"The Mirror Crack’d" by Agatha Christie, summary Automatic translate

Agatha Christie’s detective novel The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side was first published in the UK in 1962. The work returns the reader to Miss Jane Marple, who, despite her age and infirmity, once again finds herself involved in the investigation of a mysterious murder that took place in her home village of St Mary Mead, which has changed under the influence of time.

The novel has been adapted for the screen several times. The most famous is the 1980 film version starring Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple, Elizabeth Taylor as Marina Gregg and other Hollywood stars. There have also been television adaptations as part of a BBC series starring Joan Hickson (1992) and an ITV series starring Julia McKenzie (2010).

Miss Marple, limited in her physical abilities by age and a recent bout of bronchitis, spends her days at her window, sadly observing the decline of her once beautiful garden and reflecting on the changes in her native village of St Mary Mead. Although the village centre remains the same – the church, the Blue Boar pub, the old houses – the outskirts have been transformed. A new housing estate, called the Estate, has appeared, with modern houses and a supermarket alien to the older residents. The Estate’s streets have strange names like ‘clowes’, which puzzles Miss Marple, who knows the true meaning of the word.

Her daily life is brightened by a visiting assistant, Cherry Baker, a resident of the Housing Estate - a typical representative of the new generation, energetic, but not very tidy in the household. However, the constant presence of a companion, Miss Knight, hired by her nephew Raymond, weighs on Miss Marple. Miss Knight is kind-hearted, but overly caring and irritating in her manner of communication, treats Miss Marple like an unreasonable child. One day, wanting to be alone, Miss Marple comes up with a lot of errands for Miss Knight in the village and secretly goes for a walk herself.

Walk to the New World and meeting with Hesey Bedcock

Feeling adventurous, Miss Marple heads to the Housing Estate, which she perceives as the "New World". She observes its inhabitants - young women with prams, teenagers, men - and comes to the conclusion that, despite external changes (clothes, manners, housing), human nature remains the same. She habitually compares the people she meets with the types she knows from her long life in the village.

Miss Marple accidentally witnesses a scene between a young couple, Lily and Harry, in a house under construction. The girl almost falls out of the window, and her companion remains indifferent. On a sudden impulse, Miss Marple warns Lily against marrying this young man. In her haste to leave, she trips and falls. An energetic and friendly woman, Heather Badcock, comes to her aid. She invites Miss Marple to her home to rest and treats her to tea.

During the conversation, it turns out that Mrs. Badcock is a passionate admirer of the famous film actress Marina Gregg. She enthusiastically tells how many years ago in Bermuda, being ill, she escaped from a field hospital to meet her idol and get an autograph. Hesi’s husband, Arthur Badcock, confirms her determined character. Miss Marple learns that it was Marina Gregg and her husband who recently bought Gossington Hall, the estate where another famous Miss Marple case (connected with a corpse in the library) once took place.

Hessia mentions that Marina Gregg is planning a party at Gossington Hall for the benefit of the St John’s Hospital Association. Miss Marple recognises in Hessia Badcock the traits of her old acquaintance, Alison Wilde - a kind but self-centred nature, unable to see the world through other people’s eyes. Such people, in Miss Marple’s opinion, often unknowingly put themselves in danger.

New owners of Gossington Hall

Miss Marple’s friend Mrs. Bantry, the former owner of Gossington Hall, returns from abroad and shares news. The estate, which has changed several owners since her departure, has been bought by film star Marina Gregg and her husband, film director Jason Rudd. The friends recall Marina’s past roles, her turbulent personal life (several husbands, adoption of children, nervous breakdown). Her current husband, Jason Rudd, is rumoured to have long been in love with her. They bought Gossington Hall because it is located near the new Hellingfors film studios, where they plan to shoot a film about Queen Elizabeth with Marina in the lead role.

