In Hickory Dickory Death, five people in Victorian England come face to face with death. While mourning, they are approached by a peddler woman named Persephone who gives them advice and jewelry.

In Hickory Dickory Dock, Hercule Poirot, a Belgian sleuth, is asked to investigate petty thefts and vandalism at a student hostel. He discovers that most of these acts were committed by resident Celia Austin. Celia is murdered.

Poirot is approached by Mrs. Hubbard, the warden of the hostel, to help find the culprit. At first it seems that there could be a fairly innocent explanation, but as these little incidents begin to take a more malicious turn, Poirot needs to discover the truth before somebody is killed.