The Unexpected Guest

By Agatha Christie

Book Overview

A thriller as well as a puzzler set in a foggy estate in Wales this mystery opens as a stranger walks into a house to find a man murdered and his wife standing over him with a gun. But the woman is dazed and her confession is unconvincing. The unexpected guest decides to help her and blame the murder on an intruder. Later the police discover clues that point to a man who died two years previously and a Pandora's box of love and hate suspicion and intrigue is opened in the night air.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0573702373
• ISBN13: 9780573702372
• Release Date: January 2013
• Publisher: Concord Theatricals
• Length: 100 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

The Unusual Suspects

First, I must say that the information for this ISBN number is incorrect. This number is for the actual play version that Agatha Christie wrote, not the novelization by Charles Osborne. Before I read his adaptations, I like to read the original play by Christie, so this review will be about the play, not the novel. As with most Agatha Christie mysteries, whether written in book form or as a play, the murders that take place in closed situations, where all suspects are contained within one household, are perhaps the most fascinating and complex. "The Unexpected Guest" is no different. It begins on an extremely foggy November evening, with a stranger stumbling into the home of Richard and Laura Warwick, after running his car into the ditch. The stranger, Michael Starkwedder, finds Richard Warwick slumped dead in his wheelchair, and his wife in the corner holding the gun admitting to his murder. Starkwedder is struck by her situation and immediately decides to help her, concocting a far-fetched scheme of revenge and planting evidence on the body. When the police arrive to investigate, they find a plethora of suspects, for Richard Warwick was a man of mean temper and cruel humor, a man who many believed had it coming to him. The action of "The Unexpected Guest" is exceptionally brisk, with much being revealed in few words. Some characters are not what they seemed to be while others are all too stereotypical in their actions and thoughts. The build-up to the final twist revelation is well-paced and enough to throw the police off the trail of the true murderer. If you read very carefully you should be able to figure out who most likely murdered Richard Warwick, but the why may be shocking.

More Proof of Christie's Prevailing Witt

Agatha Christie once more proves that things aren't always what they seem. When I was about halfway through the book, I was convinced that I knew the outcome and had, finally, after reading so many of Christie's mysteries, conquered her ingeniousness. But in the end, I realized that I was once again mistaken. Although I greatly appreciate the beautiful writing techniques that Christie uses, I sometimes prefer the writing of Charles Osborne. I find that he uses words that I am more familiar with and less outdated, and he does not prolong the beginning of the book. He seems to get more to the point, and this keeps me intrigued throughout the book. After reading Black Coffee, I knew that I must read The Unexpected Guest. The only fault that I found in this book was of my own opinion--I did not like the ending. I am a fan of Hercule Poirot's triumphant cases, but I disliked the very end (although I liked the twist to it). Moreover, this inadequacy proved too imparticular for me to rate this book less than five stars.

I would give this 4 and 3/4 stars if I could

Even though I am 13 years of age, I have read about three-quarters of the books Agatha Christie has written. Most of the books I have read by her I found to be flawless and exciting. I am a devoted fan of her books and refuse to read other murder-mysteries. When I found out there was a "new" Agatha Christie book out I went straight to the shops to buy it. I found the book to be very enjoyable and even though it only took me 24 hours to read it (I couldn't put it down and stayed up 'till the early hours of the morning to read it until I got caught and had to go to sleep) I thought it was excellent. I usually find that the beginning of Agatha Christie books are a bit confusing but this was one of the least. The murder in the book is a masked mystery until the sureness is proved wrong. I found the book didn't have much suspense but I don't think it mattered. Charles Osborne writes very much like Agatha Christie and he even added things that Agatha Christie didn't usually add like a map of the room the murder occured in. For all people who read and liked The Murder of Roger Ackroyd this book is an absolute must.

I enjoyed it

It's November in South Wales. A stranded motorist walks up on a house for help, but finds a murder instead. And so Christie's play, The Unexpected Guest, now novelized by Charles Osborne, begins. The gentleman, Mark Starkwedder, after knocking, walks into an unlocked terrace door in hopes of calling for help, what he stumbles on is Richard Warwick dead in his wheel chair, and the wife, Laura Warwick, standing in the dark with the gun. I don't want to go any further because the rest is vital to the mystery and how it gets so out of control. Included in the mystery are Mr. Warwick's mother, a brother, a valet, a housekeeper, a nurse, a neighbor, a Chief Inspector, and a detective. Each character is introduced and each part is vital to the plot. The plot is classic British traditional with 9/10 of the scenes being played out in one room (map included), characters coming and going, a moody Chief Inspector, a mellow detective, and a lot of impressive curves, with the ending being the ultimate curve.Charles Osborne has done his best to novelize a rare treat, and in my humble opinion, he did a grand job. The scenes and conversation, to me, were true to the play, almost to the point that, while reading, I could envision the characters on stage. Now I've heard the complaints-- "It's to slow." "It's to confined." Well, it was a play, and that is the reasoning for the limited movement and conversation. I think readers should appreciate that Mr. Osborne has brought to life another wonderful Christie mystery. It's a great Christie fix for those fans that have read or seen all her mysteries.Charles Osborne is an authority on theater and opera. He is also a writer and has authored The Life and Crimes of Agatha Christie and novelized Agatha Christie's other play, Black Coffee.

Agatha Christie: The Unexpected Delight

When I first read a novel adaptation of an Agatha Christie play titled 'Black Coffee' I was in awe of the story and twitsed plot of it all. I knew that the follow up, 'The Unexpected Guest' was going to be a killer book. One of the best mysteries I have read! There is a reason why Agatha Christie has been repsonsible for the sales of over 2 billion books, they are just so damn good! I very much enjoyed this book, as you will too. The ending is the added bonus! You never knew, you just never knew!