Hickory Dickory Dock. by Christie, Agatha - 1955

London: Collins Crime Club, 1955. First edition of this classic work of detective fiction, the first of Christie's novels to feature Hercule Poirot's secretary, Felicity Lemon. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the month of publication, "To Dorothy from Agatha Oct 1955." The recipient, Dorothy North, was a close friend and integral member of Christie's London social circle in the 1930s. She was the dedicatee of Christie's 1940 novel One Two, Buckle My Shoe. North's daughter, Susan, and Christie's daughter, Rosalind, were also close friends and the joint dedicatees of Christie's 1939 novel Murder is Easy. Bookplate, near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by William Randall. First published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club in 1955, Hickory Dickory Dock follows Christie's longest-running character, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot's investigation into a case of petty theft, and subsequent murder, at a student hostel. "Exciting, entirely credible, and often highly ingenious. This is Agatha Christie in an unaccustomed mood, but as sure in her handling of character and situation - and our attention - as she ever was" (Queen). "When it comes to fiendish plotting, there's nobody to compare with Agatha Christie" (Peter Robinson, New York Times).