Death is only steps from Miss Marple when odious Col. Prothero is murdered in her idyllic village of St. Mary Mead. And in the Vicar's study, no less!

After Miss Marple's friend witnesses a murder in a railway carriage running parallel to her own, Miss Marple engages a resourceful young woman to investigate. The search leads to a decrepit estate, where they suspect the body was dumped. But the seemingly innocent family who lives there have secrets of their own.

While vacationing in Barbados, Miss Marple is bored to tears by a dotty major who tells tale tales of knowing a murderer. But when the major turns up dead, the wild beauty of the island can't hide the trail of a manipulative and ruthless killer.

At an estate turned reformatory school, Miss Marple visits her old school chum Carrie Louise. When Carrie Louise's dear stepson is killed, the discontent family is only the beginning as there are literally hundreds of suspects!

Hollywood comes to St. Mary Mead when faded movie star Marina Gregg takes residence for a local film shoot. But when she narrowly escapes an attempt on her life and a local woman dies instead, Miss Marple sorts the gossip rag chatter from the facts to uncover a tragedy.