JamesBentleyistriedforthemurderofAbigailMcGinty,thecharwomanofBroadhinnywhoalsotookinBentleyasherlodger.Theevidenceisoverwhelming,andsoonafterheissentencedtohang.SuperintendentSpenceisnotconvincedoftheman'sguilt,andsohevisitsPoirot,askinghimtolookintothecase.Poirotthenheadsofftothevillage,wherehebecomesthepayingguestofMaureenandMajorJohnnieSummerhayes.AriadneOliver,Poirot'snovelistfriend,hasalsocometoBroadhinnytocollaborateonastageadaptationofoneofhernovelswithdramatistRobinUpward.Withtheclueofabottleofinkpurchasedbythedeadwomanshortlybeforeherdeath,PoirotsearchesMrs.McGinty'sbelongingsandfindsaneditionofTheSundayCometnewspaper,whereanarticleconcerningtwowomenconnectedwithfamousmurdershasbeencutout.Withthestoryaretwophotographsofthewomen.PoirotdiscoversthatMrs.McGintyhadseenoneofthephotographsbefore,andknewtowhomitbelongedto.Butwhichwomanwasthiscaseconnectedwith?AreanyofthepeoplelivinginBroadhinnyrelatedtothesewomen,asoneoftheirchildren?Orperhapsoneofthemisoneoftheactualwomen?Thepuzzlepiecesbegintofitin,especiallyafterPoirotisshovedintothepathofanoncomingtrainbyanunknownentity.Butwillthemurdererstrikeagain?