The Body in the Library

The Body in the Library is the first episode of Series 1 and the first ever Marple episode. Previous Episode: None

Next Episode: The Murder at the Vicarage

Transmitted: 12th December 2004

Viewers: 8.72 million

Synopsis
A young woman's corpse is dumped in the library of Gossington Hall, home of Jane Marple's friend Dolly Bantry and her husband Arthur. Pompous Chief Constable Melchett suspects a connection with Basil Blake, an arty young man who lives locally, but Blake is dismissive when Melchett visits him. Then Superintendent Harper rings from the coastal town of Danemouth. Ruby Keane, a young girl employed as a dancer at the Majestic Hotel there, has gone missing and her cousin, Josie Turner, identifies the corpse as Ruby's. Ruby is in favor with millionaire Conway Jefferson, whose own son and daughter were killed in a wartime air raid, and he wants to adopt her. His son in law Mark Gaskell, and daughter in law Adelaide react variously to the news. Miss Marple is convinced that the solution to Ruby's murder may be found at the hotel and she and Dolly book a suite to investigate. There is no shortage of suspects, not only family members but the handsome Raymond Starr, another of the hotel's dance professionals, and George Bartlett, the last person to see Ruby before her disappearance.

Differences to the Original

 * Instead of Mark Gaskell helping Josie Turner commit the murders, it is Adelaide Jefferson who is the accomplice. Mark, in this adaptation, is totally innocent.
 * In addition to changing the killer, they also introduced a lesbian love story. In the original, Mark and Josie are in love. In this, it is still the two murders - Josie and Adelaide.