Rex Fortescue, a wealthy businessman, collapses and dies in his office. He was poisoned. In his pocket are rye seeds.
It turns out Rex wasn't very well liked. He has a very young, pretty wife who fools around with a tennis pro. She, too, is found dead.
Gladys, a clumsy maid in the household, was actually trained by Miss Marple. Very distressed about the murders, she asks Marple for help. But it's too late - Gladys herself is found murdered.
The murders follow the nursery rhyme - Sing a Song of Sixpence: The queen was in the parlor, the maid was in the garden - who played pranks on Rex using blackbirds, and who is committing the murders?
Intriguing story with karma taking over at the end as Miss Marple experiences this rather unpleasant family. The actress Fabia Drake has some great, biting lines.
I very much like the atmosphere and characterizations found in these stories. I admit I always pictured Miss Marple a little softer, a more sweet old lady whose knowledge is a surprise, but I do like Joan Hickson. She comes off as very shrewd.
The good cast includes a very young Annette Badland, Peter Davison, and the aforementioned Drake.
