<P> The title of the book comes from Act 4, Scene 1 of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, when the second witch says: </P> <P> By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes . </P> <P> The novel is divided into four books . </P> <P> In Book 1 Tommy and Tuppence Beresford visit Tommy's aunt Ada in a retirement home called Sunny Ridge . While Tommy talks with his aunt, Tuppence has a conversation with another resident, Mrs. Lancaster . Mrs. Lancaster unexpectedly says' Was it your poor child? There behind the fireplace .' </P>

Miss marple episode by the pricking of my thumbs