Agatha Christie, A Murder is Announced

Amy Lee (Hong Kong Baptist University)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.09: English Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary Britain , 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Gina Lyle (University of York), Graham MacPhee (University of Manchester), Kerry Myler (Birmingham Newman University), Andrew Radford (University of Glasgow), Jenni Ramone (The Nottingham Trent University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1950

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Crime and Detective
Novel
Story

Resources

The small town of Chipping Cleghorn is excited by the announcement on the local Gazette on Friday, 29 October when it says:

A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 29, at Little Paddocks, at 6:30 p.m. Friends please accept this, the only invitation.

Thinking that it is a party or joke of some sort, friends and acquaintances of Miss Letitia Blacklock, who is living at Little Paddocks with her companion and relatives, all rush to join in the excitement before the appointed time. In the midst of their conversation and drinking, the clock strikes 6.30, the light goes out, and a man in mask appears and shouts “Stick 'em up” to the excitable guests, at the same time as he flashes a torch across the room. It is all...

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1384 words

Citation: Lee, Amy. "A Murder is Announced". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 18 June 2003 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=7057, accessed 09 June 2026.]

Agatha Christie, A Murder is Announced

Dates

Places

Genres and Modes

Resources

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