When a young woman begins to experience vivid, unsettling memories of a murder in her new home, she must confront the possibility of her own deteriorating sanity. Gwenda Reed, a recent arrival from New Zealand, finds herself haunted by architectural details and traumatic visions that suggest she has occupied her English house before. As these memories coalesce into the image of a strangulation, she turns to the elderly Miss Marple to untangle the truth. The narrative unfolds through a classic investigative framework, balancing Gwenda's psychological distress with the methodical, observant inquiries of the detective. The story operates within the constraints of a traditional whodunit, where the past acts as a physical weight upon the present.

This novel is widely recognized as the final case featuring Miss Marple, written by Agatha Christie during the 1940s but held for posthumous publication. Critics often highlight the book's unique position in the Christie canon, noting the deliberate contrast between the domestic setting and the underlying violence. Readers frequently discuss the effectiveness of the memory-based plot device and how it distinguishes this entry from other Marple mysteries. The work is generally regarded as a sophisticated example of the author's ability to weave psychological elements into the traditional detective format. Its status as a posthumous release adds a layer of historical interest for those examining the evolution of the detective genre.