Originally published in 1936

The letter -- Andover -- Mrs. Ascher -- Mary Drower -- The scene of the crime -- Mr. Partridge and Mr. Riddell -- The second letter -- The Bexhill-on-sea murder -- The Barnards -- Megan Barnard -- Donald Fraser -- A conference -- The third letter -- Sir Carmichael Clarke -- Marking time -- Poirot makes a speech -- By way of Sweden -- Lady Clarke -- Description of a murderer -- September 11th, Doncaster -- The Doncaster murder -- At Scotland yard -- Hercule Poirot asks questions -- And catch a fox -- Alexander Bonaparte Cust -- Poirot explains

There's a serial killer on the loose, bent on working his way through the alphabet. And as a macabre calling card he leaves beside each victim's corpse the ABC Railway Guide open at the name of the town where the murder has taken place. Having begun with Andover, Bexhill and then Churston, there seems little chance of the murderer being caught - until he makes the crucial and vain mistake of challenging Hercule Poirot to frustrate his plans