After blurting out 'but he was murdered, wasn't he?' at her brother's funeral, Cora Gallaccio is found hacked to death in her cottage by an intruder. However, pieces of evidence don't add up to a very convincing burglary theory. Now, Cora's family, the dysfunctional Abernethie clan, are suspects in a murder case. Gilbert Entwhistle, the family solicitor, brings in his friend Poirot to solve the case.