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This is the fourth Miss Marple mystery, although the narrator is Jerry Barton, while Miss Marple does not appear until late into the novel. Recovering from a serious injury, it is suggested that Jerry spend some time in the country to relax and so he takes a house called Little Furze, in Lymstock, and moves there with his sister, Joanna. Shortly after they arrive, a poisonous pen letter arrives, making all sorts of foul accusations and it soon appears that many others in the village have also received such messages.

Although both Jerry, and his sister, are keen to ignore the letter, many in the village think that there is, “no smoke without fire,� and, before long, one of the letters result in something a little more serious than upset feelings. As suspicion grows and everyone suspects each other, Mrs Dane Calthrop, the vicar’s wife, declares that she is going to call in an expert � of course, Miss Marple.

This is a very different mystery from previous Miss Marple books; mainly as she does not have a central role. That said, I enjoyed Jerry Barton as a narrator and liked his sister and the other characters of the village. Although this is not St Mary Mead, there are many of the characters we have come to know from village life � the vicar’s wife, the doctor, local characters and gossips. An enjoyable story, with a good setting and interesting characters.