The Body in the Library, by Agatha Christie

"Bodies are always being found in libraries in books. I've never known a case in real life."

The strangled corpse of a young blonde woman is found on the floor of the very respectable Mr. and Mrs. Bantry's library. They've never seen her before in their lives.

Mrs. Bantry promptly asks her friend Mrs. Marple to come over. Mrs. Marple says she's happy to provide what comfort she can. Mrs. Bantry replies, "I don't want comfort. But you're so good at bodies."

This book was enjoyable and a very good fair-play puzzle, but only sometimes hit the delightful fun of Murder at the Vicarage. (My favorite parts were the glee with which Mrs. Bantry approaches the bizarre murder early on, and the truly unexpected secret attached to the young man who recently moved to town and annoyed everyone by partying hard and carousing with blondes.)

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Christie scale: MEDIUM levels of CLASSISM and RACISM.