Summary

The novel begins with a meeting between private investigator Hercule Poirot and a young woman named Carla. Carla introduced herself as the daughter of Caroline and Amyas Crale. Her mother had been found guilty of murdering her father with poison sixteen years prior. Her mother was sentenced to life in prison but died only a year after she was imprisoned. Carla said she was sent away from home after her mother was imprisoned and spent some time in the country. Also, she changed her first name; she had once been named Caroline Crale, after her mother.

Carla had not learned the truth about her parents until she was 21 and was given a letter that her mother had written her. Her guardians had not allowed her to marry until she turned 21 and was informed of the truth about her parents. Even though her fiancé did...