WhentroubledwarveteranJerryBurtonandhissisterJoannarelocatetothequietlittlevillageofLymstockinordertoallowJerrytorecuperatefrominjuriesreceivedinwhatheclaimsisamotorcycleaccident,theyareexpectingnothingmorethancountrysleepinessandtedium.Muchtotheirsurprise,however,theyfindthemselvesembroiledinthemiddleofscandalandsecrets;someoneissendingviciouspoison-penletterstotheresidents.Alocaldignitaryhasalreadytakenhisownlifeovertheletters,andit'snotlongbeforelocalgossipMonaSymmingtonalsocommitssuicideafterreceivingaletter.Butwhentheletter-writerapparentlyresortstomurder,Jerryfindshiscuriositystokeddespitehimself,andhe'snottheonlyone;MissJaneMarpleisalsoinLymstock,andshe'sdecidedthatit'slongpasttimesomeonegottothebottomofthisunpleasantbusinessccc