At first Hercule Poirot found Miss Emily's letter quite typical—a dramatic, somewhat hysterical appeal for confidential assistance. What piqued Poirot's interest was that it was dated two months prior. Who would wait so long to postmark a life-and-death plea? A visit to Miss Emily's estate reveals that the wealthy mistress of Littlegreen had been dead for some time, leaving behind a bitterly contested will, and a pack of greedy heirs with motives for murder. What Poirot really wants to know is who mailed the letter? And why so late?