The Bloodstained Pavement

When artist Joyce Lemprière sets up her easel in the quiet seaside village of Polperran, she expects nothing more dramatic than capturing the sunlight on the cobblestones. But when a young couple strolls past, something uncanny happens-her painting suddenly reveals a splash of blood on the pavement that no one else can see. Hours later, tragedy strikes, and Joyce realizes her unsettling vision may have foretold a murder.
First published in The Thirteen Problems, this short story introduces Miss Marple in one of her most chilling cases. As the genteel gathering of friends trades puzzling tales of crime, the elderly spinster from St. Mary Mead proves that a sharp eye for human nature can uncover the darkest secrets.
A must-read for fans of classic British detective fiction, cozy mysteries with female sleuths, and Golden Age crime stories, this tale blends atmospheric suspense, clever twists, and the timeless brilliance of the Queen of Mystery.