MissJaneMarpleisshockedwhenshereceivesanotefromanoldfriend，FatherGormanonlytoreadinthenewspapertheverysamedaythathewasmurdered.Hehadattendedadyingwoman，Mrs.Davis，whodiedthepreviouseveninganditwaswhilehewasonhiswayhomethathewasapparentlyattacked.ThepolicehaveputitdowntoamuggingbuttheletterMissMarplereceivedfromhimintriguesher：alistofsurnamesandaquotefromthebible.Thepolicemaninchargeofthecase，InspectorLejeuneisskepticalaboutitallbeingamurderbutwhenMissMarpleinspectsMrs.Davis'rooms，shefindsanidenticallisttothatsenttoherbyFatherGormanandalsoareferencetothePaleHorseInninMuchDeeping，Hampshire.Shesoonchecksintotheinnandpursuesherowninvestigation。