Mrs Bantry tells us that Marina Gregg is throwing a big party at the estate for St John’s Hospital. The house has been extensively rebuilt, with bathrooms, a swimming pool, and a music room where Colonel Bantry’s library and study used to be. Mrs Bantry mentions her recent meeting with Marina in California and shares her impressions: Marina is charming, but her naturalness seems forced. She also tells Miss Marple about the latter’s fall in the Estates, which she learned about from her day laborer from the same area.

Miss Marple is soon visited by Dr. Haydock. Learning of her recent fall and her boredom with inactivity, he jokingly advises her to take up "unraveling" - a reference to her ability to solve mysteries - and prescribes her "an ingenious and intricate murder". Miss Marple takes this as a joke, but points out that murder could happen anywhere.

Reception at Gossington Hall

Mrs Bantry receives a personal invitation from Marina Gregg for tea before a meeting of the party committee. She visits Gossington Hall and is amazed by the changes. The music room, converted from the former library and study, looks impressive. Marina Gregg greets her with her usual charm. She expresses delight at the new home, saying that she has found peace here and wants to stay forever. Her husband, Jason Rudd, a man of unusual appearance but a pleasant voice, treats her words with indulgent tenderness but also with some skepticism. Mrs Bantry is struck by his obvious deep love for his wife.

Rudd’s secretary, Ella Zielinski, a businesslike and self-assured young woman, joins them for tea. The conversation turns to alterations to the house, difficulties with local craftsmen, and life in the English countryside. When Marina and Jason step outside for a moment, Ella questions Mrs. Bantry about a murder whose body was found in the library many years ago. Mrs. Bantry confirms the discovery of the body, but specifies that the murder itself did not take place in the house. Ella asks Marina not to be told about this, explaining that she has recently suffered a serious nervous breakdown and is very sensitive. She also notes that Marina’s happiness in this house is unlikely to last long, and that Jason Rudd is very concerned about her state of mind.

Death at the party

The day of the celebration at Gossington Hall arrives. The event attracts a huge crowd of people eager to see the renovated estate and the famous hostess. The public views the garden, the swimming pool and the part of the house that is open to the public. Mrs Bantry arrives later and celebrates the success of the event.

For select guests – local celebrities, organisers from St John’s, friends of the hosts and the press – Marina Gregg and Jason Rudd host a private reception on the second floor, in a converted room off the landing. The hosts greet the guests, and the butler Giuseppe serves drinks. Among the guests are Mrs Bantry, the vicar, Councillor Allcock and his wife, and Heather Badcock and her husband Arthur.

Heather Badcock, introduced as the tireless secretary of the Hospital Association, turns excitedly to Marina Gregg. She launches into a long and enthusiastic account of her meeting with the actress many years ago in Bermuda, and how she, when ill, escaped from the hospital for this event. As she tells her story, Mrs. Bantry notices a strange change in Marina Gregg. The actress suddenly freezes, her gaze becomes absent, full of horror. She looks not at Heather, but somewhere behind her, at the wall or at the stairs, where new guests are at that moment ascending. Her face expresses mortal fear and despair - Mrs. Bantry recalls the lines from Tennyson’s poem about the Witch of Shalott, who saw her curse in the mirror.

The moment doesn’t last long. Jason Rudd, noticing his wife’s condition, or simply in the course of the reception, brings two glasses of Daiquiri - one for Marina, one for Hesia. Marina comes to her senses, kindly ends the conversation with Mrs. Badcock and offers her a drink. Hesia takes her glass.

Later, Mrs. Bantry goes with the other ladies to inspect the bathrooms. When she returns, she learns from Ella Zielinski that one of the guests has fallen ill - Mrs. Badcock. Soon Jason Rudd reports the terrible news: Hesia Badcock has died.

First news and suspicions

The next morning, Miss Marple learns what happened first from Cherry Baker and then from Mrs. Bantry, who calls her early in the morning. Cherry reports that Mrs. Badcock died suddenly after drinking something at a reception, and that the doctor has ordered an autopsy, as the cause of death is unclear. Mrs. Bantry confirms this and adds an important detail: the village "communication system" reported that Dr. Sandford called the police after examining the body. This strengthens the suspicion of murder.

