Reviewers criticized the reliance of far-fetched coincidences, but found that Christie's gripping writing style makes the book enjoyable in spite of any weaknesses in the plot.

Miss Marple takes a two-week holiday in London at Bertram's Hotel, an establishment known for its scrupulously authentic recreation of the Edwardian era with the addition of modern conveniences.

Davy and Miss Marple confront Bess Sedgwick as the orchestrator of the daring robberies, along with the maître d'hôtel Henry, and Ladislaus Malinowski when fast cars were needed.

Morgan cites correspondence between Christie and her agent Edmund Cork in which they decided to change the hotel proprietor's name and the street in which Bertram's was located in order to obscure the connection with Fleming's.

[7][8] In The Guardian (17 December 1965) Francis Iles (Anthony Berkeley Cox) wrote that "At Bertram's Hotel can hardly be called a major Agatha Christie [novel], for in spite of the presence of Miss Marples [sic] the denouement is really too far-fetched.

"[8] Robert Weaver wrote in the Toronto Daily Star (8 January 1966): "At Bertram's Hotel is vintage Agatha Christie: an ingenious mystery that triumphantly gets away with what in lesser hands would be the most outrageous coincidences.

[10] Brigid Brophy complained that the author offered "nothing like enough signposts to give the reader a chance to beat Miss Marple or the police to the solution".

Note the reflections in Chapter 5 in the novel on the changed look of elderly people, showing that the sharp eye had not dimmed, even if the narrative grasp was becoming shaky.

"[12] The novel was first serialised in the British weekly magazine Woman's Own in five abridged instalments from 20 November to 18 December 1965, illustrated with specially posed photographic layouts by Abis Sida Stribley.

A BBC television adaptation shown in 1987 starred Joan Hickson as Miss Marple and Caroline Blakiston as Bess Sedgwick.

A BBC radio adaptation by Michael Bakewell, broadcast in 1995–1996, starred June Whitfield as Miss Marple and Sian Phillips as Bess Sedgwick.

This version included substantial changes to the plot, characters, atmosphere and finale of the original novel, although the murder victim, killer and motive remained the same, and added overtly contemporary social themes.