The Big Four: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

by Agatha Christie

Overview

An unexpected visitor comes into Hercule Poirot's bedroom and collapses on the floor. The only clue as to what he wants is his repeating Poirot's name and address and writing the number 4, many times. When Poirot's friend Hastings jokingly calls it "The Mystery of the Big Four," The visitor begins speaking about an international crime cartel of that name. He describes the four leaders: Number 1 is a Chinese political mastermind named Li Chang Yen; Number 2 is probably American; Number 3 is a Frenchwoman; and Number 4 is known only as "the Destroyer." The man dies soon after and Poirot and Hastings go off on the trail of the Big Four. Poirot's grandest and most dangerous case to date.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781515459286
Publisher:	Spire Books
Publication date:	01/02/2023
Pages:	132
Sales rank:	300,738
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.28(d)

About the Author

Agatha Christie is the most widely published author of all time, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. Her books have sold more than a billion copies in English and another billion in a hundred foreign languages. She died in 1976, after a prolific career spanning six decades.

Date of Birth:

September 15, 1890

Date of Death:

January 12, 1976

Place of Birth:

Torquay, Devon, England

Education:

Home schooling

Website:

http://www.agathachristie.com

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

I. The Unexpected Guest
II. The Man from the Asylum
III. We Hear More About Li Chang Yen
IV. The Importance of a Leg of Mutton
V. Disappearance of a Scientist
VI. The Woman on the Stairs
VII. The Radium Thieves
VIII. In the House of the Enemy
IX. The Yellow Jasmine Mystery
X. We Investigate at Croftlands
XI. A Chess Problem
XII. The Baited Trap
XIII. The Mouse Walks In
XIV. The Peroxide Blonde
XV. The Terrible Catastrophe
XVI. The Dying Chinaman
XVII. Number Four Wins a Trick
XVIII. In the Felsenlabyrinth
 

Editorial Reviews

First time on audio, super sleuth Hercule Poirot tracks down an international quartet of criminals. Read by Hugh Fraser. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Agatha Christie’s books are both wonderful crime novels and studies in contrast and duality, and I adore them still. Underestimate them at your peril.” — Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Inspector Gamache novels  

“Agatha Christie taught me many important lessons about the inner workings of the mystery novel before it ever occurred to me that I might one day be writing mysteries myself.”  — Sue Grafton, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Kinsey Millhone novels

“Any mystery writer who wants to learn how to plot should spend a few days reading Agatha Christie. She’ll show you everything you want to know.”  — Donna Leon, New York Times bestselling author of the Commissario Brunetti novels

“Agatha Christie’s indelibly etched characters have entertained millions across the years and a love of her work has brought together generations of readers—a singular achievement for any author and an inspiration to writers across the literary landscape.” — Jacqueline Winspear, New York Times bestselling author of the Maisie Dobbs novels  

“Reading a perfectly plotted Agatha Christie is like crunching into a perfect apple: that pure, crisp, absolute satisfaction.”  — Tana French, New York Times bestselling author of the Dublin Murder Squad novels

From the Publisher

Agatha Christie’s books are both wonderful crime novels and studies in contrast and duality, and I adore them still. Underestimate them at your peril.

Louise Penny

Agatha Christie taught me many important lessons about the inner workings of the mystery novel before it ever occurred to me that I might one day be writing mysteries myself.” 

Sue Grafton

Any mystery writer who wants to learn how to plot should spend a few days reading Agatha Christie. She’ll show you everything you want to know.” 

Donna Leon

Agatha Christie’s indelibly etched characters have entertained millions across the years and a love of her work has brought together generations of readers—a singular achievement for any author and an inspiration to writers across the literary landscape.

Jacqueline Winspear

Reading a perfectly plotted Agatha Christie is like crunching into a perfect apple: that pure, crisp, absolute satisfaction.” 

Tana French

The acknowledged queen of detective fiction.

The Observer (UK)

It is always a delight to meet Hercule Poirot again. He is one of the few detectives with real charm.

Dorothy L. Sayers