"THERE'S NOBODY QUITE LIKE AGATHA CHRISTIE WHEN SHE PUTS HER MIND TO IT, AND THAT'S WHAT SHE'S DONE IN CARDS ON THE TABLE."-New York Herald Tribune

It was the match-up of the century. Four sleuths--Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard, mystery writer Ariadne Oliver, Colonel Race of His Majesty's Secret Service,and the incomparable Hercule Poirot--invited to play bridge with four specifically invited rivals, each of whom had once gotten away with murder. For the host it was irresistible entertainment--until his own murder became part of the game. Now it's up to Poirot to play his hand and decipher one of Agatha Christie's most ingeniously plotted puzzles.

There is an idea prevalent that a detective story is rather like a big race--a number of strters--likely horses and jockeys. "You pays your money and you takes your choice!" The favourite is by common consent the opposite of a favourite on the race course. Inother words he is likely to be a complete outsider! Spot the least likely person to have committed the crime and in nine times out of ten your task is finished.

Since I do not want my faithfid readers to fling away this book in disgust, I prefer to warn them beforehand that this is not that kind of book. There are only four starters,and any one of them, given the right circumstances, might have committed the crime. That knocks out forcibly the dement of surprise. Nevertheless there should be, I think,an equal interest attached to four persons, each of whom has committed murder and is capable of committing further murders. They are four widely divergent types, the motive that drives each one of them to crime is peculiar to that person, and each one would employ a different method. The deduction must, therefore, be entirely psychological, but it is none the less interesting for that, because when all is said and done it is the mind of the murderer that is of supreme interest.

Foreword by the Author

Mr. Shaitana

Dinner at Mr. Shaitana"s

A Game of Bridge

First Murderer?

Second Murderer?

Third Murderer?

Fourth Murderer?

Which of Them?

Dr. Roberts

Dr. Roberts (continued)

Mrs. Lorrimer

Anne Meredith

Second Visitor

Third Visitor

Major Despard

The Evidence of Elsie Batt

The Evidence of Rhoda Dawes

Tea Interlude

Consultation

The Evidence of Mrs. Luxmore

Major Despard

Evidence from Combeacre

The Evidence of a Pair of Silk

Stockings

Elimination of Three Murderers?

Mrs. Lordmer Speaks

The Truth

The Eye-witness

Suicide

Accident

Murder

Cards on the Table