Beautiful young Elinor Carlisle, stands serenely in the the dock accused of the murder of, Mary Gerrard, her rival in love The evidence is damning: only Elinor had the motive, the opportunity and the means to administer the fatal poison. Yet, inside the hostile courtroom, one man still presumes Elinor is innocent until proven guilty; Hercule Poirot is all that stands between Elinor and the gallows.