Murder on the Orient Express / A Murder is Announced [Agatha Christie Collected Works]

by Agatha Christie

The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn are agog with curiosity when the Gazette advertises “A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30 p.m.” A childish practical joke? Or a spiteful hoax? Unable to resist the mysterious invitation, the locals arrive at Little Paddocks at the appointed time when, without warning, the lights go out and a gun is fired. When they come back on, a gruesome scene is revealed. An impossible crime? Only Miss Marple can unravel it.

Genres: Agatha Christie, Mystery, Crime, Detective

426 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1976

About the author

Agatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.

This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.

Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)

Reviews

[stefiereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are two stories in this book, but I only have finished Murder on Orient Express.
I am buddy reading with a friend, and it was sooo much fun!

I am not gonna say much. But Agatha is GENIUS.
Murder on Orient Express is another brilliant story from her.
It is thoughtfully and beautifully crafted.
Oh.. and I LOVE POIROT.

I really want to watch the movie when it came out! <3

[gillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I have already read Murder on the Orient Express, I only read A Murder is Annouced. Truthfully, these stories hit different without Poirot and I think that was my main reason for not liking it as much as other Agatha Christie novels. Miss Marple was sharp and quick witted but overall, I missed the snark and the humor that Poirot brings.

[Latoria]

its ok

[Roberta Lynne Ruben · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Christie’s best mysteries and looks at mortality and revenge.

[Kathleen Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent easy read which has relevant social comments even to today. It keeps one guessing to the end.

[Janieface · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note to self: have only read Murder on the Orient Express, not A Murder Is Announced.