A young wife believes her house is haunted. She comes to realize she witnessed the murder of her stepmother there 20 years ago as a child. To help the newlyweds, Miss Marple risks her life solving the crime, stirring a sleeping murderer in the process.

Gwenda and Miss Marple are closer to understanding the mystery of a seemingly perfect crime from many years previously.

False identities, larceny, and a crime ring are only the tip of the tenticle when Miss Marple stays in a posh London hotel (modelled after Brown's Hotel) where nothing is what it seems. Murder naturally follows, leading to a thrilling chase after the vibrant Lady Sedgewick.

Miss Marple is sent on a mission from beyond the grave to clear a dead man's son. Vowing to find out the truth,she links him to a dead girl, Verity Hunt, and a family of weird sisters. She discovers love, as well as hate, can be a reason for murder.

Miss Marple resolves to clear her friend's son's name, and in turn finds that love can inspire murder as much as hate.