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The Sign in the Sky is a mystery short story written by Agatha Christie and first published in 1925.
This story is part of a collection of stories featuring the mysterious Mr. Harley Quin. It was first published in The Grand Magazine in July 1925. It was later included in the book The Mysterious Mr. Quin, published by Collins in 1930. The collection is dedicated to its eponymous hero and is the only Agatha Christie book dedicated to a fictional character.
The story is set in the picturesque English countryside, where Mr. Quin and a character named Mr. Satterthwaite, who loves to observe nature, meet unexpectedly and become embroiled in a mystery involving a seemingly unsolvable murder.
This murder occurred at a beautiful country house where some friends were having a party and where they discover that one of the guests has been murdered.
The only clue they have at the moment is a rather unusual astronomical phenomenon, which some consider to be a foreboding sign of the crime....
As such, this short story stands out among many for its mystical atmosphere and use of supernatural elements as vehicles for introspection and revelation, marking a contrast with Christie's more conventional approaches to mystery. This story not only entertains, but also invites reflection on the influence of fate and the possibility of signs beyond our ordinary understanding.
"The Judge was finishing his charge to the jury.
"Now, gentlemen, I have almost finished what I want to say to you. There is evidence for you to consider as to whether this case is plainly made out against this man so that you may say he is guilty of the murder of Vivien Barnaby. You have had the evidence of the servants as to the time the shot was fired."
#51 in Mystery (this month)
The The Sign in the Sky book is available for download in PDF, ePUB and Mobi:
Copyright info
The Sign in the Sky by Agatha Christie is believed to be in the public domain in the United States only. It may still be copyrighted in other countries. If you are not in the United States, please check your local laws to ensure this eBook is in the public domain in your country before downloading The Sign in the Sky in PDF or ePub.
A puzzling omen points to very human motives. Christie’s compact mystery shows how superstition can camouflage calculation—and how evidence restores proportion.
Good for classrooms on logic vs. belief; the reveal plays fair and rewards close reading.
Patterns beat prophecy.
Feelings tested by facts.
Meaning made, then unmade.
Perfect for
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Ingenious plots and fair play clues that set the standard for mystery with crisp comedy.
We have 18 books by Agatha Christie in the AliceAndBooks library