AGATHA CHRISTIE is the world's best-known mystery writer. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and another billion in 44 foreign languages. She is the most widely published author of all time in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare.

  Her writing career spanned more than half a century, during which she wrote 80 novels and short story collections, as well as 14 plays, one of which, The Mousetrap, is the longest-running play in history.

  Agatha Christie also wrote under the pseudonymMary Westmacott. As well, she wrote four non-fiction books including an autobiography and an entertaining account of the many expeditions she shared with her archaeologist husband, Sir Max Mallowan.

AGATHA CHRISTIE is more than the most popular mystery writer of all time. In a career that spans over half a century, her name is synonymous with brilliant deception, ingenious puzzles, and the surprise denouement. By virtually inventing the modern mystery novel she has earned her title as the Queen of Crime. Curious? Then you"re invited to read...

"I like a good detective story, but they begin in the wrong place! They begin with the murder. But the murder is the end. The story begins long before that." So remarks esteemed criminologist Mr. Treves. Truer words have never been spoken, for a psychopathic killer has insinuated himself, with cunning manipulation, into a quiet village on the river Tern. But who is his intended victim? Whatare his unfathomable motives? And how and when will he reach the point of murder...the zero point? In this ingenious and noteworthy departure for Agatha Christie, it"s the intricate workings of a pathological mind that beaome the stuff of startling mystery as a group of friends at a seaside resort remain blithely unaware that their weekend will be the death of them all...

PROLOGUE

"OPEN THE DOOR AND HERE ARE THE PEOPLE"

SNOW WHITE AND ROSE RED

A FINE ITALIAN HAND...

ZERO Hour