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Agatha Christie
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The A. B. C. Murders: A Hercule Poirot Mystery Paperback – February 1, 2011

by Agatha Christie (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 10,346 ratings
See all formats and editions

In this official authorized edition from the Queen of Mystery, Hercule Poirot sets out on the trail of a serial killer.

There’s a serial killer on the loose, working his way through the alphabet and the whole country is in a state of panic.

A is for Mrs. Ascher in Andover, B is for Betty Barnard in Bexhill, C is for Sir Carmichael Clarke in Churston. With each murder, the killer is getting more confident—but leaving a trail of deliberate clues to taunt the proud Hercule Poirot might just prove to be the first, and fatal, mistake.

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  1. Book 13 of 38
    Hercule Poirot
  2. Print length
    272 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    February 1, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    0.68 x 5.14 x 7.9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0062073583
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0062073587
  8. Lexile measure
    740L
  9. See all details
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"All the Little Raindrops: A Novel" by Mia Sheridan for $10.39
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more

From the Publisher

Agatha Christie books
Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Hercule Poirot
Mysterious Affair at Styles
ABC Murders
Crooked House
Miss Marple
Customer Reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
21,753
4.7 out of 5 stars
5,994
4.3 out of 5 stars
28,978
4.5 out of 5 stars
10,346
4.4 out of 5 stars
7,481
4.7 out of 5 stars
4,354
Price $14.15 $16.99 $9.39 $7.98 $12.39 $11.49

Editorial Reviews

Review

“An entirely original idea.” — Daily Telegraph (London)

“Mrs. Christie has invented an entirely new plot for a detective story—a difficult thing in these days; she is to be congratulated on the perfection of her invention.” — The Times (London)

“Her best yet. Where does she get hold of these brilliant notions?” — Bristol Evening Post

“There is no more cunning player of the murder game than Agatha Christie.” — Sunday Times (London)

From the Back Cover

There’s a serial killer on the loose, working his way through the alphabet and the whole country is in a state of panic.

A is for Mrs. Ascher in Andover, B is for Betty Barnard in Bexhill, C is for Sir Carmichael Clarke in Churston. With each murder, the killer is getting more confident—but leaving a trail of deliberate clues to taunt the proud Hercule Poirot might just prove to be the first, and fatal, mistake.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks (February 1, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062073583
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062073587
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 740L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.68 x 5.14 x 7.9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 10,346 ratings

About the author

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Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie

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Born in Torquay in 1890, Agatha Christie began writing during the First World War and wrote over 100 novels, plays and short story collections. She was still writing to great acclaim until her death, and her books have now sold over a billion copies in English and another billion in over 100 foreign languages. Yet Agatha Christie was always a very private person, and though Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple became household names, the Queen of Crime was a complete enigma to all but her closest friends.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
10,346 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book an enjoyable read with an intriguing mystery and satisfying plot. They describe it as a delightful Agatha Christie novel with a twist. Readers appreciate the complex plotting and dramatic events. However, some find the pacing slow at the beginning and the book not worth the effort. Opinions are mixed on the character development, with some finding them interesting and in character, while others find them incoherent or unreadable.

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ReadabilityMystery contentAgatha romancePlotCharacter developmentPacing
160 customers mention "Readability"132 positive28 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it an entertaining and well-written read with page-turning details. Readers recommend all Christie's books.

"...Hastings and Poirot have a very funny relationship and there are a number of very “lol” comments. For example:..." Read more

"Love Agatha Christie’s books since I was very young! This story did not disappoint me! I couldnt put down my kindle. What a twisted plot/ending." Read more

"...If you've missed this one, it definitely is worth adding to your to-read list. The premise of this tale is deceptively simple...." Read more

"...The novel is a must read for anyone who enjoys a well written and clever story which encourages the reader to follow the detective as he explains..." Read more

110 customers mention "Mystery content"110 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging mystery storyline. They find it satisfying and innovative, describing it as one of their favorite Hercule Poirot mysteries. The storytelling is well-done with no faults, and the characters are captivating. Overall, readers consider it a fast-paced novel that keeps them hooked until the end.

"...A delightful and fun read with an excellent twist. This time, the partner in crime was involved without himself even knowing it..." Read more

"A who-done-it with the normal twisting, intelligent, delicious ending. Not Miss Agatha’s best but dang close. She was a wonder!" Read more

"...I couldnt put down my kindle. What a twisted plot/ending." Read more

"This is one of my favorite Hercule Poirot mysteries. This is an unusual mystery for him, as he pursues a serial killer." Read more

14 customers mention "Agatha romance"14 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the classic Agatha Christie story with a twist. They find it delightful, great, and a tried-and-true Christie novel.

