The Big Four (novel)
Dust-jacket illustration of the first UK edition | |
| Author | Agatha Christie |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Thomas Derrick |
| Language | English |
| Series | Hercule Poirot |
| Genre | Crime novel |
| Publisher | William Collins & Sons |
Publication date | 27 January 1927 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 282 (first edition, hardback) |
| Preceded by | The Murder of Roger Ackroyd |
| Followed by | The Mystery of the Blue Train |
| Text | The Big Four at Wikisource |
The Big Four is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie, first published in the UK by William Collins & Sons on 27 January 1927 and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year. It features Hercule Poirot, Arthur Hastings, and Inspector Japp. The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6) and the US edition at $2.00.
The structure of the novel is different from other Poirot stories, as it began from twelve short stories (eleven in the US) that had been separately published. This is a tale of international intrigue and espionage, therefore opening up the possibility of more spy fiction from Christie.: 24