In Agatha Christie's classic mystery, Cards on the Table, the wily Hercule Poirot is on the case when a bridge night turns deadly

Mr. Shaitana is famous as a flamboyant party host. Nevertheless, he is a man of whom everybody is a little afraid. So when he boasts to Hercule Poirot that he considers murder an art form, the detective has some reservations about accepting a party invitation to view Shaitana's "private collection."

Indeed,

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Published in 1925, "The Secret of Chimneys" represents a significant evolution in Agatha Christie's literary repertoire, blending elements of the traditional country house mystery with international intrigue and political conspiracy. This novel, Christie's fifth, showcases her growing confidence as a writer and her willingness to experiment with more complex plot structures. Set primarily in the fictional English country estate of Chimneys, the novel...