Miss Marple - They Do it with Mirrors Details

[Highly rated reviewer]

Hats Off To Hickson

A wealthy socialite suspects that her sister is being poisoned, and calls on her friend and former governess Jane Marple to help. Marple's investigations take her into the world of private institutions for young offenders.

Once again Hickson offers the benchmark perfomance as Christie's formidable yet beguiling veteran sleuth, and she is superbly matched here by stalwarts (Simmons, Ackland) and new faces (Aird is a standout) alike. Beautiful attention to detail and another reunion for Marple and the wonderful Horovitch as Inspector Slack all add up to cracking entertainment. Perhaps not one of Agatha's best stories, but a treat nevertheless. Avoid the horrible recent 'Marple' series, and watch this classic instead.

Not the best Ms Marple

This Ms Marple isn't one of the best but that is not the fault of the BBC or of the always excellent Joan Hickson. Agatha Christie probably had an off day when writing this. Too many characters and the murderer was quite easy to second guess. This is probably the first Ms Marple where I was ahead of the sleuth in figuring 'whom' and 'why'. Saying that the production values are superb as is the acting. The best bit has to be the wonderful scene at the end when Ms. Marple watches a 16mm home film of herself as a young woman - a tearjerker. Still miles ahead than the god aweful ITV remakes - spare us please !!