Agatha Christie Special Editions Hardbacks

Review

HarperCollins first ‘officially' started issuing books in this series binding style in October 2017 with a special edition of Murder on the Orient Express that tied in with interest surrounding the movie release of that year. Its popularity was followed by three more “train mysteries” the following year, and an expansion into further popular titles thereafter.

The books are essentially textured paper hardback covers over paperback internals – they have glued bindings and non-acid-free paper, so I wouldn't consider them a long-lasting investment. However, I really enjoy their timeless cover designs and special finishes which include delightful decorative endpapers, and touches of foiling on the covers and spines. The backs are also illustrated and several include a quote from the book woven into the design. The volumes are on the small size at 14 x 22 cm, but I like this as it makes them really convenient to read and travel with. Do be careful pulling them in and out of your shelves though, because the paper corners are prone to bumping.

Are all the books all the same size?

One thing you need to be aware of is that the books change size mid-series. Titles published prior to 2023 are sized at 14.1 x 22.2 cm, but from mid-2023 onwards, new titles with cover art by Becky Bettesworth have been smaller at 13.5 x 20.4 cm. Also relevant, from mid-2024, all reprints of earlier larger titles are now being re-released in the smaller format.

According to the publisher, this decision was made in order to bring them in line with standard sizes used by other publishers for unjacketed titles. It means you can wait and eventually get all the titles to match, but will make things a little complicated for online buyers as it may not always be clear which format you're getting during the changeover.

Four seasonal short story collections have also been released in matching bindings (sold separately or as a boxed set marketed as ‘Murder for All Seasons’). And there are a couple of ‘pre-series' volumes that were released in 2016 as Waterstones exclusives in the UK. These were early prototypes with monochrome bindings and foiling, but they are even smaller in size, have plain endpapers, and use a slightly cheaper paper on the covers.

How many books in the series?

There has been no commitment to producing all the Agatha Christie mysteries in this format, but so far the most popular titles are being covered, along with the bespoke short story collections. New titles are often released in October/November, in time for Christmas trade. RRP on release has been £14.99 per book. So far there are 42 volumes (including upcoming editions) in the Agatha Christie ‘Special Editions' series released by HarperCollins, including a couple of boxed sets, as well as an additional two similar ‘pre-release' editions.