Black Coffee - Hardcover
In the first novel to appear since 1976, Hercule Poirot returns to bring his "little grey cells" to bear on one last case.In spring 1934, Poirot is summoned to Surrey, by England's most prominent physicist, Sir Claud Amory. Amory fears that someone in his household is attempting to steal his latest discovery, a formula critical to England's defense. Poirot, with Captain Hastings at his side, rushes to Surrey, but arrives too late. Amory has died, his formula is missing, and anyone in his country house, full of relatives and guests, could have been responsible.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
Subtitled A Hercule Poirot Novel, Black Coffee is actually an Agatha Christie play recrafted as a book meant to be read rather than seen on the stage. The story was first produced in 1930, and Charles Osborne has done little to it except string the dialogue and stage directions together in paragraph form. Christie loyalists will welcome and applaud his dedication to the original, but it does seem as though he could have given it a bit more flair. Still, Poirot himself, bumbling Captain Hastings, and obsequious George are all in good form and it is amusing to find them engaged in another adventure, with an interesting assortment of possible murderers, blackmailers, and innocent (if suspicious) bystanders.
From the Publisher:
The novel opens as Poirot receives a summons at his breakfast table from England's premier physicist, Sir Claud Amory. Busy working on a new formula necessary for England's defense in the Second World War, Amory suspects a member of his household of espionage. Of course, by the time Poirot and sidekick Hastings arrive at the scientist's country house, he is suddenly and mysteriously dead. Amory himself turns out to have been not quite nice, and his family, regardless of his scientific efforts, is pretty pleased with the new state of affairs. Still, Poirot manages both to save the more amiable members of the household from themselves and to protect the secrets of the British Empire. The novel is warmly evocative of another time and place and a welcome reminder of vintage Christie. --K.A. Crouch
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"A bauble for Christie buffs." --San Jose Mercury News
"A welcome addition to the Christie canon...Lively and stimulating, like a fine black coffee." --Publishers Weekly
"Intricate, knockout plotting...A fast, entertaining read." --Richmond Times-Dispatch
"Deliciously old-fashioned...For a gracious pick-me-up, it's just what the butler ordered." --People
"Lively and light-hearted." --London Sunday Telegraph
"Undeniably appealing." --The Wall Street Journal
"A brilliant rendition." --Midwest Book Review
"Great fun." --Arizona Daily Star
"A first-rate job." --Indianapolis Star
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherSt. Martin's Press
- Publication date1967
- ISBN 10 0002326620
- ISBN 13 9780002326629
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages224
- Rating
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Black Coffee: Novelisation
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Black Coffee: Novelisation This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780002326629
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Black Coffee: Novelisation
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Good. All orders are dispatched the following working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we have over 500,000 books in stock. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied. Seller Inventory # mon0005481350
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780002326629
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Black Coffee
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(1967)
ISBN 10: 0002326620
ISBN 13: 9780002326629
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Hardcover
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Book Description Hardback. Condition: Fair. A readable copy of the book which may include some defects such as highlighting and notes. Cover and pages may be creased and show discolouration. Seller Inventory # GOR002895661
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Black Coffee
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ISBN 13: 9780002326629
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Good. Sir Claud Amory has discovered the formula for a new powerful explosive, which is stolen by a member of his household. Locking everyone in the library, Sir Claude switches off the lights to allow the thief to replace the formula. When the lights come on, he is dead. Hercule Poirot investigates. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine. Seller Inventory # GOR003687706
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Black Coffee
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(1998)
ISBN 10: 0002326620
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Sir Claud Amory has discovered the formula for a new powerful explosive, which is stolen by a member of his household. Locking everyone in the library, Sir Claude switches off the lights to allow the thief to replace the formula. When the lights come on, he is dead. Hercule Poirot investigates. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR002147824
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Black Coffee
Published by
Collins Crime
(1998)
ISBN 10: 0002326620
ISBN 13: 9780002326629
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Book Description hardcover. Condition: Fair. Book is in good condition. Slight discolouration to the pages. Unclipped dust jacket. Seller Inventory # G0213283
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Black Coffee Christie, Agatha and Osborne, Charles
Published by
Collins Crime
(1998)
ISBN 10: 0002326620
ISBN 13: 9780002326629
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Good. First edition. Book is in good condition. Slight discolouration to the pages. Unclipped dust jacket. Seller Inventory # G0194158
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Black Coffee
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ISBN 13: 9780002326629
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Book Description Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. N/A (illustrator). First Edition. HB DJ 1st edition, first printing. DJ not clipped. Black cloth boards, silver titles spine. 22.3 x 14.2cm. 188 pages. A novel adapted by Charles Osborne from the play by Agatha Christie. Sir Claude Amory has discovered the formula for a new powerful explosive which is stolen from within his household. He switches off the lights to enable the thief to replace it. However, once the lights are turned on, he is found dead. It is up to Poirot and Japp to unravel the mystery. Condition: Label has been removed front bottom of DJ sticky residue lefe. DJ small tears on corners, general wear on edges. Boards slight rub on corners. Otherwise book appears unused. Boards GC and colour, internally clean, no wear, tight binding, good colour. Good + condition. Seller Inventory # 004836
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Black Coffee
Published by
HarperCollins, London
(1998)
ISBN 10: 0002326620
ISBN 13: 9780002326629
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. N/A (illustrator). First Edition. HB DJ 1st edition, first printing. DJ not clipped. Black cloth boards, silver titles spine. 22.3 x 14.2cm. 188 pages. A novel adapted by Charles Osborne from the play by Agatha Christie. Sir Claude Amory has discovered the formula for a new powerful explosive which is stolen from within his household. He switches off the lights to enable the thief to replace it. However, once the lights are turned on, he is found dead. It is up to Poirot and Japp to unravel the mystery. Condition: Small tear to DJ front bottom corner. Otherwise book appears unused. Boards GC and colour, internally clean, no wear, tight binding, good colour. Good + condition. Seller Inventory # 004835
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