Lymstock is a small town with lots of secrets. Recently there has been an outbreak of anonymous hate-mail. The outbreak becomes more serious when one of the recipients of the letters, Mrs Symmington, commits suicide. Who is writing the letters? And why? It is someone in the small town and people no longer know who they can trust.

An outbreak of kleptomania at a student hostel was not normally the sort of crime that aroused Hercule Poirot's interest. But the list of stolen items - including a slashed rucksack and a diamond ring - made no sense. And why was everyone so afraid?

جزیره‌ای دورافتاده. ده غریبه که هیچ‌یک با دیگری آشنائی ندارد به دعوت میزبانی غایب در خانه‌ای مجلل گرد می‌آیند. به‌زودی مهمانان با جسد میزبان (فیتس جرالد) روبه‌رو می‌شوند و آرام‌آرام در می‌یابند که هر یک در گذشته مرتکب گناهی شده است. حالا، با به قتل رسیدن تک‌تک مهمانان، مشخص می‌شود که آنان جزیره آورده شده‌اند تا مکافات جنایت‌های خود را ببینند.

Two teachers discover the body of the school's unpopular games mistress, shot through the heart from point-blank range. The school is thrown into chaos when the 'cat' strikes again, and Julia Upjohn knows that without Poirot's help she could be next.