Lucy Foley didn't just bring back Miss Marple. She brought back the little girl who stayed up past her bedtime to read her.
When I was about eight or nine years old, I discovered Agatha Christie. Technically, I was probably too young to be reading her books, but the librarian never stopped me, and my curiosity was stronger than any suggested reading level. Sometimes I needed the dictionary, but that never bothered me. Looking up a word was a small price to pay for another chapter. I remember hiding under the blankets with a flashlight, determined to solve the mystery before Miss Marple did.
Reading Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel took me right back to those moments.
Set in an isolated luxury hotel high in the Alps, the story gathers together a fascinating cast of guests, each carrying secrets of their own. When murder shatters the elegant atmosphere, Miss Marple quietly begins untangling a web of lies, motives, and hidden connections. The snowbound setting creates the perfect locked-room mystery, with no easy escape and suspicion falling on everyone.
Lucy Foley had the unenviable task of writing an authorized Miss Marple novel, and I think she succeeded beautifully. It's been decades since I last read an Agatha Christie novel, but Miss Marple immediately felt familiar. She sounded exactly as I remembered: observant, quietly clever, and always ready with one of her thoughtful comparisons to village life. I'll admit I smiled when I realized I was reacting exactly as I did as a child: "Okay, Grandma Marple. Can we get back to the murder, please?" Some things never change!
The Grand Alpine Hotel becomes a character in its own right. Its cold, isolated location adds a wonderful sense of atmosphere, making every hallway, conversation, and snow-covered path feel just a little more suspicious. The setting perfectly captures the classic Christie style.
Among the cast, Diana Glass was my favorite. She is intelligent, capable, adventurous, and refreshingly willing to push against the expectations placed on women of the era. More than once I found myself thinking, I never would have survived that time period! She was easy to root for and added an energy that balanced Miss Marple's quieter approach.
The mystery itself is exactly what I hope for in a classic whodunit. The clues are there if you're paying attention, but I still failed to put them together correctly. The ending surprised me while feeling completely earned, which is always the sign of a well-crafted mystery.
Readers expecting one of Lucy Foley's fast-paced contemporary thrillers should know this moves at the deliberate pace of a traditional Agatha Christie novel. Personally, I found that part of its charm. This wasn't trying to modernize Miss Marple or reinvent her. Instead, it felt like stepping back in time and spending an afternoon with an old friend.
Content warnings include murder, discussions of past trauma, and period-appropriate attitudes toward women. There is no graphic violence, explicit language, or sexual content.
More than anything, I appreciated how respectfully Lucy Foley honored Agatha Christie's legacy. Never once did I find myself comparing the two authors. Instead, I simply enjoyed being back in Miss Marple's world, feeling for a little while like the determined little girl reading long past her bedtime. I think longtime Christie fans and cozy mystery readers will especially appreciate this thoughtful return to one of mystery's most beloved detectives.
I give this a solid four stars. I didn't lose sleep, but I didn't lose interest either.
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, HarperCollins, Lucy Foley, and the Agatha Christie Estate for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
