The ABC Murders

by Agatha Christie

I think that I can date my interest in the case from that first mention of the ABC Railway Guide...

Captain Hastings has returned from his Argentine ranch for a long business stay in the UK. Upon visiting his old friend, the famed Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, talk turns inevitably to crime.

Like two old Neapolitan gourmets discussing their favourite pizza toppings, Hastings and Poirot discuss the type of crime they would most like to be called upon to investigate:

It must of course be a murder – nothing ‘vegetarian’ – but unfortunately Poirot has no meaty investigations of interest at the moment. But there is just one thing though...

He has received a banal, taunting letter. A threat by some oddball, some crank. Not a specific threat. Just a date, a place and suggestive comments. This anonymous lunatic signs himself or herself simply as ABC.

Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard has reassured Poirot. He describes it as a stupid hoax. Nothing to worry about.

But something about the letter does concern Poirot. There is something about the letter he does not like...

The ABC Murders is a novel which is a divine union between the murder mystery and thriller genres, lacking the sort of gruesome detail found in some modern thrillers.

Poirot and Hastings find themselves hunting a criminal whose game is murder but whose final aim seems to be to make a mockery of the great detective, Hercule Poirot.

An engaging crime novel which is difficult to fault.