Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54490 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-06
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

Synopsis
A facsimile first edition hardback of the pre-war Poirot book of four novellas - Murder in the Mews, The Incredible Theft, Dead Man's Mirror and Triangle at Rhodes. How did a woman holding a pistol in her right hand manage to shoot herself in the left temple? What was the link between a ghost sighting and the disappearance of top secert military plans? How did the bullet that killed Sir Gervase shatter a mirror in another part of the room? And who destroyed the 'eternal triangle' of love involving renowned beauty, Valentine Chantry? Hercule Poirot is faced with four mystifying cases -- Murder in the Mews, The Incredible Theft, Dead Man's Mirror and Triangle at Rhodes -- each a miniature classic of characterisation, incident and suspense. To mark the 80th anniversary of Hercule Poirot's first appearance, and to celebrate his renewed fortunes as a primetime television star, this title in a collection of facsimile first editions is the perfect way to experience Agatha Christie. Reproducing the original typesetting and format of the first edition from the Christie family's own archive, this book sports the original cover which has been painstakingly restored to its original glory.

Customer Reviews

good ol' hard backs
This is not one of my AC favourites, but it's a Poirot classic - very good if you want to have a few short stories to read in one go. I love this new edition - the latest slick paperback one was horrible, printed, with a computer image cover that had no relation to the story whatsover. It is refreshing to be able to buy a hard back so cheaply. It is a little lovely object to have with you. I am certainly buying more of this edition.

Classic example of the "closed room" genre.,
Also known as _Murder in the Mews_, this unabridged audiobook with Nigel Hawthorne is light entertainment in classic Agatha Christie style. Originally written in 1931, the book reveals the declining country house society and its ways of life following World War I within a clever mystery. Sir Gervase Chevenix-Gore, owner of a sizeable estate, has written to famed French detective Hercule Poirot, demanding that he come to England to meet with him.

Before Poirot arrives, Sir Gervaise is discovered dead, shot in the head, a gun by his hand, and a letter saying "Sorry" on his desk, an apparent suicide. The study and windows are locked from the inside. Numerous relatives, guests, and employees of Sir Gervase are in attendance throughout the weekend, including his ditsy wife, one of his friends (who has always been openly in love with his wife), his adopted daughter, his nephew (the person who will inherit his title) and his girlfriend, a woman hired to write a biography of the family, the estate manager, a private secretary, etc.

As they relate their whereabouts at the time that the shot or champagne cork or car backfire was heard, the immense size and configuration of the estate become clear, and as Poirot investigates the suicide that he is convinced is murder, the listener is struck by the arrogance of Sir Gervase and the expectations of the guests. None have much conception of the outside world, and several have motives for murder. As always, Christie drops small clues, leading the reader to form conclusions about who did what to whom, then springs a surprise ending.

Nigel Hawthorne does yeoman's service playing all the voices on this recording without overacting, reflecting subtle class differences and personalities in the process. His French accent for Poirot is controlled, and his diction is superb. The audio moves quickly, making this a fine, light entertainment. n Mary Whipple

Poirot's short stories
This is a collection of four short stories featuring Hercule Poirot. I think they are quite interesting. I found the second, 'The incredible theft' particularly interesting and well-written (note that unlike most of Christie's writings, this story does not involve a murder but a theft). The third story 'Dead Man's Mirror' is also quite enjoyable. In general, the whole book will be enjoyed by anyone interested in crime literature.