The Big Four

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published Nov. 6, 2006 by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, HarperCollins.

ISBN:
978-0-00-723451-6
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OCLC Number:
84149152

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3 stars (1 review)

They are a vicious international quartet of criminals known as "The Big Four". Number One was a brilliant Chinese, the greatest criminal brain of all time; Number Two was a USAmerican multi-millionaire; Number Three was a beautiful Frenchwoman scientist; and Number Four was "the destroyer," the ruthless murderer with a genius for disguise, whose business it was to remove those who interfered with his masters plans. These four, working together, is a partnership with one simple goal, establish world dominance with murders.

Belgian detective Hercule Poirot was preparing for a voyage to South America when an uninvited guest, coated from head to foot in mud, stood at his doorway, collapsed, then recovered long enough to scribble the number four on a piece of paper. Now, "The Big Four" pursues eliminate the only man who can foil them: Hercule Poirot. It's up to Poirot and his faithful assistant Hastings to follow …

41 editions

Review of 'The Big Four (Poirot)' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

This novel is actually a collection of short stories involving four villains that seem to come straight from a James Bond movie. The group is known as "The Big Four" (funny title for the 5th Poirot novel) and Poirot has the help of the not-so-intelligent Hastings to figure out who is who and defeat the evil organisation.

I understand why people do not enjoy this novel as much as the others, but I also understand that Christie wanted to try and write something different. She is not great with short stories, so it is not surprising that this collection turned novel is not her best work. I have to give it to her for trying different story lines though.