The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn are agog with curiosity when the Gazette advertises: 'A murder is announced and will take place on Friday October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6:30 p.m.'A childish practical joke? Or a spiteful hoax? Unable to resist the mysterious invitation, the locals arrive at Little Paddocks at the appointed time when, without warning, the lights go out and a gun is fired. When they come back on, a gruesome scene is revealed.An impossible crime?Only Miss Marple can unravel it.'Establishes firmly her claim to the throne of detection. Th plot is an ingenious as ever...'A. A. Milne