Books with title A Murder is Announced - Collins Fontana

[A BBC Radio 4 Full Cast Dramatization starring June Whitfield] ''A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 29, at Little Paddocks, at 6:30 p.m. Friends please accept this, the only intimation.''Nestled among the usual notices about dogs for sale and appeals for domestic help, the startling entry in the personal column of the Chipping Cleghorn Gazette has the the entire village agog with curiosity. Is it a game? And who is meant to attend? Sure enough, the evening sees a crowd of residents standing expectantly in the drawing room at Little Paddocks. Then the clock strikes the half-hour, the lights go out, and three gunshots ring in the dark. When the lights go back on, the promised murder has been committed. Can Miss Marple work out what has happened and why?

Title of book is "A Murder Is Announced." Title page says Walter J. Black, New York. 1950. Dust jacket cover says "Agatha Christie's 50th Mystery Novel. At bottom are 2 quotes from Ellery Queen and John Dickson Carr. The DJ spine has a black badge symbol saying "Red Badge Detective Dodd Mead". DJ shows numerous Christie books and a picture of a woman's face showing terror/horror.

Second Paperback Edition, Pocket Books - Cardinal Edition #C-362, published August 1959. Cover blurbs: "The Complete Book."; "A harmless game becomes a vicious crime when...A Murder is Announced." Cover art by Harry Bennett. Author's forth Miss Jane Marple mystery novel of twelve. Original 35¢ cover price. Original hardcover published by Dodd, Mead in 1950.