Everyone knows the type. An elderly woman peering through the curtains to see who’s passing by. The prim and proper lady who never married. The one who loves to garden and birdwatch, all the better to observe the activities of her neighbors. She hides under the guise of her knitting projects while methodically studying the behavior of the inhabitants in her quaint English town. Meet Miss Jane Marple, resident of St. Mary Mead, who quietly takes on the role of amateur consulting detective.
Miss Marple made her debut in a short story written by Agatha Christie in 1927 titledThe Tuesday Night Club. By 1930 Christie featured the savvy sleuth in her first full length novel,The Murder at the Vicarage. The author was surprised at the affection readers had for Miss Marple, and she went on to pen a total of twelve novels and twenty short stories spotlighting the popular detective.
The Murder at the Vicarage is narrated by Reverend Leonard Clement, the Vicar of St. Mary Mead. He lives adjacent to Miss Marple’s home, providing her with a bird’s eye view of all visitors entering or leaving the property. The Reverend Clement is married to a much younger wife, Griselda, who invites congregants of the church to tea, including Miss Marple. Griselda announces to her husband there will be “tea and scandal at 4:30” referencing the villagers penchant for gossip. She quips, “Miss Marple is the worst cat in the village. She knows everything and draws the worst inferences from it.” The Reverend makes a comparison of the guests at tea, “Miss Marple is a white-haired old lady with a gentle, appealing manner- Miss Weatherby is a mixture of vinegar and gush. Of the two Miss Marple is much more dangerous.”
The peaceful town of St. Mary Mead is turned upside down when the unpopular churchwarden, Colonel Protheroe, is found dead in the Vicarage. The scenario provides Miss Marple with an opportunity to put her snooping skills to the test. There are numerous individuals that might want the Colonel dead. Miss Marple forms a list of the suspects and compiles a slew of clues to investigate. She is not part of the police force, but in her own quiet way she points out inconsistencies in the official investigation. Ultimately, and without much credit, she solves the crime.
Agatha Christie added an unlikely and brilliant investigator to the detective genre with the introduction of Miss Marple. The pleasant and mannerly spinster next door should never be underestimated.
Certainly Miss Marple is not much of a drinker. Her beverage of choice is tea. Still you never know what the stealthy Miss Marple might have up her sleeve or in her cup. Try Miss Marple’s secret tea and cozy up as she solves the mystery of The Murder at the Vicarage.
Miss Marple’s Secret Tea
RECIPE:
½ cup of vodka
1 tablespoon of loose tea
1 ½ oz. honey syrup
2 oz. fresh lemon juice
1 oz. orange liqueur
2 mint leaves
Infuse ½ cup of vodka with 1 tablespoon of loose tea (smoky flavor) or tea of your choice for 2 to 3 hours. Mix 1 1/2 oz. of honey syrup, 2 oz. of fresh lemon juice, 1 oz. of orange liqueur, and 2 mint leaves. Place all in a shaker with ice, shake, strain into a tea cup and garnish with a lemon peel. (This makes 3 servings).
Thanks, Wendy. Be careful of those snoopy neighbors. They are recording you on their ring doorbells, too!
Great article Anne. I love how Miss Marple’s secret tea is served in a tea cup.
Very Apropos!!!! ❤️💕🩷