But the previous night, Ruby went missing, and Josie was forced to do the dance.Īfter Josie has visited Gossington, Mrs Bantry realises that the one who called the police was Conway Jefferson, an old friend of the Bantry's. Ruby would just do the dancing with men, and the exhibition dances with Raymond Starr, the tennis and dancing pro. The body is identified by Ruby's great-cousin and colleague Josephine 'Josie' Turner, who explains that she is dance and bridge hostess at the Majestic, but required Ruby to fill in a as dance hostess, due to Josie suffering injuries sustained to her ankle, whilst sunbathing. Despite her appearance, she died a virgin.įinally, the body is identified as Ruby Keene, an 18 year old dancer who worked at a hotel called the Majestic in Danemouth. The autopsy arrives, revealing that the girl was strangled with the belt of her own dress, and that death took place between 10:00 and 12:00 at nighttime. Colonel Melchett visits Basil, but soon discovers that Dinah is not dead, as she comes and argues with Basil. Basil is well known for dating a young platinum blonde girl, called Dinah Lee. Miss Marple states to Mrs Bantry, that a good suspect in the Bantrys' neighbour, Basil Blake, the son of an old school friend of Mrs Bantry's, who is mutually disliked intensely by Colonel Bantry. Nobody in the household recognises the body, though. Soon, the police arrive, the senior officers being Detective Inspector Slack and the Chief Constable of the County, Colonel Terence Melchett. The girl is also wearing a considerable amount of make-up. It is a very young girl with platinum blonde hair, with lipstick and painted nails like a gash, wearing an old but glittery, satin, cheap, black and white evening dress of rather poor quality, with silver sandals. Miss Marple is picked up by Mrs Bantry and her chauffeur, Muswell, and taken to Gossington Hall.

Suddenly, the maid, Mary, dashes in, tearful and breathless, and informs Dolly that there is a body in the library, before running out again.Ĭolonel Arthur Bantry then goes downstairs and learns from his butler, Lorrimer, that there is indeed a body in the library, sees it, calls Police Constable Billy Palk, and then Mrs Bantry calls her friend, Miss Marple (revealing that the victim has been strangled).

The story starts with Mrs Dolly Bantry waking up from a pleasant dream, and noticing that the maid has not been in yet.

Agatha christie death in the library