"...The imagination of Agatha Christie is superb again." Read more

"Classical Agatha Cristie genious in play. You can't put it down till the last page and get surprised every turn of the page...." Read more

"Agatha Christie at her best. Hard to put down." Read more

"Classic Christie. Good mystery with fun characters. Bought it to reread after watching some shlockey movie adaptation. Can't beat the books." Read more

11 customers mention "Plot"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot. They find it complex, with well-developed perspectives that enhance the storyline. The story moves smoothly with unexpected twists and dramatic events. Readers appreciate the well-organized narrative and the author's ability to conclude a crime without revisiting the crime scene. Overall, readers find the book an enjoyable read with a different style from previous books by Agatha Christie.

"...The story moves briskly, with slower passages calculated to heighten suspense...." Read more

"...little grey cells the center of this novel is able, without scurrying all over a crime scene, to conclude how a crime was committed and by whom...." Read more

"...It's well done and interesting...." Read more

"...Poirot solves another case. This was so well done even I was shocked by the ending." Read more

25 customers mention "Character development"15 positive10 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development. Some find the characters interesting and well-developed, with a large enough cast not to be boring. They appreciate the blend of first-person and third-person narration and the reference to Sherlock Holmes. However, others feel the text is poor, the characters incoherent, wooden, or unreadable, and the text is full of extraneous symbol characters.

"...I liked the detective pathway in terms of trying to figure out the relevance of the ABC Guides (which I had to look up), stockings, the parallel..." Read more

"...Characters are often just types...." Read more

"Wow, an interesting blend of 1st person and 3rd person. The use of mixed view-point is an interesting experiment that works quite well in this form...." Read more

"...Thoroughly enjoyable, amazing characters, a fast paced story for your average Christie novel (this being my fifth book)...." Read more

8 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive8 negative

Customers find the book's pacing slow at the beginning. They say it doesn't hold their attention and isn't very interesting until the end. Some readers feel the book is not worth the effort and distancing.

"...and missing all the hints, asking obvious questions, and Hastings himself is just hopeless...." Read more

"...No idea why it was printed this way but very disacting." Read more

"...It was almost impossible to read, and, for me, not worth the effort. This is no reflection on Ms. Christie or the unread novel itself." Read more

"...I didn't care much for most of the characters and it moved rather slow, however I thought ending was very good." Read more

Hardcover Special Edition
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fun read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This was my seventh Agatha Christie novel. This was different from the rest.

    First, it did not involve a “crime intime” but a cold-blooded “external” murder. Usually you are looking to understand the murderer’s motive but the connecting thread in these murders (ie, an alphabetical link) seemed external to any personal motive.

    Second, the narration involved a mix of first and third person narrative. I think this worked quite well. For example, I found the narrative style a bit contrived in the Murder of Roger Ackroyd (although that narration was essential b/c it was the murderer’s manuscript) because it meant the narrator popped up in places where it would be unusual for him to be. Whereas in ABC, Hastings could narrate events where he was not personally there.

    I liked the detective pathway in terms of trying to figure out the relevance of the ABC Guides (which I had to look up), stockings, the parallel narration of Alexander Bonaparte Cust, everyone connected with each crime coming together to try to figure out the next one.

    I also found the preventive element interesting because the murderer gave a heads up of what was going to happen and where. The murder series gained a public notoriety to a degree not existent in the other Agatha Christie books.

    The narrator always makes a difference too. Hastings and Poirot have a very funny relationship and there are a number of very “lol” comments. For example:

    “You’re a man milliner, Poirot. I never notice what people have on.” “You should join a nudist colony.”

    A delightful and fun read with an excellent twist. This time, the partner in crime was involved without himself even knowing it (cf. Death on the Nile; the Mystery at Styles). Poor Mr ABC!
    One person found this helpful
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  • PAHS Joe
    4.0 out of 5 stars Worth your time
    Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A who-done-it with the normal twisting, intelligent, delicious ending. Not Miss Agatha’s best but dang close. She was a wonder!
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  • TL
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a surprise ending!!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Love Agatha Christie’s books since I was very young! This story did not disappoint me! I couldnt put down my kindle. What a twisted plot/ending.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A classic mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is one of my favorite Hercule Poirot mysteries. This is an unusual mystery for him, as he pursues a serial killer.
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  • Tim Healy
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Best in the Genre at Her Height
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I have been doing some reading of Poirot novels, recently. Some, I had read as a child. Others...I'm just not sure. Recently, though, I decided to watch the new British TV version on Amazon Prime. John Malkovich did a great job, actually, as Poirot. I either don't recall at all, or never read the book, though, so here I am.

