People who are planning to murder someone rarely choose to broadcast that fact. So the villagers of Chipping Cleghorn – including Miss Marple – are pretty surprised when the following advert pops up in the local gazette. “A murder is announced and will take place on Friday October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30 p.m.” Is it a childish practical joke? Or a hoax designed to scare poor Letitia Blacklock? Unable to resist the strange invitation, a crowd gathers at Little Paddocks at the appointed time. And then the lights go out…