Jane Marple visits her old friend Carrie Louise Serrocold at Stonygates, a sprawling Victorian estate that serves as a reformatory for delinquent boys. The household is tense, populated by Carrie Louise’s third husband, Lewis Serrocold, and her various children and grandchildren from previous marriages. When a staged confrontation between Lewis and a troubled resident results in a real murder in a locked room, Miss Marple realizes the killer used theatrical distraction to mask their movements. She investigates how optical illusions and misdirection hid the physical reality of the crime.
This book serves fans of classic English mysteries who enjoy analyzing the mechanics of a crime. Readers examine the psychology of interpersonal manipulation and the specific ways people ignore what occurs right in front of them due to preconceived biases. Those who finish the story walk away with a better understanding of how a killer uses a large, chaotic household as a stage to camouflage a singular, cold-blooded intent. It provides a technical study in distraction and logistical timing.
Escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1952
- Language
- EN
