The Big Four: A Hercule Poirot Mystery Audiobook, by Agatha Christie Play Audiobook Sample

The Big Four: A Hercule Poirot Mystery Audiobook

The Big Four: A Hercule Poirot Mystery Audiobook, by Agatha Christie Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Hugh Fraser Publisher: HarperAudio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 3.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 2.75 hours at 2.0x Speed Series: The Hercule Poirot Mysteries Release Date: July 2012 Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download ISBN: 9780062232267

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

18

Longest Chapter Length:

29:10 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

09:10 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

18:33 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

234

Other Audiobooks Written by Agatha Christie: > View All...

Publisher Description

Famed private eye Hercule Poirot tackles international intrigue and espionage in this classic Agatha Christie mystery.

Framed in the doorway of Hercule Poirot's bedroom stands an uninvited guest, coated from head to foot in dust. The man stares for a moment, then he sways and falls. Who is he? Is he suffering from shock or just exhaustion? Above all, what is the significance of the figure 4, scribbled over and over again on a sheet of paper?

Poirot finds himself plunged into a world of international intrigue, risking his life—and that of his "twin brother"—to uncover the truth.

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"The best Agatha Christie that I have read yet!!! Absolutely, unbelievably, amazing!!! So intriguing and so thrilling......just extraordinary! Four different mysteries put together into one......splendid!!!!!!!"

— Chrisavye (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Fiendish ingenuity, a genius for disguise, and utter ruthlessness are Number Four’s chief assets, and against these there is nothing but Hercule Poirot and his ‘gray cells.’ But has not Poirot admitted that he is the world’s greatest detective?”

    — New York Times
  • “One of mystery fiction’s most beloved heroes, Hercule Poirot, is brought vividly to life in this delightful audio production. Originally published in 1927, this outing thrusts Poirot into one of Christie’s most outlandish and melodramatic adventures. It finds her Belgian detective pitted against an international quartet of criminal masterminds bent on world domination. Narrator Fraser is no stranger to Poirot’s world, having played the detective’s faithful companion, Captain Hastings, in several made-for-TV movies. A gifted reader, he obviously enjoys interpreting this material, and he perfectly captures each of Christie’s diverse characters, shifting flawlessly from one to the other. But it is in his portrayal of Poirot that Fraser shines. With a well-tuned accent, Fraser brings out the full range of Christie’s eccentric detective…With its over-the-top premise and international cast of villains, portrayed with relish by Fraser, it is certainly one of her most entertaining.”

    — Publishers Weekly audio review
  • “Hugh Fraser, best known as Captain Hastings on the Mystery dramatizations of the Poirot novels, here does double duty as Hastings and the little Belgian sleuth as they track down a quartet of ruthless criminals…Even though Fraser is accustomed to playing Hastings, there’s not a drop of Hastings in his Poirot, nor in his masterful portrayals of Japp, Poirot’s Scotland Yard sidekick, or the hilarious but tragic Cockney heroine, Flossie. While this is over-the-top Christie, with its talk of the A-bomb and lasers (incredible since the book was copyrighted in 1927), Fraser brings to it logic and credibility.”

    — AudioFile

The Big Four Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.3448275862069 out of 53.3448275862069 out of 53.3448275862069 out of 53.3448275862069 out of 53.3448275862069 out of 5 (3.34)
5 Stars: 5
4 Stars: 7
3 Stars: 13
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 3
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " While I was reading this, I kinda had to use a little willing suspension of disbelief at the idea of four people taking over the world. Having said that, it is still immensely well crafted, story wise. Maybe not the best Poirot book to start on. "

    — Anja, 2/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I've always loved Agatha Christie. This book did not disappoint. "

    — Aimée, 1/31/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This one involves word anarchy - a much bigger scope than the usual mysteries. I think I like the smaller scopes of the more typical Poirot mysteries better, though. Still, it was a good one. "

    — LeAnna, 1/29/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I loved it very much "

    — Mohamed, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I absolutely love reading Hercule Poirot stories. Very entertaining! "

