An interesting frame to this one, as Miss Marple is recovering from a bout of the flu and to help her recovery her doctor gives her the manuscript of a mystery story that he’s written. Only it’s really more of a true crime story as the only thing he’s done is changed the names. It’s up to Miss Marple to solve it, which she does handily the next time he comes to visit.
It’s a throwaway of a mystery. Miss Marple twigs to what’s going on because the playboy has married a rich heiress who is not his type. That’s putting a lot of weight on a pretty flimsy “clue.” Still, the story was a quick read and I enjoyed the way it was presented. Points also for making me look up what a “dower house” is, using “acidulated” to describe a gossipy spinster, and informing me that a “catapult” is a British slingshot.
Alex Good 
What is a dower house?
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Lazybones!
“A dower house is usually a moderately large house available for use by the widow of the previous owner of an English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish estate. The widow, often known as the “dowager”, usually moves into the dower house from the larger family house on the death of her husband if the heir is married, and upon his marriage if he was single at his succession. The new heir then occupies the vacated principal house.”
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I figure if you’ve already looked it up, I’ll save myself a few extra key taps 😀
My non-existent carpal tunnel thanks you, hahahahaha.
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Well, we’re all about growth through learning around here so I can’t complain. I should get some sort of government subsidy for running such an educational site.
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I’ll sign any petition you need to get that subsidy. I’ll even sign it Saint Bookstooge if that will help.
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Might pick me up some support in Quebec so sure.
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Eh!
😉
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And a trebuchet is a French catapult.
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I knew that! From playing video games, to be sure, but still.
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A catapult is a Greek invention I think from dayes of yore.
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In Merry Olde England (of the 1950s) it was also the name given to a contraption kids played with to shoot pebbles at birds and such. At least according to Dame Agatha.
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Yes I’ve always thought that was the true catapult and the other should be the trebuchet. They’re not the same really! But I was wrong, they’re both called it. Slingshot is the other name for it of course.
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