'살인 예고, 10월 29일 금요일 오후 6시 30분, 리틀 패덕스에서 살인이 일어날 예정. 여러분, 이 예고를 꼭 믿으시오.' 이 예고에도 불구하고 13명의 손님들은 멍청하게 살인현장을 바라보고 있어야 했다. 육체적인 고통과 사람들의 차가운 냉대 속에서 차곡차곡 쌓인 잔인한 복수심. 누구도 거부하지 못할 부드럽고 달콤한 죽음의 손길. 사람들은 죽음의 공포에 떨면서도 어쩔 수 없이 범인이 짜놓은 치밀한 살인극 속으로 발길을 집어넣고 만다. 애거서 크리스티의 분신이라고 하는 마플 양이 낮은 목소리로 범인을 지적하는 순간, 독자들은 짜릿한 흥분속에 젖어들 것이다.

An announcement in the local paper states the time and place when a murder is to occur in Miss Blacklock's Victorian house. The victim is not one of the house's several occupants, but an unexpected and unknown visitor. What follows is a classic Christie puzzle of mixed motives, concealed identities, a second death, a determined Inspector grimly following the twists and turns, and Miss Marple on hand to provide the final solution at some risk to herself in a dramatic confrontation just before the final curtain.

An ordinary village
A shocking announcement
One morning the villagers of Chipping Cleghorn wake to find a strange notice in their papers:


'A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30pm.'


Suspecting this is just a joke, they gather for some evening entertainment.


Then a gunshot is heard.


In desperation, the police turn to an old lady whose hobbies are gardening, gossiping - and solving murders.


After all, old ladies know better than anyone exactly what goes on in quiet English villages...



Never underestimate Miss Marple



'The queen of jaw-dropping, heart-stopping twists.'
Karen M. McManus


'Establishes firmly her claim to the throne of detection. The plot is as ingenious as ever... the dialogue both wise and witty; while the suspense is maintained very skilfully until the final revelation.'
A.A. Milne