description Cards on the Table Overview
Cards on the Table is a 1936 detective novel by Agatha Christie featuring Hercule Poirot. The victim, the collector Mr. Shaitana, invites four people he suspects of having committed undetected murders and four investigators to dinner, then arranges separate bridge games before being stabbed. Because every suspect had access to the victim, Poirot studies their personalities, playing styles, recollections, and earlier histories rather than relying primarily on physical clues.
insights Ranking position
Cards on the Table ranks #21 of 183 in the Detective Novel ranking, behind Journey Under the Midnight Sun, ahead of Endless Night.
help Cards on the Table FAQ
Why are there only four main suspects in Cards on the Table?
The victim, Mr. Shaitana, invites four people whom he believes have previously escaped punishment for murder. He is then stabbed while those four guests are playing bridge in the same room.
Do I need to understand bridge to follow Cards on the Table?
No, although the bridge scorecards provide Poirot with clues about each player's behavior under pressure. Christie explains enough for readers to understand why an unusually bold bid or distracted mistake matters.
Which detectives investigate the murder in Cards on the Table?
Hercule Poirot works alongside Superintendent Battle, Colonel Race, and mystery writer Ariadne Oliver. Their different investigative styles mirror the four suspected murderers gathered by Shaitana.
Was Cards on the Table adapted for Agatha Christie's Poirot?
Yes. ITV adapted it with David Suchet as Poirot, although the television version changes parts of the novel's character relationships and solution.
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