A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie, summary Automatic translate

A Pocket Full of Rye, published in 1953, is a detective story in which Agatha Christie masterfully reveals family secrets and motives for murder through the prism of an English nursery rhyme. The key feature of the work is the use of symbolism of blackbirds and grains of rye, which connect the crimes with the past.

Film adaptations and awards: The novel was adapted for television in the series Miss Marple (1987), receiving acclaim for its faithful reproduction of the book’s atmosphere. The book is also sold in Russian translation under the title "Seeds in a Pocket". The Russian film adaptation is "The Secret of the Blackbirds".

Rex Fortescue, a wealthy businessman, dies in his London office after drinking morning tea tainted with a toxin from yew berries. Investigating Detective Inspector Neale finds a grain of rye in the deceased’s jacket pocket, causing confusion. The office staff, including secretary Miss Grosvenor and typist Miss Griffith, confirm that Rex has been behaving strangely, boasting, and clashing with his son Percival. The inspector goes to Yew Cottage, the family’s luxurious home in Baydon Heath.

At the house, Neil meets the household: Rex’s second wife, Adele, daughter Elaine, housekeeper Mary Dove, butler Crump, and maid Gladys Martin. Percival, the eldest son, is away, and the youngest son, Lance, recently returned from Africa, is considered the family’s "black sheep." Miss Ramsbottom, Rex’s sister-in-law, hints at the family’s sinfulness. Soon, Adele dies from cyanide added to her tea, and Gladys is found strangled with a clothespin on her nose, which alludes to the nursery rhyme about blackbirds.

Deepening the investigation

Inspector Neale discovers that Rex was involved with the Blackbirds Colliery, where he deceived Mackenzie’s partner, leading to his death. Mrs Mackenzie, who is in an asylum, has been raising her children to hate Fortescue. Donald Mackenzie is dead, but his sister Ruby may be in the house under an assumed name. Neale suspects Mary Dove, but she denies being Ruby and there is no evidence against her. Miss Marple, an elderly lady who knew Gladys, arrives at Yew Tree Cottage to investigate the case.

Miss Marple pays attention to detail: Gladys was gullible and fell in love with a certain Albert Evans, who persuaded her to put a "confession potion" (a toxin) in Rex’s marmalade to make him confess to the deception. Gladys did not know it was poison and, shocked by Rex’s death, became a victim of Evans, who strangled her to cover up the evidence. The blackbirds planted in the pie and on the table were revenge for the mine, but not directly connected to the murders.

Unmasking the killer

Miss Marple reveals that Albert Evans is Lance Fortescue. Back in England, Lance learned of possible uranium deposits at the Blackbirds mine, which promised great wealth. He devised a plan, using the rhyme as a distraction, to pin the blame on Ruby Mackenzie. Lance persuaded Gladys to poison her father, then killed her and Adele to inherit the money and avoid having to share it with her stepmother. His alibi for the first murder was impeccable, but Miss Marple notices inconsistencies.

Neil discovers that Ruby Mackenzie is Jennifer, Percival’s wife, who planted the blackbirds to scare Rex but did not kill him. Mary Dove blackmailed Jennifer with her secret but was not involved in the murders. Lance, charismatic and unscrupulous, used his charm to manipulate Gladys and cover his tracks. Miss Marple finds a letter from Gladys describing her meeting with "Bert" and their plan, and an accompanying photograph confirms that it is Lance.

Inspector Neele, convinced by Miss Marple’s arguments, collects evidence against Lance, including his stay at the resort under the name of Evans. Lance’s wife, Pat, is unaware of his crimes, and Miss Marple advises her to return to Ireland. The investigation is completed, and Miss Marple goes home, reflecting on Gladys’s tragedy and Lance’s cruelty. Gladys’s last letter becomes the key to the expose, and Miss Marple is proud of her insight.

“And then pity and anger were washed away by a wave of pride - this is how a scientist triumphs, having reconstructed the appearance of a prehistoric animal from a fragment of a jawbone and a scant row of teeth.”