Book Preview “The Regatta Mystery” was first published as “Poirot and the Regatta Mystery” in the USA in the Chicago Tribune, 3 May 1936, and then in Strand Magazine, June 1936. It first appeared in its current form in the American book The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories, published by Dodd, Mead, June 1939. Mr. … Read more
Book Preview Foreword by Mark Easterbrook There are two methods, it seems to me, of approaching this strange business of the Pale Horse. In spite of the dictum of the White King, it is difficult to achieve simplicity. One cannot, that is to say, “Begin at the beginning, go on to the end, and then … Read more
Book Preview Foreword The Mr Quin stories were not written as a series. They were written one at a time at rare intervals. Mr Quin, I consider, is an epicure’s taste. A set of Dresden figures on my mother’s mantelpiece fascinated me as a child and afterwards. They represented the Italian commedia dell’arte: Harlequin, Columbine, … Read more
Book Preview About Agatha Christie Agatha Christie is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in English and another billion in 100 foreign languages. She is the most widely published author of all time and in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. … Read more
Book Preview One A FELLOW TRAVELLER I believe that a well-known anecdote exists to the effect that a young writer, determined to make the commencement of his story forcible and original enough to catch and rivet the attention of the most blasé of editors, penned the following sentence: “‘Hell!’ said the Duchess.” Strangely enough, this … Read more
Book Preview One DR. SHEPPARD AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE Mrs. Ferrars died on the night of the 16th–17th September—a Thursday. I was sent for at eight o’clock on the morning of Friday the 17th. There was nothing to be done. She had been dead some hours. It was just a few minutes after nine when … Read more
Book Preview One It is difficult to know quite where to begin this story, but I have fixed my choice on a certain Wednesday at luncheon at the Vicarage. The conversation, though in the main irrelevant to the matter in hand, yet contained one or two suggestive incidents which influenced later developments. I had just … Read more
Book Preview One I When at last I was taken out of the plaster, and the doctors had pulled me about to their hearts’ content, and nurses had wheedled me into cautiously using my limbs, and I had been nauseated by their practically using baby talk to me, Marcus Kent told me I was to … Read more
Book Preview And Then There Were None Presented by Bertie Meyer at the St. James’ Theatre, London, on 17th November 1943, with the following cast of characters: (in the order of their appearance) The play directed by Irene Hentschel Décor by Clifford Pember The scene of the play is the living room of the house … Read more
Book Preview One I Miss Jane Marple was sitting by her window. The window looked over her garden, once a source of pride to her. That was no longer so. Nowadays she looked out of the window and winced. Active gardening had been forbidden her for some time now. No stooping, no digging, no planting—at … Read more
Book Preview Nadina, the Russian dancer who had taken Paris by storm, swayed to the sound of the applause, bowed and bowed again. Her narrow black eyes narrowed themselves still more, the long line of her scarlet mouth curved faintly upwards. Enthusiastic Frenchmen continued to beat the ground appreciatively as the curtain fell with a … Read more
Book Preview The Listerdale Mystery Agatha Christie First published 1934 Tags: Crime/Mystery/Thriller SUMMARY: Twelve tantalising cases including: The Listerdale Mystery The Girl in the Train Sing a Song of Sixpence The Manhood of Edward Robinson Accident Jane in Search of a Job A Fruitful Sunday Mr Eastwood’s Adventure The Golden Ball The Rajah’s Emerald Swan … Read more
Book Preview The Hound of Death and Other Stories The Witness for the Prosecution The Mystery of the Blue Jar The Strange Case of Sir Arthur Carmichael “No, but how too thrilling,” said pretty Mrs Eversleigh, opening her lovely, but slightly vacant, blue eyes very wide. “They always say women have a sixth sense; do … Read more
Book Preview One At six thirteen a.m. on a Friday morning Lucy Angkatell’s big blue eyes opened upon another day and, as always, she was at once wide awake and began immediately to deal with the problems conjured up by her incredibly active mind. Feeling urgently the need of consultation and conversation, and selecting for … Read more
Book Preview “The Edge” was first published in Pearson’s Magazine, February 1927. Clare Halliwell walked down the short path that led from her cottage door to the gate. On her arm was a basket, and in the basket was a bottle of soup, some homemade jelly and a few grapes. There were not many poor … Read more
Book Preview ACKNOWLEDGMENTS My grandmother’s letters on the Grand Tour were the first, if not the only, part of her archive that my mother, Rosalind, genuinely wanted to share with her public. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking my mother for the dedication, loyalty and intelligence that she always practised where her … Read more
Book Preview “The Listerdale Mystery” was first published as “The Benevolent Butler” in Grand Magazine, December 1925. Mrs. St. Vincent was adding up figures. Once or twice she sighed, and her hand stole to her aching forehead. She had always disliked arithmetic. It was unfortunate that nowadays her life should seem to be composed entirely … Read more
Book Preview PRESIDENT OF THE DETECTION CLUB 2001– IT is appropriate that the origins of the Detection Club are shrouded in mystery. No official archives for the organisation have ever been kept and so its history has to be pieced together from the memoirs, correspondence, hints and recollections of its members. One reason for this … Read more