Three Blind Mice is a short story by Agatha Christie, first published in 1948. This study guide provides an analysis, summary, and interpretation based on my understanding of the story.

Three Blind Mice by Agatha Christie-Summary

Summary

During the cold weather, a man in a dark overcoat came along Culver Street, went up the steps of Number 74, and rang the bell. Mrs. Casey opened the door and saw a man asking in a whisper about Mrs. Lyon. She told him to go to the second floor. The man got round the bend of the staircase and whistled the tune of ‘Three Blind Mice’.

On the other hand, Molly inherited a house from her Aunt Katherine after she had died and talked to her husband, Giles, about how they could sell it. After a few days, Molly got the idea of turning the house into a guest house. Molly and Giles both thought about this idea and worked on it. They arranged everything very well and opened their guest house, which was Monkswell Manor.

It was the time for the guests to come when Molly and Giles listened to the news of Mrs. Lyon's murder and the poor weather conditions on the wireless. Gradually, Mr. Wren, Mrs. Boyle, Mr. Paravicini, and Major Metcalf came there as their guests, and all of them settled in their rooms as per arrangement.

In the meantime, Molly got a call from Superintendent Hogben and was shocked to be informed that Sergeant Trotter would come to their guest house for an investigation. Later, Sergeant Trotter arrived at their house on skis and explained that he came to investigate Mrs. Lyon's murder and prevent the next murder in Monkswell Manor.

He also informed Molly Davis and Giles about the Longridge Farm case in which Mrs. Lyon and her husband mistreated their foster children, and as a result, the youngest child had died. He explained how the police suspected the oldest boy of the abused children for Mrs. Lyon's murder.

When Mr. Davis was upstairs in his bedroom examining the telephone extension there, Mrs. Boyle was strangled with the belt of the raincoat in the library of Monkswell Manor. Afterward, Sergeant Trotter talked to all the members of the guest house and wanted to recreate the same situation as it was during Mrs. Boyle's murder.

Incidentally, Sergeant Trotter started talking to Molly Davis. He said that she had been the school teacher at Abbeyvale School. He also said she had refused to help the child who had posted a letter to her for help before he died. Molly denied his claim and said it was her sister who had been the schoolmistress, who was ill with pneumonia at that time. She also said her sister had been upset and had not seen the letter until the child was dead, so it upset her terribly.

But after listening to her, he took out his revolver on Molly when Mr. Metcalf came from behind the concealment of the sofa and flung himself upon Trotter, who had killed Mrs. Boyle as she was the billeting officer who had sent him along with his siblings to Longridge Farm.

Mr. Metcalf revealed his identity: he was a police officer whose real name was Inspector Tanner. He talked to Trotter gently and instructed him to come with him. He also assured to look after him—Trotter, who had disguised himself as Sergeant Trotter, but whose real name was Jim, was Georgie's brother, the youngest child of the abused children.

Sergeant Trotter asked in a piteous child's voice if Georgie would be angry with him. Major Metcalf replied in the negative and got out with him together.

Then Molly came to know Giles went to London to get her an anniversary present, and Molly and Giles became reunited. Mr. Paravicini left the guest house, putting his check on the hall table, and Mr. Wren informed Molly about a terrible smell of burning. Molly fled from there with an anguished cry.

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Disclaimer: This study guide is based on my interpretation and does not reproduce the copyrighted text of Agatha Christie’s Three Blind Mice. All rights to the original work belong to the author and her estate.