy (Bruno Crane), and a shrewd physician.
The strain begins simmering instantly, and issues take a terrifying flip when a visitor steps right into a ski gondola alive however arrives on the high of the mountain useless. As a result of the storm fully cuts off all escape from the mountain, panic units in quick. It seems a killer is hiding in plain sight among the many friends, and it isn’t a query of who has a motive—it’s a query of who’s going to be focused subsequent.
The Return of a Legend
Luckily for us, a well mannered and unassuming lady with a rare thoughts can also be staying on the resort. Miss Marple is again, and he or she is simply as sharp as you keep in mind. She is accompanied by her buddy, Dolly Bantry and her new companion, Diana Glass.
What I liked most about this dynamic is how seamlessly Foley blends her signature trendy pressure with Christie’s traditional fashion. The rich, high-flying friends consistently underestimate Miss Marple as a result of she appears to be like like a quiet older lady, which is their greatest mistake. It permits her to mix into the shadows, quietly observe the chaos, and join the clues whereas staying three steps forward of everybody else.
My Last Verdict
Arriving precisely 50 years after Agatha Christie’s last Miss Marple novel was printed, this guide with the Homicide on the Grand Alpine Resort looks like an enormous landmark occasion for thriller followers. Whether or not you’re a lifelong Christie purist or a fan of contemporary psychological thrillers like The Visitor Record, this story bridges the hole completely. This Lucy Foley Miss Marple guide is fast-paced, deeply atmospheric, and can hold you guessing till the very finish. Put this one on the high of your fall studying want checklist!
Due to William Morrow and HarperCollins for this #gifted guide for this overview.
