Miss Marple, on holiday on the island of St. Honore, is drawn into the investigation of the death of Major Palgrave, a man found murdered shortly after regaling her with boring stories of a murderer he once knew.

Belgian detective Hercule Poirot attempts to prove the innocence of Elinor Carlisle after she is charged with the double murder of her Aunt Laura and Mary Welman, her rival for the affections of Roderick Welman.