Sheila Malory has her reservations when she is asked to research the history of the village of Mere Barton, as it brings her into close contact with miserly Annie Roberts, a controlling woman who's much resented by her fellow villagers. Not even the local rector has a good word to say about her.
Lord Bellingham, Carsely's biggest landholder, has enraged locals by saying he is going to sell off their allotments to make way for a new housing development. So when he turns up dead, poisoned by antifreeze, nobody mourns his passing ... Agatha is introduced to three old-timers Harry Perry, Bunty Daventry and Josephine Merriweather, whilst visiting the Carsley’s allotments. They are lamenting the neglected...