Ayoungwoman'scorpseisdumpedinthelibraryofGossingtonHall,homeofJaneMarple'sfriendDollyBantryandherhusbandArthur.PompousChiefConstableMelchettsuspectsaconnectionwithBasilBlake,anartyyoungmanwholiveslocallybutBlakeisdismissivewhenMelchettvisitshim.ThenSuperintendentHarperringsfromthecoastaltownofDanemouth.RubyKeane,ayounggirlemployedasadancerattheMajesticHotelthere,hasgonemissing,andhercousinJosieTurneridentifiesthecorpseasRuby's.RubyisinfavourwithmillionaireConwayJefferson,whoseownsonanddaughterwerekilledinawartimeairraid,andhewantstoadopther.Hisson-in-lawMarkGaskell,anddaughter-in-lawAdelaidereactvariouslytothenews.MissMarpleisconvincedthatthesolutiontoRuby'smurdermaybefoundatthehotelandsheandDollybookintoasuitetoinvestigate.