When he learns that Venables suffered from polio and would be incapable of standing due to atrophy of the legs, Osbourne is nonetheless certain of his identification and begins to suggest ways that Venables could have faked his own disability. Later, he contacts the police to say that he has seen this same man in a wheelchair: it is Venables. In the police investigation, there is a witness, Zachariah Osbourne, who describes a man seen following Father Gorman shortly before the murder. In retrospect it seems to Mark that she has been outlining to him a service that she would be willing to provide. He also visits the Pale Horse, where Thyrza discusses with Mark the ability to kill at a distance, which she claims to have developed. Visiting houses in the area, he meets a wheelchair-using man, Mr Venables, who has no apparent explanation for his substantial wealth. When Mark goes to Much Deeping with the famous mystery writer, Ariadne Oliver, to a village fete organised by his cousin, he learns of a house converted from an old inn called the Pale Horse, now inhabited by three modern 'witches' led by Thyrza Grey. He begins to fear that the list contains the names of those dead or shortly to die. The list includes the names of Mark's godmother, Lady Hesketh-Dubois, who has recently died of what appear to be natural causes, and of Thomasina Tuckerton. When Mark encounters the police surgeon, Corrigan, he learns of the list of names found in Father Gorman's shoe.

At dinner with a friend, Poppy Stirling mentions something called the Pale Horse that arranges deaths, but is suddenly scared at having mentioned it and will say no more. Soon afterwards he learns that this second girl, Thomasina Tuckerton, has died. Mark Easterbrook, the hero of the book and its principal narrator, sees a fight between two girls in a Chelsea coffee-bar during which one pulls out some of the other's hair at the roots. In the following summary, events are not given in strict narrative order. (may contain spoilers - click on expand to read)

As the police begin to investigate, a young hero begins to piece together evidence that sets him upon a converging path. Before he can take action, however, he is struck dead in the fog. 8.3 The Pale Horse, BBC 2020 MiniseriesĪ dying woman, Mrs Davis, gives her last confession to Father Gorman, a Catholic priest, but along with her confession she gives him a list of names and a terrible secret.5 Characters repeated in other Christie works.

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