The Dead Harlequin - a Harley Quin Short Story(1929)

Agatha Christie

When Mr. Satterthwaite visits a new exhibit in London at the Harchester Galleries, he discovers a painting with a male figure that bares an unusual likeness to a mysterious acquaintance of his, Mr. Quin. With one bold move, he purchases the canvas on the spot and in another, invites the artist of The Dead Harlequin to dine with him that night.

The dinner gets off on the wrong foot with the artist emphatically disagreeing with most points. There's an empty place at the table; is it for the mysterious Mr. Quin? Conversation soon turns to the setting of The Dead Harlequin, the doomed and ghostly house named Charnley where so many have perished under tragic circumstances. Can the painting shed any light upon the happenings at Charnley?

Librarian's note #1: A classic Agatha Christie short story, available individually for the first time as an eBook.

Librarian's note #2: this short story was published in Grand magazine (1929) and then in the print anthology The Mysterious Mr. Quin which was first published in 1930.

Librarian's note #3: the print anthology contains 12 Mr. Quin short stories. Besides those, there are two more found in other collections: The Love Detectives, and The Harlequin Tea Set. Mr. Satterthwaite also appears in Three Act Tragedy and Dead Man's Mirror. All by Agatha Christie, of course!

Librarian's note #4: the entries for all fourteen Mr. Quin short stories can be found on GR by searching for: a Harley Quin short story. Or for Harley Quin. Details such as characters and settings are included for each.