While the Light Lasts – Christie, Agatha

Book Preview Preface Agatha Christie, the original Queen of Crime, still reigns supreme as the greatest and best known writer of the classical detective story. Her most famous novel, and very possibly the most famous of all detective stories, is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926) in which she outraged the critics and, by doing … Read more

Unexpected Guest – Christie, Agatha

Book Preview Chapter 1 It was shortly before midnight on a chilly November evening, and swirls of mist obscured parts of the dark, narrow, tree-lined country road in South Wales, not far from the Bristol Channel whence a foghorn sounded its melancholy boom automatically every few moments. Occasionally, the distant barking of a dog could … Read more

Towards Zero – Christie, Agatha

Book Preview Dear Robert, Since you are kind enough to say you like my stories, I venture to dedicate this book to you. All I ask is that you should sternly restrain your critical faculties (doubtless sharpened by your recent excesses in that line!) when reading it. This is a story for your pleasure and … Read more

Three Act Tragedy – Christie, Agatha

Book Preview One CROW’S NEST Mr. Satterthwaite sat on the terrace of “Crow’s Nest” and watched his host, Sir Charles Cartwright, climbing up the path from the sea. Crow’s Nest was a modern bungalow of the better type. It had no half-timbering, no gables, no excrescences dear to a third-class builder’s heart. It was a … Read more

Third Girl – Christie, Agatha

Book Preview One Hercule Poirot was sitting at the breakfast table. At his right hand was a steaming cup of chocolate. He had always had a sweet tooth. To accompany the chocolate was a brioche. It went agreeably with chocolate. He nodded his approval. This was from the fourth shop he had tried. It was … Read more

They Do It With Mirrors – Christie, Agatha

Book Preview One Mrs. Van Rydock moved a little back from the mirror and sighed. “Well, that’ll have to do,” she murmured. “Think it’s all right, Jane?” Miss Marple eyed the Lanvanelli creation appraisingly. “It seems to me a very beautiful gown,” she said. “The gown’s all right,” said Mrs. Van Rydock and sighed. “Take … Read more

The Thirteen Problems – Christie, Agatha

Book Preview Chapter 1 The Tuesday Night Club ‘Unsolved mysteries.’ Raymond West blew out a cloud of smoke and repeated the words with a kind of deliberate self-conscious pleasure. ‘Unsolved mysteries.’ He looked round him with satisfaction. The room was an old one with broad black beams across the ceiling and it was furnished with … Read more

The Seven Dials Mystery – Christie, Agatha

Book Preview Things that everybody knows about Agatha Christie: she produced a lot of books that still outsell the competition; she was the greatest plotter of the classic detective story; she did a vanishing act and turned up amnesiac in Harrogate, identified by the banjo player in the hotel band; she wrote the longest-running play … Read more

The Secret of Chimneys – Christie, Agatha

Book Preview “Why, if it isn’t old Jimmy McGrath.” Castle’s Select Tour, represented by seven depressed-looking females and three perspiring males, looked on with considerable interest. Evidently their Mr. Cade had met an old friend. They all admired Mr. Cade so much, his tall lean figure, his suntanned face, the lighthearted manner with which he … Read more

The Secret Adversary: A Tommy & Tuppence Adventure – Christie, Agatha

Book Preview Tommy and Tuppence: An Introduction “Tuppence, old bean.” This exchange from The Secret Adversary (1922) introduces Agatha Christie readers to the detective team of Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. This light-hearted banter sets the tone not just for this book but also for the future novels and short stories in the series; although calling … Read more