62 pages 2 hours read

Agatha Christie

A Murder Is Announced

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1950

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Chapter 21-EpilogueChapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 21 Summary: “Three Women”

That evening, Miss Blacklock appears wearing a cameo necklace instead of her pearl choker. Patrick and Emma argue over the possibility that Miss Hinchcliffe murdered Miss Murgatroyd until Miss Blacklock snaps, declaring she is frightened. Mitzi announces she will lock herself in her room, so Emma cooks dinner. In the kitchen, Phillipa approaches Emma saying that she wants to tell her something, but Emma sends her away.

After dinner, Inspector Craddock calls, announcing he is on his way with the Easterbrooks and the Swettenhams. Miss Blacklock protests, but Craddock insists the matter is urgent. Miss Hinchcliffe then arrives, revealing Craddock invited her.

Waiting for Craddock in the drawing-room, Miss Blacklock has the lights blazing and the fire lit. When Craddock arrives with the others, he questions the women on their whereabouts between 4:00pm and 4:20pm. Emma says she walked across the fields and was not near Boulders. Mrs. Swettenham was unblocking her guttering. Mrs. Easterbrook initially claims she was listening to the radio with her husband. However, when Colonel Easterbrook refutes her story, she says she went for a walk and then listened to the radio alone. Turning on Inspector Craddock, Mrs.