    — Nivarni, 1/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The best of Poirot "

    — Abdulrahman, 1/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A particularly convoluted Hercule Poirot mystery....a perfect vacation read. "

    — Kiwimonster, 1/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Fairly good. Always keeps one guessing! :D "

    — V.K., 1/10/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " i thing this is the worse book from AC "

    — Wardi, 1/5/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I'm still on the trail of Hercule Poirot, one of Agatha Christie's greatest sleuths. I enjoyed this book, but it was not one of my favorites. "

    — Sherri, 1/3/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The plot is quite out there but the interaction between Poirot and Hastings is so nicely captured. One of my favourites "

    — Xin, 1/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Miss Marple or Poirot, who's the best? I don't know I enjoy them both in equal measure. Agatha Christie the consumate mystery writer. No one does who dun it better than her. "

    — Lili, 10/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Despite being very James Bond-ian, it was an okay read plot-wise. (I personally prefer the "civilized people in a country house" mysteries, as opposed to the "international conspiracy/supervillian" types.) Poirot as Bond seems a bit of a stretch to me. The overt racism was pretty painful to read. "

    — Ed, 3/12/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " For me, one of the best books of Agatha Christe. "

    — Katja, 2/17/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This is not my favorite Agatha Christie. The plot is a little convoluted, and not in a good way. "

    — Nikki, 1/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A new genre for me. mysteries - i thought I would start with some early ones "

    — Lynn, 11/30/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " true friend is the one who is like Hastengs!!!! "

    — Miss, 11/25/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This is what I called "slight irregularity" on the Poirot series. Unlike any others, the story came out with less riddles, more actions, and switch of the leading figure. Of course, Poirot is still the main star, but Hastings takes the spotlight. Highly recommended for all Hastings fans :D "

    — Anggia, 8/5/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This was not meant to be humorous, but it was. Lots of strange knocks on the door with odd people showing up. I love Agatha Christie. "

    — Janette, 7/28/2012
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Possibly started from the worst Christie book. Others have stated that this subject of world wide conspiracy theories is too big for her and I definitely understand why. Overall ridiculous and too fast paced. The worst : not at all believable. "

    — Suvi, 3/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Not my favorite Poirot story but interesting. The mystery is less concrete than in other cases and misses the opportunity to figure things out for yourself that is in the other books. "

    — Sara, 7/5/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " baru baca terjemahan doang sih hoho "

    — Hadyan, 5/19/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " This is stupid. It started off so promising, and then it quickly descended into some pulpy adventure story. "

    — Jennifer, 4/27/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " The charm of this book is in Poirot's character. Yes, the plot is a bit silly, particularly by modern standards. But Christie creates such marvelous characters that their interactions make the book well worth reading, plot notwithstanding. "

    — Shelly, 4/16/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " ??? ?? ???? "??????? ??????" ???? ?? ???? ??"????? ??????" "

    — Mohammad, 4/14/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Good book but not my favourite one. "

    — Maboudou, 4/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Buku Hercule Poirot pertama yang aku baca, orangnya asyik ya ternyata walaupun agak menyebalkan. Dan Si Hastings temannya itu jujur sekali "

    — Amathonthe, 4/6/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This book is really really really really good. It's AMAZING!!! It is different from most of her other books, and that is what I like about it. "

    — ????, 3/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This was the first Agatha Christie book that i read and I loved it.This book is on a grander scale than all her other books with a 'we have to save the world theme. "

    — Rubal, 2/18/2011

About Agatha Christie

Dame Agatha Christie (1890–1976) was a British crime writer best known for her detective novels and short stories. According to Guinness World Records, she is the bestselling novelist of all time, her novels having sold over two billion copies and having been translated into more than one hundred languages. The Agatha Award for best mystery and crime writers was named in her honor.

About Hugh Fraser

Hugh Fraser, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, is an English actor and theater director who is best known for his portrayal of Captain Hastings in the television series Agatha Christie’s Poirot. He studied acting at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and is an associate tutor, director, and member of the audition panel at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, specializing in Shakespeare.