The Case of the Perfect Maid: A Short Story by Agatha Christie (1942)

Edna, Miss Marple's maid brings to her attention that Gladys, her cousin had just been let go from her maid position at the Old Hall. Sounded as though it was a misunderstanding of a missing brooch. But all was returned and the Skinner's let her go anyway. Miss Marple agreed that on her way she'd stop by to see them about the incident.

The Old Hall was split into four flats, each rented out to different tenants. The Skinner's had only been there a few months. It was two sisters, the ill sickly one was Emily. Her sister Lavinia did anything she asked or needed. Her ailments did not appear to be physical, and the opinion Dr. Haydock most were all mental. Miss Marple sits down and talks with Lavinia about Gladys about the incident and she tells Miss Marple that she has a new maid arriving called Mary Higgins. Miss Marple warns her that this new maid sounds too good to be true.

A couple days later Miss Marple came back for a charity event and came to see Lavinia. She got to meet the new maid, Mary. After Emily has a spell of needs, needing her sister, Mary attempts to get Miss Marple out of the house quite hastily. Miss Marple drops her purse and Mary helps her get her things back in her bag and gets her on her way.

For the next several days, the Skinner's raved at how good Mary's work was and her efficiency helping with Emily and her needs. Word had spread through the town of Gladys supposedly had stolen that brooch. On day eleven of Mary being there, she turned up missing. Many items were stolen from the Skinner's. The other tenants reported that they had things stolen as well from jewelry to money and wedding gifts.

In no time the Skinner's had moved to a larger town, as so Emily could be closer to a specialist to help with her ailments. Miss Marple went to Inspector Slack and wanted to make her statement as to where Mary Higgins would be. The Inspector was not fond of Miss Marple but gave her time to speak as she was quite revered in the eyes of the Chief Constable. She was convinced that she knew who Mary was, and Mary was not a maid at all. In fact, Miss Marple had her fingerprints all over her items in her purse, especially her mirror. Inspector Slack took the mirror for evidence to identify Mary's real identity. Miss Marple even knew where she would be. Sure enough after collecting the fingerprints, it was certain whom Mary the maid was and where she had gone to.

This was nice little read. I have attached a wonderful narration by Joan Hickman below if you would like to just enjoy listening to this one. For some reason the only person that came to mind that reminded me of Emily was Anne de Bourgh from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. A pale sickly girl that stayed in bed. I also found it quite humorous that Emily has a certain amount of minutes that she likes her eggs cooked, and we all know a certain little Belgium man that has the same requirements for his eggs. Miss Marple's sneaky way of getting Mary's fingerprints was clever, which probably slipped the maid's thought as she picked up Miss Marple's items for her. And the last bit of advice that she gave to Miss Skinner holds very true to this day, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

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