Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Body in the Library. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: Miss Marple reveals that the young dancer found dead in Colonel Bantry's library was not Ruby Keene but a missing schoolgirl, Pamela Reeves, and that Ruby was killed separately. The murderers are Mark Gaskell and his secret wife Josie Turner, who killed both girls to stop wealthy Conway Jefferson from leaving his fortune to Ruby.
Quick facts
– Book: The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
– First published: 1942
– Type: A Miss Marple mystery
– Tone of the ending: Clever
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Mrs. Bantry calls her friend Miss Marple when a girl's body is found in the library of Gossington Hall. The victim seems to be Ruby Keene, a dancer at a seaside hotel. Conway Jefferson, an invalid millionaire, planned to adopt Ruby, angering his son-in-law Mark and daughter-in-law Adelaide.
What Happens at the End of The Body in the Library
Miss Marple notices that the dead girl's fingernails are bitten, while Ruby took care of her nails, and that the dress is wrong. She realizes the body is Pamela Reeves, a schoolgirl who disappeared the same night, lured with the promise of a film audition, drugged and dressed up to look like Ruby. Ruby herself was killed later, and her body was burned in a car that was set on fire in a quarry. Mark Gaskell and Josie Turner, Ruby's cousin who brought her to the hotel, had been secretly married; with Conway about to change his will in Ruby's favour, they killed both girls and arranged the timings so that each had an alibi for the 'wrong' death. Mark put the body in the Bantrys' library to throw suspicion on the colonel. Miss Marple sets a trap that lures the killers into acting again, and they are caught. Both are arrested.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- The body was not Ruby.
- Mark and Josie are married.
- Two girls were killed.
- Marple solves it.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Mark Gaskell | Arrested |
| Josie Turner | Arrested |
| Ruby Keene | Murdered |
| Pamela Reeves | Murdered |
| Conway Jefferson | Changes his will |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows Miss Marple's understanding of human nature.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers enjoy the classic opening, where Christie plays with the cliché of a body in a library, and the clever double-alibi plan.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Greed. Inheritance.
Identity. Mistaken identity.
Deception. The alibis.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Body in the Library as clever. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Agatha Christie to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are clever will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Agatha Christie closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1984 BBC adaptation with Joan Hickson follows the solution.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Body in the Library with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about greed, and do you agree with Agatha Christie's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as clever, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces greed and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Agatha Christie leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in The Body in the Library often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Body in the Library earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of The Body in the Library on Amazon
Books to Read After The Body in the Library
- A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie
- Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie
Related: The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie: Summary and Key Takeaways · And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Body in the Library?
Miss Marple reveals that the young dancer found dead in Colonel Bantry's library was not Ruby Keene but a missing schoolgirl, Pamela Reeves, and that Ruby was killed separately. The murderers are Mark Gaskell and his secret wife Josie Turner, who killed both girls to stop wealthy Conway Jefferson from leaving his fortune to Ruby.
Is the ending of The Body in the Library happy or sad?
Most readers call it clever.
What does the ending of The Body in the Library mean?
The ending shows Miss Marple's understanding of human nature.
Is the ending of The Body in the Library the same in the adaptation?
The 1984 BBC adaptation with Joan Hickson follows the solution.
Who wrote The Body in the Library and when was it published?
The Body in the Library was written by Agatha Christie and first published in 1942.
Is The Body in the Library worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy Miss Marple mysterys. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Agatha Christie prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Body in the Library before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.