Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890 and became, quite simply, the best-selling novelist in history. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, written towards the end of the First World War, introduced us to Hercule Poirot, who was to become the most popular detective in crime fiction since Sherlock Holmes. She is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and another billion in over 100 foreign languages. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections, 19 plays, and six novels under the name of Mary Westmacott.

‘Keeps us guessing – and guessing wrongly – to the very last page.’ Liverpool Post‘Experienced as I am, the solution took me completely by surprise.’ Frances Iles, Sunday TimesNeedless to say that this past-master of detection handles it in a fresh and original way. The little Belgian’s solution is both surprising and – after his briliiant exposition at the end – satisfying.’ Daily Telegraph‘A beautiful precision-tooled job. False clues are laid with effortless skill up to the final revelation. Poirot distinguishes the book by his presence.’ Julian Symons, Manchester Evening News‘Never has Mrs Christie exerted her incomparable power of deception with more subtlety or to better effect. Superb book.’ Ralph Partridge, New Statesman‘Poirot at his best. Need I say more?’ Nancy Spain, Daily Express