AmurderisannouncedintheChippingCleghorneGazettetotakeplaceonOctober5th,7PMatLittlePaddockscottage.Thepeoplelivingthere,retiredsecretaryMissBlacklock,hercompanionMissBunner,MissBlacklock’stwodistantcousins,PatrickandJuliaandMrs.Haymes,agardener,havenoideawhattheadisabout.Severalvillagersarriveatthehouseunderthefalsepretensesof"justwalkingby"or"Wasintheneighborhood".Atexactly7PM,thelightsgoout,andamanenterstheroom,andshinesaflashlightineveryone’sface.Thenshotsareheard.Asthelightscomebackon,theyfindthemanwhoenteredtheroomhasbeenshot.MissMarplemustunmaskthekillerbutsoonmoremurdersturnup.