A Murder is Announced

‘I’m not too late, am I? When does the murder begin?’ An announcement appears in the local paper: this Friday, at exactly 6.30pm, a murder will take place. Who could resist such an invitation? Driven by morbid curiosity, the villagers head to the appointed location: a quiet house on the outskirts of the village. The crowd gathers. The clock counts down. And then the lights go out. A mystery that will defy even the most ingenious of detectives. Because, when you turn over a stone in an English village, you have no idea what will crawl out…

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

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

A Murder is Announced in a small-town newspaper advertisement—and Miss Marple must unravel the fiendish puzzle when a crime does indeed occur. The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn are agog with curiosity when the Gazette advertises “A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30 p.m.” A childish practical joke? Or a spiteful hoax? Unable to resist the mysterious invitation, the locals arrive at Little Paddocks at the appointed time when, without warning, the lights go out and a gun is fired. When they come back on, a gruesome scene is revealed. An impossible crime? Only Miss Marple can unravel it.  

A Murder is Announced in a small-town newspaper advertisement—and Miss Marple must unravel the fiendish puzzle when a crime does indeed occur. The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn are agog with curiosity when the Gazette advertises “A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30 p.m.” A childish practical joke? Or a spiteful hoax? Unable to resist the mysterious invitation, the locals arrive at Little Paddocks at the appointed time when, without warning, the lights go out and a gun is fired. When they come back on, a gruesome scene is revealed. An impossible crime? Only Miss Marple can unravel it.