(1961-1976)

The Pale Horse *1961*

To understand the strange goings on at The Pale Horse Inn, Mark Easterbrook knew he had to begin at the beginning. But where exactly was the beginning?
Was it the savage blow to the back of Farther Gorman's head? Or the priest's visit, just minutes before, to a woman on her death bed? Or was there a deeper significance to the violent squabble which Mark Easterbrook had himself witnessed earlier?

The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side (The Mirror Crack'd) *1962*

What was it that Marina Gregg, the famous film actress, saw just before a murder was committed in her house? What or who caused her expression to change so violently that one observer was reminded of Alfred Tennyson:
Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack'd from side to side:
"The curse is come upon me," cried
The Lady of Shalott.
A few minutes later a body lay dead in Marina's large house - the second time a victim of willful murder had been discovered there. Miss Marple, whose house in St. Mary Mead is close to the scene of the murder, finds a perfect opportunity to indulge in the particular kind of "unraveling" at which she is adept.

The Clocks *1963*

As instructed, stenographer Sheila Webb let herself into the house at 19 Wilbraham Crescent. It was then that she made a grisly discovery: the body of a dead man sprawled across the living room floor. What intrigued Poirot about the case was the time factor. Although in a state of shock, Sheila clearly remembered having heard a cuckoo clock strike three o'clock. Yet, the four other clocks in the living room all showed the time as 4.13. Even more strangely, only one of these clocks belonged to the owner of the house.

A Caribbean Mystery *1964*

As Jane Marple sat basking in the Caribbean sunshine she felt mildly discontented with life. True, the warmth eased her rheumatism, but here in paradise nothing ever happened. Eventually, her interest was aroused by an old soldier's yarn about a strange coincidence. Infuriatingly, just as he was about to show her an astonishing photograph, the Major's attention wandered. He never did finished the story.

At Bertram's Hotel *1965*

When Miss Marple comes up from the country for a holiday in London, she finds what she's looking for at Bertram's Hotel: traditional decor, impeccable service and an unmistakable atmosphere of danger behind the highly polished veneer. Yet, not even Miss Marple can foresee the violent chain of events set in motion when an eccentric guest makes his way to the airport on the wrong day.

Third Girl *1966*

Three single girls shared the same London flat. The first worked as a secretary; the second was an artist; the third who came to Poirot for help, disappeared convinced she was a murderer. Now there were rumors of revolvers, flick-knives and blood stains. But, without hard evidence, it would take all Poirot's tenacity to establish whether the third girl was guilty innocent or insane.

Endless Night *1967*

Gipsy's Acre was a truly beautiful upland site with views out to sea -- and in Michael Rogers it stirred a child-like fantasy. There, amongst the dark fir trees, he planned to build a house, find a girl and live happily ever after. Yet, as he left the village, a shadow of menace hung over the land. For this was the place where accidents happened. Perhaps Michael should have heeded the locals' warnings: 'There's no luck for them as meddles with Gipsy's Acre.' Michael Rogers is a man who is about to learn the true meaning of the old saying 'In my end is my beginning...'

By the Pricking of my Thumbs *1968*

When Tommy and Tuppence visit an elderly aunt in her gothic nursing home, they think nothing of her mistrust of the doctors; after all, Ada was a very difficult old lady.
But when Mrs. Lockett mentions a poisoned mushroom stew and Mrs. Lancaster talks about 'something behind the fireplace', Tommy and Tuppence find themselves caught up in an unexpected adventure involving a strange inheritance, a missing tombstone – and almost death for the redoubtable Tuppence.

Hallowe'en Party *1969*

At a Halloween party, Joyce - a hostile thirteen-year-old - boasts that she once witnessed a murder. When no-one believes her, she storms off home. But within hours her body is found, still in the house, drowned in an apple bobbing tub.
That night, Hercule Poirot is called in to find the `evil presence’. But first he must establish whether he is looking for a murderer or a double-murderer.

Passenger to Frankfurt *1970*

Sir Stafford Nye's journey home from Malaya takes an unexpected twist in the passenger lounge at Frankfurt – a young woman confides in him that someone is trying to kill her.
Yet their paths are to cross again and again – and each time the mystery woman is introduced as a different person. But whichever guise she is in, she draws Sir Stafford into an arena where no-one can be sure of anyone – an arena where he must do battle with a well-armed, well-financed, well-trained – and invisible – enemy.

Nemesis *1971*

In utter disbelief Miss Marple read the letter addressed to her from the recently deceased Mr. Rafiel – an acquaintance she had met briefly on her travels.
Recognizing in Miss Marple a natural flair for justice, Mr. Rafiel had left instructions for her to investigate a crime after his death. The only problem was, he had failed to tell her who was involved or where and when the crime had been committed. It was most intriguing.

Elephants Can Remember *1972*

Hercule Poirot stood on the cliff top. Here, many years earlier, there had been a tragic accident. This was followed by the grisly discovery of two more bodies - a husband and wife - shot dead.
But who had killed whom? Was it a suicide pact? A crime of passion? Or cold-blooded murder? Poirot delves back into the past and discovers that `old sins leave long shadows.

Postern of Fate *1973*

When Tommy and Tuppence Beresford moved to a quiet English village, they were looking forward to a peaceful retirement. But, as they soon discovered, their rambling old house held both secrets and dangers. Who was Mary Jordan? Why had someone left a code message in an old book saying that she "did not die naturally"? And what was the significance of 'Oxford' and 'Cambridge'? Once more, ingenuity and insight are called for as the pair, along with Hannibal the dog, are drawn into old mysteries and new dangers.

Curtain *1975*

The house guests at Styles seemed perfectly pleasant to Captain Hastings; there was his own daughter Judith, an inoffensive ornithologist called Norton, dashing Mr. Allerton, brittle Miss Cole, Doctor Franklin and his fragile wife Barbara , Nurse Craven, Colonel Luttrell and his charming wife, Daisy, and the charismatic Boyd-Carrington. So Hastings was shocked to learn from Hercule Poirot's declaration that one of them was a five-times murderer. True, the ageing detective was crippled with arthritis, but had his deductive instincts finally deserted him?

Sleeping Murder *1976*

Soon after Gwenda moved into her new home, odd things started to happen. Despite her best efforts to modernize the house, she only succeeded in dredging up its past. Worse, she felt an irrational sense of terror every time she climbed the stairs! In fear, Gwenda turned to Miss Marple to exorcise her ghosts. Between them, they were to solve a 'perfect' crime committed many years before.