Mary Katherine Blackwood, “Merricat” for short, is the narrator of the story. She is a young adolescent girl, who lives with her older sister Constance and invalid uncle Julian at the sprawling mansion. The three are survivors of a shocking event which befell the Blackwood family; six years ago, the rest of the Blackwood family, including several adults and children, died of arsenic poisoning. It was discovered that arsenic was mixed in with the sugar sprinkled over the blackberries consumed at dinner.
Constance was the main suspect, and was even arrested, but was released due to lack of evidence. The entire town still considers her guilty, and she never steps out of her house to avoid their accusing looks. Merricat is the sole interface to the world outside, with her periodic trips for groceries and library books.
An estranged cousin Charles arrives and befriends the three; but Merricat is deeply suspicious. In a fit of rage, she knocks his pipe over and accidentally sets fire to the house. Villagers arrive to douse the fire, but take their rage out at the family. Uncle Julian dies, but the girls survive in a hideout in the woods. Constance reveals that she knew all along it was Merricat who poisoned the sugar bowl, but didn’t speak up. The next day, they return to their house, now severely burnt, and resume their lives of isolation.
Deeply disturbing and macabre, this brief story and its themes linger long after you put the book down. An excellent read.