    There's only a surface level of similarity between the show and this book. The general plot is the same, but they wrap up much differently. The show also chose to place this at the end of Poirot's life, when he was essentially a non-entity as far as the investigation was concerned. That's far from the case in the book. I won't say anything much about the plot differences because they'd ruin this if you've never read it. Suffice it to say, someone is killing people based on train time-tables. The murders are in places arranged alphabetically. Also each victim's name starts with the same letter as the city. A letter is sent to Poirot each time to tell him where they will happen and when. The challenge, of course is to prevent them.

    The plot is actually quite tight, and in the end, the whole thing feels proper, not a trick. The murderer is punished, and everyone else goes off to happiness. In Shakespearean terms, this is a comedy!

    Anyway, I enjoyed this. If you're OK with older "period" pieces, these are still wonderful fun.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • moonshadow
    4.0 out of 5 stars Hercule Poirot at His Wily Best
    Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Agatha Christie is a dab hand at the art of distraction -- and so, at times, is her cerebral detective, Hercule Poirot.

    I'm not sure how I skipped over this book when I started working my way through her backlist as a teen; hopefully the neighborhood library actually had a copy and it was just continually checked out. I'd hate to think that other Dame Agatha fans also missed out on this cunning puzzler. If you've missed this one, it definitely is worth adding to your to-read list.

    The premise of this tale is deceptively simple. M. Poirot's deserved acclaim has preceded him among the public at large, and a determined soul thus has chosen the Belgian detective as a cross between confidante and modified cat's paw.

    What follows is a seemingly linear series of events, though as usual when Christie is at the typewriter, there are tricky, twisty bits that advance the story in the moment but gain additional meaning once the last page is finished and the reader has a chance to reflect.

    In addition to the faithful Hastings, Inspector Japp makes a cameo, but the rest of the ensemble cast, new to the most loyal of readers, is rather ingenious and illuminating on Christie's part. (Yes, as is the case in several other of her books, there are some dated word choices and frames of reference. It helps to imagine oneself reading this in 1936, the year in which it was initially published.) I hesitate to delve into the plot lest I let something slip. Christie largely plays fair with clues, red herrings and sleight of hand. The story moves briskly, with slower passages calculated to heighten suspense.

    We also get fascinating glimpses into the thought processes of M. Poirot, such as this rather chilling observation midway through the story. "Crime is terribly revealing," Poirot tells Hastings when the latter expresses frustration about the murderer still being at large. "Try and vary your methods as you will, your tastes, your habits, your attitude of mind, and your soul is revealed by your actions."

    KINDLE NOTES: File conversion of this title is spot on -- no hiccups or stray typographical artifacts. Poirot indulges in rather more instances of colloquial French than usual, but the Bing translation feature is able to cope with all of the phrases. If you should get an English-language translation, click "English > French" within the translation screen to reset the function. I had this happen three times during the book and the reset process was simple and accurate.
    50 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • María d.
    5.0 out of 5 stars La mejor cualidad de todas
    Reviewed in Mexico on July 31, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Me llegó en 3 días súper barato y muy buena de calidad del libro
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  • N. Kilpatrick
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great plot!
    Reviewed in Canada on September 28, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I've read this twice and have also seen the TV show from the past with this Poirot story. Very complex, which makes it enjoyable. Poirot really does make a regretable mistake and chastises himself for it but succeeds in the end. An interesting and touching ending as well.
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  • sharpyeagle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Christie on form again…
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Another ripping, fun and intriguing whodunnit from Agatha Christie. Never fails to surprise and after leading her readers up a particular and well worn garden path she takes great delight in revealing the actual murderer is in another garden entirely! Ha! Of its time perhaps but entertaining nonetheless… only recently persuaded myself to give Christie a try - not being a huge crime/detective fiction fan - but glad I did as this has led Raymond Chandler and a desire to discover more and others! Recommend giving it a go!
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  • leseratte
    5.0 out of 5 stars Kurzweilig
    Reviewed in Germany on February 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Klassiker von Agatha Christie
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  • Gian Pietro
    5.0 out of 5 stars Qualità, prezzo e servizio
    Reviewed in Italy on December 27, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Sono alcune volte che acquisto da Amazon e ritengo che la qualità dei prodotti proposti e del servizio siano eccellenti, ritengo che continuerò a fare ordini perchè anche i prezzi sono molto convenienti, grazie e a presto.
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