first edition
1937 · New York
by Christie, Agatha
New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1937. First printing. Very good plus in very good jacket.. First US edition of this Hercule Poirot detective novel, the first to feature recurring character Ariadne Oliver, a "hot-headed feminist" and bloodthirsty detective novelist. In her foreword acknowledging the limited number of suspects, Christie argues for the psychological interest of the case, "because when all is said and done, it is the mind of the murderer that is of supreme interest." All four of the story's card-players come under suspicion as it's well-known the bridge-playing mind has a strong affinity for crime. This US edition was preceded by the UK edition of 1936; both are scarce. 7.75'' x 5.5''. Orange pictorial cloth stamped in black. Orange topstain. In original unclipped ($2.00) pictorial dust jacket. 262 pages. Book with slight spine lean, minor edgewear. Light chipping and creasing to jacket, sunning to spine. Sharp.
(Inventory #: 52959)