The shocking thing about Rex Fortescue's murder was that the contemptible tycoon wasn't knocked off sooner. But when two less-deserving souls fall victim to the killer, Miss Jane Marple is engaged to detect. The only link appears to be buried in a notso-innocent verse. So what's the rhyme and reason behind the playful hint? The answer draws the shrewd sleuth into the heart of a family secret--and an increasingly menacing game that's anything but child's play.

"This is the best of the novels starring Christie"s...Miss Uarple."--New York Times

"A model of complex skullduggery."--The New Yorker"lngenious."--Times Literary Supplement

The shocking thing about Rex Fortescue"s murder was that the contemptible tycoon wasn"t knocked off sooner. But when two less-deserving souls fall victim to the killer, Miss Jane Marple is engaged to detect. The only link appears to be buried in a notso-innocent verse. So what"s the rhyme and reason behind the playful hint? The answer draws the shrewd sleuth into the heart of a family secret--and an increasingly menacing game that"s anything but child"s play.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28