I write (it must now be clear) as one who
enjoys a detective-story for the opportunity it gives the reader to match his own intelligence against that of the detective. To know beforehand that a Roman Catholic is safe from the rope in a Chesterton story ; that no Labour Member will commit a murder for the sake of the Coles ; that one can hardly expect Miss Sayers to hang a real Oxford man: this is to give me an unfair advantage which I scorn to take. Miss Christie, bless her, has no such inhibitions. Moreover, her detectives are unusually likable, showing a gentlemanly or ladylike forbearance even to their Watsons ; and they have as little use as I have for finger-prints, cigarette-ends, or fluff in the trousers-pocket. And when, as in this last excellent book, the murderer and I get together before Miss Marple is quite with us, the feeling of smug satisfaction which it gives me is, I maintain, just one more tribute to Miss Christie's remarkable skill. Long may she flourish. A. A. MILME.
t A Munk, is Annouseed. By Agatha Christie. (Collins. 8s. id.)
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