Bücher von Agatha Christie

This triple bill of one-act murder mysteries combines: the light-hearted comedy Afternoon at the Seaside, in which a detective attempts to find a priceless emerald necklace and the culprit who stole it; The Rats, a dark and chilling tale in which a pair of adulterous lovers find themselves lured to a flat, trapped like rats and framed for murder; and finally, The Patient, a tense thriller in which a woman has been hospitalised after seemingly falling from her balcony."Three thrilling d¿nouements for the price of one."THE DAILY TELEGRAPH"A trio of playlets devoted, like the rest of her work, to whetting one's appetite for retribution."THE OBSERVER"They are, without exception, the work of an experienced and artful cook, whose interest is to please."THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

An assorted group of travelers are staying at a Jerusalem hotel: Lady Westholme and her companion, a young English doctor and her French colleague, a debonair American and a pugnacious Lancashire man. Another guest, Mrs. Boynton, is a domineering American invalid with four stepchildren whose facade of devotion masks enough hatred to murder her as could the doctor whose affection for Raymond Boynton is being obstructed by the old lady. When Mrs. Boynton is found dead, all are suspects even though she was ill enough to die a natural death. Just when the tension becomes unbearable, the doctor discovers essential evidence about Mrs. Boynton''s devilish plan to possess and torment the children in death as in life.

Clarissa, wife of a diplomat, is adept at spinning tales of adventure but when a murder takes place in her drawing room she finds live drama much harder to cope with. Desperate to dispose of the body before her husband arrives with an important politician, she enlists the help of her guests. Hilarity ensues when they are interrupted by the arrival of wry detective, Inspector Lord.A conscious parody of the detective thriller, Christie delivers a unique blend of suspense and humour. There is tension and laughter in equal parts in an intricate plot of murder, police, drug addicts, invisible ink, hidden doorways and secret drawers.

These novels show Agatha Christie's detective writing genius began with her first Novel. The reviews of "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" at the time said this:The Times Literary Supplement of February 3, 1921 stated: "The only fault this story has is that it is almost too ingenious.... It is said to be the author's first book, and the result of a bet about the possibility of writing a detective story in which the reader would not be able to spot the criminal. Every reader must admit that the bet was won." The New York Times Book Review of December 26, 1920, said: "Though this may be the first published book of Miss Agatha Christie, she betrays the cunning of an old hand ... You must wait for the last-but-one chapter in the book for the last link in the chain of evidence that enabled Mr. Poirot to unravel the whole complicated plot and lay the guilt where it really belonged. And you may safely make a wager with yourself that until you have heard M. Poirot's final word on the mysterious affair at Styles, you will be kept guessing at its solution and will most certainly never lay down this most entertaining book." And the reviews of "Secret Adversary" were equally enthusiastic: The Times Literary Supplement in its edition of January 26, 1922 said it was "a whirl of thrilling adventures". The characters Tommy and Tuppence were "refreshingly original" and the "identity of the arch-criminal, the elusive "Mr Brown", is cleverly concealed to the very end". The New York Times Book Review of June 11, 1922 said: "It is safe to assert that unless the reader peers into the last chapter or so of the tale, he will not know who this secret adversary is until the author chooses to reveal him." Enjoy these 1920 classics that are as compelling today as they were when they were written.

Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - The intense interest aroused in the public by what was known at the time as "The Styles Case" has now somewhat subsided. Nevertheless, in view of the world-wide notoriety which attended it, I have been asked, both by my friend Poirot and the family themselves, to write an account of the whole story. This, we trust, will effectually silence the sensational rumours which still persist. I will therefore briefly set down the circumstances which led to my being connected with the affair. I had been invalided home from the Front; and, after spending some months in a rather depressing Convale-scent Home, was given a month's sick leave. Having no near relations or friends, I was trying to make up my mind what to do, when I ran across John Cavendish. I had seen very little of him for some years. Indeed, I had never known him particularly well. He was a good fifteen years my senior, for one thing, though he hardly looked his forty-five years. As a boy, though, I had often stayed at Styles, his mother's place in Essex.

In the tradition of the bestselling "Black Coffee", author Charles Osborne adapts this Christie play into an intriguing novel set in South Wales. A stranded motorist stumbles upon a man slumped over dead in a wheelchair. His wife stands nearby with a smoking gun in her hand. Family secrets and chilling motives lie beneath the surface. Martin's Press.

