Guys… 4.50 from Paddington is one of the best detective novels by Agatha Christie. It was published in 1957 in UK by Collins Crime Club. In US The Title of this Novel was changed to What Mrs McGillicuddy Saw!

Major Themes of this novel:

This book has Miss Marple give voice to Agatha Christie’s view on the death penalty when she remarks, “I am really very, very sorry that they have abolished capital punishment because I do feel that if there is anyone who ought to hang, it’s Dr. Quimper.” In fact, capital punishment was not finally abolished in Britain until 1969 (1973 for Northern Ireland), but there were many periods, of one to five years’ length, when the death penalty was temporarily suspended by the Government while Acts of Parliament for abolition were pending. One of these “temporary abolitions” happened in February 1956 but ended in July 1957. So, the death penalty was in moratorium when Christie wrote 4.50 From Paddington but it was active again about the time the book came out.

The characters that exist on this novel was:

• Jane Marple – the detective, protagonist
• Lucy Eyelesbarrow – Miss Marple’s proxy at the Hall, serving as housekeeper-cum-spy
• Elspeth McGillicuddy – the witness to the murder, a friend of Miss Marple’s
• Luther Crackenthorpe – elderly widower and owner of Rutherford Hall
• Cedric Crackenthorpe – Luther’s son; a painter and lover of women
• Harold Crackenthorpe – Luther’s son; a cold and stuffy banker
• Alfred Crackenthorpe – Luther’s son; makes his living as a sort of genteel con artist
• Emma Crackenthorpe – Luther’s daughter who lives at home and takes care of him
• Brian Eastley – husband of the late Edith Crackenthorpe, Luther’s daughter
• Alexander Eastley – Edith & Brian’s adolescent son
• John Quimper – Luther’s doctor
• Dermot Craddock – Detective-Inspector from Scotland Yard (and godson of Sir Henry Clithering of A Murder is Announced and The Thirteen Problems)

This novel has been adapted into TV serial, Film and Theathrical adaptations. If you want to read this novel more, I have the ebook and I want to share it with you. Download the ebook