Aboard a small airplane somewhere between Paris and Croydon, a murder is committed. Madame Giselle, whose skills as a discreet moneylender to the very rich had gained her a vast fortune, is slumped over in her seat. There was no question of accident -- the weapon lay on the cabin floor, a small dart common to South American Indian tribes. Death had undoubtedly taken place while high in the air, and the murderer was one of the thirteen occupants of the plane. From an indebted high-society woman to a sloppy mystery writer familiar with deadly blowpipes, the list of suspects keeps the police guessing and includes one of their own -- Detective Hercule Poirot -- who was also a passenger.

A stunning mixture of subtle characterization, deft humor, and startling suspense, Death in the Clouds is a diabolically ingenious mystery that ranks among Christie's very best.