"If someone murdered Colonel Prothero, they would be doing the world a great favor in general."

The vicar of St. Mary Mead carelessly utters these words at the table, brandishing a kitchen knife. Words that do not suit a clergyman. And they will put him in a somewhat difficult position when shortly afterward the colonel is indeed found murdered in the vicarage!

It seems, however, that the entire peaceful, picturesque village would have liked to kill this man. Who will guess the murderer? Miss Marple, white-haired, sweet-talking, and cunning as a fox, makes her first appearance in this story, proving that... the best detective is the one who knows all the gossip! From now on, no criminal - but also no policeman! - will be able to do their job undisturbed...