MarpleisinvitedtoLondontoseeheroldfriendRuth.MissMarplewasasortoftravelingcompaniontoRuthandhersister,CarrieLouise.RuthisworriedaboutCarrieLouise.Shedoesn’tknowwhy,though.RuthasksMissMarpletocomewithhertohersister’sestate,Stonygates.Stonygatesisahugemanorhouse,andsomeofthebuildingsandthegroundsareusedbyCarrieLouises’currenthusband,Lewis,asareformatoryforjuvenilecriminals.MissMarplemeetsthepeoplewholivethere-CarrieLouise’sgrand-daughterGinaandhermalcontentAmericanhusbandWalter;StephenandAlexRestarick,CarrieLouise’sstepsonsbyherfirstmarriage;EdgarLawson,Lewis’mentallyunstablesecretary;andCarrieLouise’sdaughter,Mildred,whoisjealousofGina.Soon,CarrieLouise’sstepsonbyhersecondmarriageshowsup.HeisChristianGuldbrandsen,andherunsthetrustwhichcontributesafractionofthefundsusedtorunStonygates.HeandLewistalkinprivate.Laterthatnight,EdgarbeginswavingagunaroundandrantingthatLewisishisfather.Lewistakeshimtohisofficewheretheargumentbecomesevenmoreheated.Afterafewminutes,twoshotsareheard,andthenhystericalcrying.ThedooropenstorevealLewis,unhurt.Edgarmissedhim.However,thebodyofChristianGuldbrandsenisdiscovered,shot.MissMarplesetsouttofindthemurdererbeforeitistoolateforhergoodfriendCarrieLouise.
