Nemesis is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie (1890–1976) and first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in November 1971[1] and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year.

[10] Miss Marple receives a letter from the solicitors of the recently deceased Jason Rafiel, a millionaire who had once helped her solve a murder.

She begins by joining a tour of famous British houses and gardens with fifteen other people, arranged by Mr Rafiel prior to his death.

Elizabeth Temple, a retired school headmistress, relates the story of Verity, who was engaged to Rafiel's ne'er-do-well son Michael but never married him.

Another member of the tour group, Miss Cooke, is a woman Marple had met briefly in St Mary Mead.

Touring the grounds, Miss Marple notices a creeping plant about to bloom, Polygonum baldschuanicum, covering the wreck of the greenhouse.

On talking with the servant, Miss Marple learns Verity joined the family after both her parents died, becoming quite attached to Clotilde.

The group stays over an extra night to wait for news from the tour guide about Miss Temple's health.

She also knows Clotilde brutally murdered Nora Broad to (mis)identify her body as Verity's and thus throw suspicion on Michael Rafiel.

Miss Marple tells the story to the Home Secretary, indicating that Verity is buried on the property of the Bradbury-Scotts.

Matthew Coady in The Guardian of 4 November 1971 concluded, "Not a Christie classic but the old hand is astonishingly fresh and the mixture as relaxing as a hot bath.

"[4] Maurice Richardson in The Observer of 31 October 1971 said of Miss Marple in this story, "The showdown when, alone in bed, quite defenceless with not even a knitting-needle, she is confronted by a brawny great fiend of a butch, is devilish fine.

"[5] The Daily Mirror of 28 October 1971 said, "With this first-rate story Dame Agatha triumphantly returns to the traditional detective novel after a spell of psychological suspense.

"[6] Robert Weaver in the Toronto Daily Star of 4 December 1971 said, "Christie richly deserves the loyalty offered up to her by devotees of the traditional mystery.

She is readable and ingenious, and in Nemesis she has going for her the amateur lady sleuth Miss Jane Marple deep in a murder case as she tries to carry out a request that comes in effect from beyond the grave.

"[7] Robert Barnard commented about the plot that "Miss Marple is sent on a tour of stately gardens by Mr Rafiel."

His generally negative view of the novel was tersely expressed in one sentence: "The garden paths we are led up are neither enticing nor profitable.

The love between Clotilde and Verity is never fully explored, as Christie typically devoted minimal development and exposure to passionate relationships in her works.

Yet Marple seems convinced that Michael was the right man for "the young, beautiful, innocent, and good" Verity, perhaps because he could offer her sexual fulfilment and children.

Miss Temple is killed by a stone bust pushed off a balcony while she tours a library rather than by a rock slide during a hike, Michael Rafiel is not sent to prison for Verity's death as he was never charged due to lack of proof and instead is seen living on the streets, and Nora Broad's name is changed to Norah Brent.

The part of Jason Rafiel was eventually played by Donald Pleasence and not by Frank Gatliff who portrayed the character in this production.

Adaptor: Trevor Bowen Director: David Tucker Cast: In 2007, ITV broadcast Nemesis (aired 1 January 2009) with Geraldine McEwan as part of the third season of her Agatha Christie's Marple series.

Sister Clotilde commits suicide with a statue saint's spear, and Ralph meets his real wife who has lived as a widow for eleven years.

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn Cast: The novel was also adapted as part of the 2018 Korean television series Ms. Ma, Nemesis.