The Missing Will

A dying uncle’s challenge. A hidden fortune. One year for a clever niece to prove her wits.

In this delightful early Hercule Poirot short story, the brilliant Belgian detective is consulted by the capable and modern Miss Violet Marsh. Her wealthy, traditionalist uncle has left her a most unusual will: she may live at Crabtree Manor for one year, during which time she must find a hidden second will or a fortune he has concealed somewhere in the house. If she succeeds, the inheritance is hers; if she fails, everything goes to charity.

With only her intelligence and determination—and Poirot’s legendary little gray cells—Miss Marsh sets out to solve her uncle’s final, fiendish puzzle. What follows is a charming battle of wits, full of Christie’s signature cleverness, misdirection, and psychological insight.

A sparkling and ingenious tale that showcases Poirot’s deductive brilliance in a refreshingly different kind of mystery, The Missing Will is a perfect miniature of golden-age detective fiction.

• First published in 1925 (in The Blue Book Magazine)
• Collected in Poirot Investigates and other volumes
• Features Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings

Available in multiple formats:

• Paperback & Hardcover: Elegant print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text, ideal for your bookshelf.
• Ebook: DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.
• Audiobook: Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, perfect for immersive listening.

A quick, clever, and thoroughly entertaining Christie gem, ideal for a short read or as part of a complete Poirot collection.

About the Author

Agatha Christie (1890–1976) was an English crime novelist, short story writer, and playwright, widely regarded as the best-selling novelist of all time. Her works have sold over two billion copies worldwide, outranked only by the Bible and Shakespeare. Creator of the immortal Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, Christie’s mastery of plotting, misdirection, and human nature made her the undisputed Queen of Mystery. The Missing Will is a shining example of her early ingenuity in the short form.