Title is derived from the "ABC Rail Guide" to British railways, which contains an alphabetical listing of train stops. The plot centers on finding a killer who murders victims in alphabetical order, starting with a victim in Andover whose initials are A.A. By the time the killer reaches letter "D" Hercule Poirot recognizes that all but one of the murders have been committed as mere deceptions meant to mask the truly significant murder.

"Luke Fitzwilliam does not believe Miss Pinkerton's wild allegation that a multiple murderer is at work in the quiet English village of Wychwood and that her local doctor is next in line. But within hours, Miss Pinkerton has been killed in a hit-and-run car accident. Mere coincidence? Luke is inclined to think so--until he reads in the Times of the unexpected demise of Wychwood's Dr. Humbleby ..."--P. [4] of cover.

"Rex Fortescue, king of a financial empire, was sipping tea in his "counting house" when he suffered an agonizing and sudden death. On later inspection, the pockets of the deceased were found to contain traces of cereals. Yet, it was the incident in the parlor which confirmed Miss Marple's suspicion that here she was looking at a case of crime by rhyme . . ."--Provided by publisher.

It was the match-up of the century: four sleuths - Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard; Mrs. Ariadne Oliver, famed writer of detective stories; Colonel Race of His Majesty's Secret Service; and the incomparable Hercule Poirot - invited to play bridge with four specially invited guests, each of whom has gotten away with murder! For the host, the mysterious Mr. Shaitana, it was to be a clever entertainment. But before the first rubber was completed,...

While playing golf, Bobby Jones and Dr. Thomas discover a dying man at the base of a cliff. Before he dies, the man manages to get out the words, "Why didn't they ask Evans?" Days later, remembering things that don't seem to add up about the death, Bobby decides to investigate, and his friend Frances Derwent immediately agrees to help. Was it a misstep that sent a handsome stranger plummeting to his death over a cliff? Or was it a something more sinister?...