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Love From A Stranger
Agatha Christie

Love From A Stranger

Quick Answer

Start with "Love From A Stranger" to begin the Plays and Non-Fiction. It is the essential series starter and provides the necessary foundation for the rest of the books.

Quick Verdict

🟡 Optional side story — not required for main plot

âť“ Can I skip this book?
✅ Yes — Optional

This is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not strictly necessary to follow the main plot.

Verdict Insight: This is the essential series starter that introduces the Agatha Christie's core world and character arcs. It is required reading for all new fans.

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1936118 ppNovellaOptional Side StorySeries Starter
Cecily Harrington has led a staid and proper existence. After winning a large amount of money in a sweepstake she desperately yearns for a life of adventure. Enter Bruce Lovell, a handsome and charming stranger who sweeps her off her feet. In a whirlwind romance, she recklessly abandons her job, friends and fiancé to settle in the remote and blissful surroundings of a country cottage. However, her newfound “love from a stranger” is not what it seems and in an astonishingly tense final scene, Cecily discovers the ghastly truth of her new love. An intense and chilling psychological thriller which examines the sadistic mind of a serial killer and the extremes to which the power of suggestion can be pushed. Love From a Stranger is an adaptation by Agatha Christie and Frank Vosper which draws both on Christie's earlier play, The Stranger, and her short story, Philomel Cottage. Some years before this play, Christie herself wrote a stage version, calling it The Stranger.
Next Recommended Book

Come, Tell Me How You Live

Book #2 of 10 in Series

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for deep lore fans.

Order Confidence

high Confidence

Why this order?

Our team of curators analyzes publication history, author interviews, and internal narrative continuity to establish the definitive reading sequence. This ensures zero spoilers and maximum narrative impact.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Plays and Non-Fiction conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip reading Love From A Stranger?

This is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not strictly necessary to follow the main plot.

Can I read Love From A Stranger before other books in the series?

Yes. Love From A Stranger is an optional side story and can be read at any time without spoiling the main series plot.

Is Love From A Stranger required reading for the Plays and Non-Fiction?

No, it is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not essential to the central storyline.

What comes after Love From A Stranger in the reading order?

The next recommended book after Love From A Stranger is Come, Tell Me How You Live (Book #2).