Marple prepared the pink gin for old friend Elspeth McGillicuddy, traveling to Ceylon, who drops buy and reports she believes to have seen a murder in a passing train from London. Jane works out the corpse wasn't found -let alone identified- because it was dropped, probably on purpose, near Rutherford Hall. Marple needs little convincing to have foxy niece Lucy Eeylesbarrow accept a job there a Christmas extra help. It's the crown piece of a trust set up by a late candy tycoon which limits his son and heir, now sickly author Luther Crackenthorpe, to live on the proceeds, the whole estate reserved to pass to his eldest son. Jane goes 'visit' former village knave Inspector Tom Campbell, now in charge of the case as only police detective in the nearest town. Firstborn Malcolm having been killed in the war, the present heir is good-for-nothing fraudster Alfred Crackenthorpe, who falls victim to poisoning during the Christmas celebration, which any guest could have committed. Next in line are dreary brother Harold Crackenthorpe, married to immature whiner Emma and incapable to flirt for his life, and artistic Benjamin Cedric, who lies about his time abroad, plus American Bryan Eastley who married their sister and brought cute rascal son Alexander and his school buddy James Stoddard-West, who flirts masterly while the knaves prove he better grounds scouts. The party is completed by the family doctor Quimper, who has interesting friendships. The probably French victim is found in the family mausoleum, but proves not Malcolm's mysteriously disappeared, presumed-dead French wife Martine, another candidate being missing ballet dancer Anna Stravinska. A trap on the train catches the killer.
—KGF Vissers