Fortescue the Queen in her parlor and Gladys the maid in the garden. Fortescue is the King in his counting-room, Mrs. As she innocently interviews the suspects, she manages to wheedle out information from them that they may not have shared with the police, realizing that the murders have been staged to the childhood nursery rhyme, Sing a Song of Sixpence: Mr. When she arrives at the Fortescue estate she offers her assistance to Inspector Neele claiming that “ People do tend to confide in old ladies.” Her only clue, the rye found in Rex Fortescue’s pocket.

Reading about the murders in the paper, Miss Marple (Julia McKenzie) is saddened to discover that one of the victims is her former maid Gladys. “People do tend to confide in old ladies.” Wealthy financier Rex Fortescue (Kenneth Cranham ) poisoned at his London office was found with rye in his pocket, his young wife Adele (Anna Madeley) the prime suspect dies after tea in their home, and the maid Gladys (Rosie Heiney) is found in the garden strangled under the clothesline. We shall see if she can wear the Marple mantle as successfully.īased on Christie’s 1953 novel, three murders in two days has Inspector Neele (Matthew Macfadyen) baffled. Not only is Miss Marple one of Christie’s most famous characters whose analytical skills are as sharp as her knitting needles, the two previous actresses who portrayed her in this series, Joan Hickson (1982-1992) and Geraldine McEwan (2004-2007), were outstanding, leaving an indelible mark on the role. We shall see if she can also put a memorable spin on Agatha Christie’s famous elderly spinster who dabbles as an amateur sleuth. Forrester in last season’s Cranford who put flannel pajamas on her cow. Julia McKenzie debuted on Sunday as the new Miss Marple in A Pocket Full of Rye on Masterpiece Mystery.

A pocket full of rye joan hickson