The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side: Book Review

Today, we will be reviewing The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side by Agatha Christie, the eighth Miss Marple book. Keep reading to find out if you should read this novel or skip it!

The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side Summary

Jane Marple falls while walking in St. Mary Mead. She is helped by Heather Badcock, who brings her into her own home to rest. Over tea, Heather tells Miss Marple how she met American actress Marina Gregg, who recently moved into the area and bought Gossington Hall from Miss Marple’s friend Dolly Bantry.

American actress Marina Gregg is moving into in St. Mary Mead and everyone is talking about it. She has bought the Gossington Hall from Dolly Bantry, a good friend of Miss Marple.

A party is thrown and Ms Bantry is one of many people invited. During the party, Heather Badcock suddenly collapses and is dies. After some investigation, it is believed that Heather was killed after someone slide something in her drink and that the drink was intended for Marina Gregg.

The person who killed Heather is still at large and threatening letters sent to Marina suggest that the killer will try again. Miss Marple decides to take the case into her own hand and to bring the killer to justice before they strike again. 

Commentary

The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side was published in the United Kingdom in 1962 and in the United States in 1963 with the title A Mirror Crack’d. The title of the novel comes from the poem The Lady of Shalott by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. 

Christie’s plots are often original but the plot for this novel resembles a true story which was the inspiration for the book, according to many people. American Actress Gene Tierney contracted German measles while pregnant with her first child in 1943.

The baby developed congenital rubella syndrome and had many health issues and needed a total blood transfusion after being premature. Doctors told the parents the child’s disabilities were due to the mother contracting German measles while pregnant.

Just like in the novel, Gene was visited by a woman after her pregnancy who said that she visited Gene a year prior, and had German measles, skipping quarantine to meet the actress. 

I enjoyed this novel and guessing the murderer here was a but harder because of all the misdirection. Knowing what I now know of Christie’s methods, I would have done a better job. But that is part of the fun and you’re along for the story which are impossible to put down.

Conclusion

While it isn’t one of Christie’s best mysteries, it feels like a natural Miss Marple case. I do love that as you read more Christie novels, you realize that she often vents about the happenings around her through Miss Marple. This was a fun mystery overall and one I do recommend to fans of Agatha Christie. Happy reading!

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