A small English village, St. Mary Mead, was simply stunned by the murder of Colonel Protheroe, committed audaciously in the home of the local vicar. The deceased, to put it mildly, was not universally loved and respected; therefore, the circle of suspects is quite broad. The police are in such a hopeless dead end that they don’t even hesitate to accept advice from a certain Miss Marple—an honorable lady of her years.