A new full-length novel adapted by Charles Osborne from Agatha Christie's acclaimed play, presented in the new Christie livery.When a stranger runs his car into a ditch in dense fog near the South Wales coast, and makes his way to an isolated house, he discovers a woman standing over the dead body of her wheelchair-bound husband, a gun in her hand. She readily admits to murder, and the unexpected guest offers to help her concoct a cover story.But is it possible Laura Warwick did not commit the crime after all? If so, who is she shielding? As the gallant unexpected guest, Michael Starkwedder, looks for other enemies of the dead man he certainly isn't disappointed by a lack of possible suspects - all with very potent motives...

A classic Marple title now available in CD for the first time.First, the mystery man in the church with a bullet-wound... then, the riddle of a dead man's buried treasure... the curious conduct oif a caretaker after a fatal riding accident... the corpse and a tape-measure... the girl framed for theft... and the suspect accused of stabbing his wife with a dagger.Six gripping cases with one thing in common - the astonishing deductive powers of Miss Marple.

In utter disbelief Miss Marple read the letter addressed to her from the recently deceased Mr Rafiel - an acquaintance she had met briefly on her travels.Recognising in Miss Marple a natural flair for justice, Mr Rafiel had left instructions for her to investigate a crime after his death. The only problem was, he had failed to tell her who was involved or where and when the crime had been committed. It was most intriguing.

A classic Miss Marple mystery, read by Stephanie Cole.When Miss Marple comes up from the country for a holiday in London, she finds what she's looking for at Bertram's Hotel: traditional decor, impeccable service and an unmistakable atmosphere of danger behind the highly polished veneer.Yet, not even Miss Marple can foresee the violent chain of events set in motion when an eccentric guest makes his way to the airport on the wrong day...

THE NEW-LOOK NOW BROUGHT TO THE SERIES OF MISS MARPLE AUDIO BOOKS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. As Jane Marple sat basking in the Caribbean sunshine she felt mildly discontented with life. True, the warmth eased her rheumatism, but here in paradise nothing ever happened. Eventually, her interest was aroused by an old soldier's yarn about a strange coincidence. Infuriatingly, just as he was about to show her an astonishing photograph, the Major's attention wandered. He never did finished the story...

Another edge-of-the-seat mystery read by Miss Marple herself, Joan Hickson.Available for the first time on CD!One minute, silly Heather Badcock had been gabbling on at her movie idol, the glamorous Marina Gregg. The next, Heather suffered a massive seizure. But for whom was the deadly poison really intended?Marina's frozen expression suggested she had witnessed something horrific. But, while others searched for material evidence, Jane Marple conducted a very different investigation - into human nature.

Classic Marple. For an instant the two trains ran together, side by side. In that frozen moment, Elspeth witnessed a murder. Helplessly, she stared out of her carriage window as a man remorselessly tightened his grip around a woman's throat. The body crumpled. Then the other train drew away. But who, apart from Miss Marple, would take her story seriously? After all, there were no suspects, no other witnesses... and no corpse.

A classic Marple mystery, superbly read by Joan Hickson. Available for the first time on audio. Rex Fortescue, king of a financial empire, was sipping tea in his 'counting house' when he suffered an agonising and sudden death. On later inspection, the pockets of the deceased were found to contain traces of cereals. Yet, it was the incident in the parlour which confirmed Jane Marple's suspicion that here she was looking at a case of crime by rhyme...

Designed to follow the new-look series of Miss Marple books for the 21st century. This edition is completed and unabridged and read by Miss Marple herself, Joan Hickson.Miss Marple senses danger when she visits a friend living in a Victorian mansion which doubles as a rehabilitiation centre for delinquents. Her fears are confirmed when a youth fires a revolver at the administrator, Lewis Serrocold. Neither is injured. But a mysterious visitor, Mr Gilbrandsen, is less fortunate - shot dead simultaneously in another part of the building.Pure coincidence? Miss Marple thinks not, and vows to discover the real reason for Mr Gilbrandsen's visit.

'I'm not too late, am I? When does the murder begin?' An announcement appears in the local paper:this Friday, at exactly 6.30pm, a murder will take place. Who could resist such an invitation? Driven by morbid curiosity, the villagers head to the appointed location: a quiet house on the outskirts of the village. The crowd gathers. The clock counts down. And then the lights go out. A mystery that will defy even the most ingenious of detectives. Because, when you turn over a stone in an English village, you have no idea what will crawl out...

Of poison pens and poisoning: a gripping Miss Marple mystery. Lymstock is a town with more than its share of shameful secrets - a town where even a sudden outbreak of anonymous hate-mail causes only a minor stir. But all that changes when one of the recipients, Mrs Symmington, commits suicide. Her final note said 'I can't go on'. Only Miss Marple questions the coroner's verdict of suicide. Was this the work of a poison-pen? Or of a poisoner?

