Agatha Christie's The Big Four enjoyed commercial success at the time of its publication in 1927. Originally published as twelve short stories, Christie weaves these briefer mysteries into a larger cloak and dagger spy tale of suspense. The novel deviates from her earlier writing style, replacing the usual setting of a manor house containing British gentry with a cosmopolitan setting. Renowned private detective Hercule Poirot, pulled into a world of intrigue and espionage, sets out to break up an international group of four criminal masterminds. In this follow-up to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Christie has crafted an action-packed plot filled with colorful characters whose aim is world domination. The offbeat novel takes readers on a compelling, fast-paced thrill ride from England and France to Belgium and Italy.