There is an idea prevalent that a detective story is rather like a big race - a number of starters - likely horses and jockeys. 'You pays your money and you takes your choice！' The favourite is by common consent the opposite of a favourite on the race-course. In other words he is likely to be a complete outsider！ Spot the least likely person to have committed the crime and in nine times out of ten your task is finished.

...

Mr Shaitana was famous as a flamboyant party host.Nevertheless, he was a man of whom everybody was a little afraid. So, when he boasted to Poirot that he considered murder an art form, the detective had some reservations about accepting a party invitation to view Shaitana's private collection.

Indeed, what began as an absorbing evening of bridge was to turn into a more dangerous game altogether...

1 Mr Shaitana 9

2 Dinner at Mr Shaitana's 17

3 A Game of Bridge 29

4 First Murderer? 41

5 Second Murderer? 53

6 Third Murderer? 59

7 Fourth Murderer? 69

8 Which of Them? 75

9 DrRoberts 91

10 Dr Roberts (continued) 105

11 Mrs Lorrimer 117

12 Anne Meredith 127

13 Second Visitor 137

14 Third Visitor 149

15 Major Despard 161

16 The Evidence of Elsie Batt 171

17 The Evidence of Rhoda Dawes 179

18 Tea Interlude 191

19 Consultation 199

20 The Evidence of Mrs Luxmore 219

21 MajorDespard 229

22 Evidence from Combeacre 237

23 The Evidence of a Pair of Silk Stockings 241

24 Elimination of Three Murderers? 251

25 Mrs Lorrimer Speaks 259

26 The Truth 265

27 The Eye-Wimess 277

28 Suicide 283

29 Accident 295

30 Murder 305

31 Cards on the Table 313