Poirot receives mysterious letters claiming there will soon be a murder : a Mrs Alice Ascher in Andover, Betty Barnarda in Bexhill and Sir Carmichael Clarke in Churston. Poirot, his friend Hastings and Inspector Japp are all at a loss to find the murderer until they catch Alexander Bonaparte Cust. Poirot remains unconvinced by Cust’s arrest and digs deeper, uncovering a clever misdirection behind the seemingly random murders. The A.B.C. Murders is a sharp, playful novel that blends psychological insight with classic detective twists, ending in a satisfying and unexpected reveal.
“It was the kind of place that specialized in morning coffee, five different kinds of teas (Devonshire, Farmhouse, Fruit, Carlton and Plain), and a few sparing lunch dishes for females such as scrambled eggs and shrimps and macaroni au gratin.”