 Dust-jacket illustration of the US (true first) edition. See Publication history (below) for UK first edition jacket image. | |
| Author | Agatha Christie |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Superintendent Battle |
| Genre | Crime fiction |
| Publisher | Dodd, Mead and Company |
Publication date | June 1944 |
| Publication place | Great Britain |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 242 first edition, hardcover |
| ISBN | 9780002318525 1976 UK edition |
| Preceded by | Towards Zero |
| Followed by | Absent in the Spring |
Towards Zero is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in June 1944, and in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in July of the same year.[1] The first US edition of the novel retailed at $2.00[2] and the UK edition at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6).[1]
Lady Tressilian invites her ward for his annual visit at Gull's Point. He insists on bringing both his former wife and his present wife, though Lady Tressilian finds this awkward. Her old friend Treves dies, then she is murdered as well; Superintendent Battle and his nephew are called in. The book is the last to feature Superintendent Battle.
The novel was well received at publication, noted for the well-developed characters. A later review called it superb as to the plot, noting also how well the novel depicted the gentlemanly behaviour expected at the main tennis tournament in 1944.
- ^ a b Peers, Chris; Spurrier, Ralph; Sturgeon, Jamie (March 1999). Collins Crime Club – A checklist of First Editions (Second ed.). Dragonby Press. p. 15.
- ^ Marcum, J S (May 2007). "American Tribute to Agatha Christie: The Classic Years: 1940 - 1944". Retrieved 13 October 2015.