Miss Marple and Mrs Bantry discuss the possibilities. Suicide seems unlikely for a woman as cheerful as Hesia. Miss Marple also doubts the guilt of her husband, Arthur Badcock, although she notes that he is unlikely to be burdened by her absence. Blackmail is also ruled out - Hesia was an honest woman. Miss Marple recalls her description of Hesia as "Alison Wilde" - a self-centred person, oblivious to others and therefore vulnerable. She suggests: perhaps Hesia Badcock was a victim by mistake? Was the poison intended for someone else?

Dr. Haydock’s visit confirms their suspicions - he says outright that the case smells of murder, and again calls on Miss Marple to "unravel." Mrs. Bantry recounts the events of the party in detail, paying particular attention to Marina Gregg’s strange "frozen" look before Jason Rudd brought the cocktails. They try to remember who exactly was walking up the stairs at the moment when Marina looked so strangely - the mayor with his wife, a journalist, a tanned man with an actress, General Barnstaple, the Grice farmers, photographers. The key moment in Mrs. Bantry’s story is that Jason Rudd brought two identical cocktails - one for Marina, one for Hessie.

The Investigation Begins: Arthur Badcock’s Version

The inquest determines the cause of Heather Badcock’s death: poisoning with a large dose of diethyl dextrose barboquindeloritate (trade name Calmovit), a sedative more common in America. The inquest is adjourned.

Local police inspector Frank Cornish talks to Arthur Badcock. The widower is shocked by the autopsy results. He claims that his wife had never taken any sedatives, was completely healthy and cheerful. He describes the events at the reception in detail: he and Hesia drank tea in a tent, then they were invited upstairs to Marina Gregg. Hesia told the actress her story. Jason Rudd brought two Daiquiris. Hesia took her glass, but almost immediately someone pushed her, and she spilled the drink, taking perhaps only one sip. A few drops fell on Marina Gregg’s dress. Then Marina, being kind, gave Hesia her own , untouched glass of Daiquiri, saying that she herself had drunk enough. Hesia initially refused, but then took the offered cocktail and quickly drank it. Soon after, she became ill and died. This information changes the picture radically: it turns out that Hesia Badcock drank a cocktail that was intended for Marina Gregg.

During a visit to Badcock, Inspector Cornish encounters his neighbour, Mary Bain, who has come to make Arthur tea. The inspector notes her nervousness and suspiciousness, suggesting that she may have had previous legal troubles.

Scotland Yard Intervention

The case is transferred to Scotland Yard. Chief Inspector Dermot Craddock, who is assigned to investigate, learns that the scene is St Mary Mead. He recalls that his old acquaintance, Miss Marple, lives in this village. The Assistant Commissioner approves of the idea of ​​using her knowledge of local life.

Craddock is given the case: the death of Heather Badcock at a party for film star Marina Gregg, from a poison (Calmovit) that was probably in a cocktail. The main question is: why did the killer choose such a risky place and time? The local police do not consider the husband to be the prime suspect. Craddock takes along Sergeant Tiddler, a film expert.

Craddock visits Miss Marple. She is glad to see him. He already knows about her meeting with the victim shortly before the murder. Miss Marple confirms her opinion about the character of Hessie and Arthur Badcock. She cannot offer any specific versions, but advises Craddock to talk to Mrs. Bantry and give her the code words: "the fairy of Shalott".

The inspector meets Mrs Bantry. She confirms that she believes it was murder, but sees no motive or obvious suspect. She repeats her account of the party, focusing on Marina Gregg’s strange, frightened look - the "Fairy of Shallot" look - cast over Heather Badcock’s head towards the stairs or the wall beyond, moments before the cocktails were brought in. Mrs Bantry lists those she remembers on the stairs at the time, including the photographers. She confirms that this is the direction Marina was looking. Mrs Bantry’s account convinces Craddock that this moment is crucial to understanding the events.