Mini Review – A Pocket Full of Rye

From Goodreads:

A handful of grain is found in the pocket of a murdered businessman!

Let us explain. Rex Fortescue, king of a financial empire, was sipping tea in his ‘counting house’ office when he suffered a sudden and agonising death. On later inspection, the pockets of the deceased were found to contain rye grain. What is that all about? It was a second incident, this time in the parlour at his home, which confirmed Jane Marple’s suspicion that here she was looking at a case of crime by rhyme!

I have to admit this was not a favourite. While the mystery its self was interesting, the inclusion of Ms Marple just seemed a bit coincidental and how she worked out "who dun it" all a bit convenient. I feel the last chapter really spoiled it somewhat. While Ms Marple manages to suss it all out she had no evidence and I kind of liked that but the last chapter just ties everything up in a nice bow which doesn’t really feel very Christie-esq. I am more used to Christie not writing the expected but this just felt to neat at the end like she was told that the murderer couldn’t possibly get away with it so she had to add on the tidy up chapter at the end.

I felt it somewhat let down what would have been a very good little mystery with the nursery rhyme link feeling very sinister at times and some good overall red herrings. I feel this could have worked just as well without Ms Marple present and that her only function was to reveal information to the inspector but with no real reason as to how she sleuthed it out. I just found myself a little disappointed with this one.