When her friends from the Tuesday Night Club visit Miss Marple's house the conversation often turns to unsolved crimes...Trying to solve these thirteen mysteries are Raymond West, a young writer, the artist Joyce Lempriere, Dr Pender the clergyman, who claims to know the hidden side of human character, Mr Petherick, a lawyer who is only interested in the logical approach and Sir Henry Clithering, whose experience as commissioner of Scotland Yard speaks for itself.Then of course there is Miss Marple who has observed enough about human nature to be more than a match for the most perspicacious investigator...

The first Miss Marple novel.The first of a new-look series of audio books for the 21st century.'Anyone who murdered Colonel Protheroe,' declared the parson, brandishing a carving knife above a joint of roast beef, 'would be doing the world at large a service!'It was a careless remark for a man of the cloth. And one which was to come back and haunt the clergyman just a few hours later. From seven potential murderers, Miss Marple must seek out the suspect who has both motive and opportunity.

A collection of short stories featuring some of Agatha Christie's best-loved detectives - Hercule Poirot, Parker Pyne, Mr Satterthwaite and Harley Quin...All great crime writers have their favourite creations. Similarly, every great sleuth has his, or her, own preferred method of deduction.Take the charming Parker Pyne, who relies upon an intuitive knowledge of human nature to solve the Problem at Pollensa Bay. Or Mr Satterthwaite, who seeks inspiration through his collaboration with the enigmatic Mr Quin in The Harlequin Tea Set mystery. Then, of course, there's Poirot, whose measured analysis of motive and opportunity is tested to the full in Yellow Iris, when he receives an anonymous call about a matter of life and death.

A collection of short stories featuring the redoubtable 'heart specialist', Parker Pyne. This volume, in its contemporary Agatha Christie Collection livery, perfectly illustrates Agatha Christie's critically-acclaimed foray into light-hearted, romantic mysteries.Mrs Packington felt alone, helpless and utterly forlorn. But her life changed when she stumbled upon an advertisement in The Times which read: 'ARE YOU HAPPY? IF NOT, CONSULT MR PARKER PYNE'.Equally adept at putting together the pieces of a marriage or the fragments of a murder mystery, Mr Parker Pyne was possibly the world's most unconventional private eye - and certainly its most charming.

A classic Christie story read by Hugh Fraser, who plays Captain Hastings in the popular TV series. Sir Stafford Nye's journey home from Malaya to London takes an unexpected twist in the passnger loungs at Frankfurt - a young woman confides in him that someone is trying to kill her. Yet their paths are to cross again and again - and each time the mystery woman is introduced as a different person. Equally at home in any guise in any society she draws Sir Stafford into a game of political intrigue more dangerous than he could possibly imagine. In an arena where no-one can be sure of anyone, Nye must do battle with a well-armed, well-financed, well-trained - and invisble - enemy...

A dark offering from the Queen of Crime. This represents the world-famous author's most successful foray into the dark world of murder and black magic. To understand the strange goings on at The Pale Horse Inn, Mark Easterbrook knew he had to begin at the beginning. But where exactly was the beginning? Was it the savage blow to the back of Father Gorman's head? Or was it when the priest's assailant searched him so roughly he tore the clergyman's cassock? Or could it have been the priest's visit, just minutes before, to a woman on her death bed? Or was there a deeper significance to the violent squabble which Mark Easterbrook had himself witnessed earlier? Wherever the beginning lies, Mark and his sidekick, Ginger Corrigan, may soon have cause to wish they'd never found it...

A new CD audio edition of the Agatha Christie thriller, packaged in the stylish new series livery to match the PBs. Read by Emilia Fox. When a number of leading scientists disappear without trace, concern grows within the international intelligence community. Are they being kidnapped? Blackmailed? Brainwashed? One woman appears to have the key to the mystery. Unfortunately, Olive Betteron now lies in a hospital bed, dying from injuries sustained in a Moroccan plane crash. Meanwhile, in a Casablanca hotel room, Hilary Craven prepares to take her own life. But her suicide attempt is about to be interrupted by a man who will offer her an altogether more thrilling way to die...

A new audio edition of the Agatha Christie thriller.Baghdad is the chosen location for a secret summit of superpowers, concerned but not convinced, about the development of an, as yet, unidentified and undescribed secret weapon.Only one man has the proof that can confirm the nature of this fantastic secret weapon - a British agent named Carmichael. Unfortunately the criminal organisation responsible for the weapon's development will stop at nothing to prevent him entering Baghdad and presenting his proof to the assembled delegates. Can Carmichael enter the city against such odds?Into this explosive situations appears Victoria Jones, a girl with a yearning for adventure who gets more than she bargains for when a wounded Carmichael dies in her arms in her hotel room.Now, if only she could make sense of his last words '...Lucifer...Basrah...Lefarge...'