Hallowe'en Party

AGATHA CHRISTIE

Publication: The Crime Club by Collins, 1969, London

First edition. 8vo. Bright orange cloth, titles stamped in gilt on the spine, 255 pp. A late Christie novel set in a Halloween party, where a famous mystery novelist, Ariadne Oliver, and Hercule Poirot are in attendance. "When the guests learn that they have a famous crime writer among them, they ply Ariadne with questions. One difficult adolescent called Joyce complains that Ariadne's last book didn't have enough blood in it and remarks that she observed a murder once. Nobody believes her and Joyce storms off. While the party is in full swing in the drawing-room, Joyce is drowned in the apple-bobbing tub" (Wagstaff & Poole, p.217). Naturally, Poirot investigates. Basis for Kenneth Branagh's 2023 film A Haunting in Venice. Fine bright copy in a bright dust jacket with trivial wear to the spine ends and a small closed tear to the bottom edge of the front cover and one to the top edge of the rear cover and each reinforced with a small piece of clear cellophane tape on the verso.