4:50 From Paddington is a famous work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie. It was published in 1957 in the United Kingdom and simultaneously in the United States under the title, What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw!
Mrs. McGillicuddy is taking the train to visit her good friend, Jane Marple. While gazing out the window, she witnesses a woman being strangled on another train running in the same direction. Unfortunately, the murderer has his back to the window. Hence, the description of the killer Mrs. McGillicuddy relays to Jane is limited. Miss Marple believes her friend, but as there is no mention of the crime in the news, Jane decides to investigate and find out who the victim is, what happened to the body, and identify the murderer.
After several train rides later and armed with a map, Miss Marple pinpoints the general location of the body on the grounds of Rutherford Hall. Jane enlists the aid of Lucy Eyelesbarrow to gain employment as a cook and housekeeper at the Hall, as well as to be Jane's eyes and ears in trying to locate the body.
The irascible and infirmed Luther Crackenthorpe is the current primary resident of Rutherford Hall whose father made his fortune in biscuit manufacturing and who, unfortunately for Luther, left the Hall in trust for his eldest grandson, Cedric. According to the terms of the will, Luther can live in the house for his lifetime and receive the income from the capital left by his father. Upon Luther's death, that capital was to be divided equally among Luther's surviving children, increasing the share due to the living children as each sibling died before Luther and making a good motive for murder. Two of Luther's children died before the start of the novel; Edmund, the first-born son, was killed during World War II. and his younger daughter, Edith, died four years before the beginning of the story, leaving behind a son, Alexander, who will inherit Edith's share. The remaining children are Cedric, a painter; Harold, a married businessman; Alfred, who makes shady deals; and Emma. Others at the family home include Alexander's father, Bryan Eastley, and Alexander's friend, James Stoddart-West. Local physician Dr. Quimper spends much time at the Hall, too. Partly looking after Luther, but mostly because he's in love with Emma.
As Lucy Eyelesbarrow investigates, she finds fur from a woman's coat and a cheap powder compact. She brings her discoveries to Jane, who has determined that the murderer removed the body from the railway embankment. Lucy continues her search and ultimately discovers the woman's body hidden in the stables at Rutherford Hall, currently used to store Luther Crackenthorpe's collection of antiques.
The investigation continues under the purview of the local police, specifically Inspector Craddock, who also happens to be a friend of you guessed it...Miss Jane Marple. More clues, questions, another murder or two, and a twist in the ending make this mystery a must-read for Agatha Christie fans.
My personal rating is: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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