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NPR's Book of the Day

In 'Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel,' Lucy Foley continues Agatha Christie's legacy

Sep 30, 2026 · 9m

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The Grand Alpine Hotel is majestic, nestled high in the Swiss Alps with snow perfect for skiing. But one morning, a dead body is discovered in one of the gondolas on its first run – and before long, no one can get off the mountain. That's the opening of Murder At The Grand Alpine Hotel . If it sounds like an Agatha Christie novel, well, that's because it almost is. It's by British mystery writer Lucy Foley and is the first authorized Miss Marple novel in 50 years. In today’s episode, Foley spoke with NPR’s Debbie Elliott about how the author channeled Agatha Christie in her writing. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include…