British author Lucy Foley has revived Agatha Christie’s iconic detective Miss Marple in a new novel set in the Swiss Alps, marking the character’s first full-length appearance in 50 years. "Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel," published this year, transports Miss Marple from her familiar English village of St. Mary Mead to a snowy 1950 winter retreat in Switzerland.
In the story, Miss Marple joins her friend Dolly Bantry, who is recently widowed, and Mrs. Bantry’s assistant Diana Glass on a vacation at the Grand Alpine Hotel, a secluded mountain resort. Among the guests are several notable figures, including Anthony Narracott, a British Member of Parliament with political ambitions; his wife Catherine; Sylvia Sinclair, a fading Hollywood star; and Bruno Crane, Anthony’s war comrade who has fallen on hard times.
What begins as a tranquil escape quickly unravels into a series of unsettling events. Catherine encounters a mysterious stranger who reveals troubling details about her husband’s past. Sylvia narrowly escapes drowning, Bruno suffers a near-fatal fall, and Anthony, who has a severe nut allergy, is served a nut tart. The situation escalates further when rat poison is found in the Narracotts’ bathroom. While Catherine initially suspects a politically motivated prank linked to left-wing activists opposing her husband, the discovery of Anthony’s murder forces a more serious investigation.
Miss Marple, drawing on her keen powers of observation and deduction, narrows the suspect pool to those staying at the hotel. Author Lucy Foley structures the narrative through rotating perspectives, alternating between the viewpoints of Diana, Sylvia, Catherine, and Bruno. This approach offers a layered exploration of the plot and keeps readers guessing not only about who committed the crime but also the underlying motives.
The novel incorporates several classic Christie elements, such as the isolation caused by a snowbound hotel reminiscent of “Murder on the Orient Express” and “The Mousetrap.” However, some of Foley’s references to past Christie works, including nods to “The Body in the Library,” “At Bertram’s Hotel,” and “The Murder at the Vicarage,” may strike some readers as overly deliberate fan service.
Foley also infuses the story with original twists, delving into themes like the social status of aging women, the consequences of past relationships, and the shadow of Nazi gold. The book features unexpected action sequences involving skiing, tobogganing, and a speeding train, adding dynamic moments to the traditional detective framework.
As in the original series, Miss Marple’s unassuming demeanor belies her sharp intellect and determination. Though she is not always present on the page, her quiet but formidable presence drives the investigation forward through careful attention to small details—a lost earring, a stolen key, a missing film roll—that ultimately unravel the mystery.
“Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel” signals a promising return for Miss Marple, blending respectful homage with fresh storytelling to bring Christie’s enduring character back to life for contemporary readers.