Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of A Murder Is Announced. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Miss Marple reveals that “Letitia Blacklock,” the kindly owner of Little Paddocks, is really her sister Charlotte, who took Letitia's identity after Letitia died so she could inherit a fortune from Letitia's old employer, Randall Goedler. Charlotte killed the young man Rudi Scherz, her old friend Dora Bunner and the villager Amy Murgatroyd to protect her secret, and she is arrested after Miss Marple sets a trap.
Quick facts
– Book: A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie
– First published: 1950
– Type: A Miss Marple mystery
– Tone of the ending: Clever and poignant
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
An advertisement in the local paper announces that a murder will take place at Little Paddocks on Friday at 6:30. Neighbours gather, expecting a game. The lights go out, a man bursts in with a gun, shots are fired, and the stranger, Rudi Scherz, is found dead. Miss Blacklock's ear is grazed.
What Happens at the End of A Murder Is Announced
Dora Bunner, Miss Blacklock's childhood friend, keeps calling her “Lotty,” and dies after eating poisoned aspirin. Murgatroyd realizes who was missing from the room and is strangled. Miss Marple learns Letitia had a sister, Charlotte, with a goitre who died abroad. Marple arranges for Mitzi, the cook, to pretend to have seen the murder. Charlotte tries to drown Mitzi and is caught.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Charlotte posed as Letitia.
- Rudi knew her secret.
- Dora's slip gave her away.
- Miss Marple sets a trap.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Charlotte Blacklock | Arrested |
| Dora Bunner | Murdered |
| Rudi Scherz | Murdered |
| Amy Murgatroyd | Murdered |
| Miss Marple | Solves the case |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows how fear and loneliness can lead to murder.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers find Charlotte a tragic villain, since her thyroid condition and years of hiding shaped her life. Many also enjoy the village's comic characters and the clue hidden in Dora's slips of the tongue.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Identity. Charlotte takes her sister's identity.
Greed. The Goedler fortune.
Friendship. Dora's loyalty.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of A Murder Is Announced as clever and poignant. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Agatha Christie to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are clever and poignant will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Agatha Christie closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1985 BBC adaptation with Joan Hickson follows the solution.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading A Murder Is Announced with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about identity, and do you agree with Agatha Christie's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as clever and poignant, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces identity and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Agatha Christie leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in A Murder Is Announced often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of A Murder Is Announced earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of A Murder Is Announced on Amazon
Books to Read After A Murder Is Announced
- The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
- Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie
Related: A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie: Summary and Key Takeaways · And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of A Murder Is Announced?
Miss Marple reveals that “Letitia Blacklock,” the kindly owner of Little Paddocks, is really her sister Charlotte, who took Letitia's identity after Letitia died so she could inherit a fortune from Letitia's old employer, Randall Goedler. Charlotte killed the young man Rudi Scherz, her old friend Dora Bunner and the villager Amy Murgatroyd to protect her secret, and she is arrested after Miss Marple sets a trap.
Is the ending of A Murder Is Announced happy or sad?
Most readers call it clever and poignant.
What does the ending of A Murder Is Announced mean?
The ending shows how fear and loneliness can lead to murder.
Is the ending of A Murder Is Announced the same in the adaptation?
The 1985 BBC adaptation with Joan Hickson follows the solution.
Who wrote A Murder Is Announced and when was it published?
A Murder Is Announced was written by Agatha Christie and first published in 1950.
Is A Murder Is Announced worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy Miss Marple mysterys. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Agatha Christie prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read A Murder Is Announced before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.