In a posthumous act of profound trust, the eccentric millionaire Jason Rafiel tasks the astute Miss Jane Marple with investigating an unspecified 'past crime' and finding a 'nemesis' for the guilty party. The only instruction given to Miss Marple, who receives the letter a week after Rafiel's death, is to embark on a series of organized trips, with the promise of a significant inheritance should she succeed. Her investigation leads her to a group of women who were all on a coach tour with a young woman named Verity Hunt, who subsequently died, ostensibly by suicide. As Miss Marple delves deeper, she uncovers layers of secrets and deceit within a seemingly respectable community, questioning the very nature of justice and memory. She must unravel the truth behind Verity's tragic end and fulfill Rafiel's cryptic mission, bringing a long-hidden injustice to light.
Critical Reception
"One of Agatha Christie's most poignant and intricately plotted late works, 'Nemesis' stands as a testament to Miss Marple's unwavering moral compass and relentless pursuit of justice."
Adaptations
1987 BBC TV film starring Joan Hickson; 2007 ITV 'Marple' episode starring Geraldine McEwan.