Richard Abernethie's unscrupulous relatives, interested only in their respective shares of the rich man's estate, become suspects in Hercule Poirot's search for a killer.

American scientist Thomas Betterton has disappeared form a conference in Paris--only the latest in a series of notable men to vanish into thin air. Equally strange is the death of his new bride in Casablanca. To discover the secret she took to her grave, British Intelligence enlists the aide of an unlikely secret agent--an enigmatic young woman with nothing left to lose. The proposal for Hilary Craven? Impersonate the late Mrs. Betterton. But the...

As Hercule Poirot sifts through his post one particular morning, he alights upon a letter from an elderly and (as it transpires) exceedingly rich spinster--Miss Emily Arundell. She is clearly in great distress and seeking his help, but doesn't say why. Her only specific mention is "the incident of the dog's ball." However, what intrigues Poirot is the date of the communication--it was written two months ago. He persuades Captain Hastings that they...

Tommy's Aunt Ada had died peacefully at Sunny Ridge, a home for elderly ladies. Then her friend, Mrs. Lancaster, vanished suddenly in the care of somewhat mysterious relatives. It could have been a natural series of events, as Tommy suggested. But Tuppence had her doubts, and she set out to justify them.

A collection of stories by the renowned mystery author featurs bizarre romantic entanglements, supernatural visitations, and murder.

"The crime-fighting careers of Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings have come full circle--they are back once again in the rambling country house in which they solved their first murder together. Both Hercule Poirot and Great Styles have seen better days--but, despite being crippled with arthritis, there is nothing wrong with the great detective and his "little gray cells." However, when Poirot brands one of the seemingly harmless guests a five-time...

"Beautiful Caroline Crale was convicted of poisoning her husband, but just like the nursery rhyme, there were five other 'little pigs' who could have done it ... Sixteen years later, Caroline's daughter is determined to prove her mother's innocence, and Poirot just can't get that nursery rhyme out of his mind ..."--Page 4 of cover.

While playing golf, Bobby Jones and Dr. Thomas discover a dying man at the base of a cliff. Before he dies, the man manages to get out the words, "Why didn't they ask Evans?" Days later, remembering things that don't seem to add up about the death, Bobby decides to investigate, and his friend Frances Derwent immediately agrees to help. Was it a misstep that sent a handsome stranger plummeting to his death over a cliff? Or was it a something more sinister?...

"Pretty, young Anne came to London looking for adventure. In fact, adventure comes looking for her-and finds her immediately at Hyde Park Corner tube station. Anne is present on the platform when a thin man, reeking of mothballs, loses his balance and is electrocuted on the rails. The Scotland Yard verdict is accidental death. But Anne is not satisfied. After all, who was the man in the brown suit who examined the body? And why did he race off, leaving...

Fourteen years after the wife of the renowned painter Amyas Crale was sent to the gallows for poisoning her husband, their daughter Lucy returns from Canada. Lucy carries with her a letter that suggests that her mother might have been innocent. Poirot agrees to dig up the past, but he warns Lucy that she may not like what he finds.