Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie, born on September 15, 1890, in Torquay, England. She is known as the “Queen of Crime” and stands as the best-selling novelist of all time. Her extensive body of work includes 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections. They captivate readers worldwide with her intricate plots and memorable characters.

Early Life and Inspiration

Raised in a middle-class family, Christie was educated at home by her mother, fostering a love for reading and storytelling from a young age. During World War I, she served as a nurse. This experience provided her with knowledge of medicines and poisons, elements that would later become integral to her mystery novels.

Iconic Characters and Literary Contributions

Christie’s literary legacy is marked by the creation of two iconic detectives:

• Hercule Poirot: Introduced in her debut novel, “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” (1920). Poirot is a meticulous Belgian detective known for his “little grey cells” and methodical approach to solving crimes.
• Miss Jane Marple: First appearing in “The Murder at the Vicarage” (1930). Miss Marple is an astute elderly spinster whose keen understanding of human nature aids her in unraveling complex mysteries.

Notable Works

Among Christie’s extensive bibliography, several novels stand out as masterpieces of the mystery genre:

• “And Then There Were None” (1939): Often regarded as her magnum opus, this novel tells the story of ten strangers invited to a secluded island, where they are mysteriously killed one by one. It has sold over 100 million copies, making it one of the best-selling books in history.
• “Murder on the Orient Express” (1934): Featuring Hercule Poirot, this novel presents a murder aboard the luxurious Orient Express. There every passenger becomes a suspect.
• “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” (1926): This novel is renowned for its innovative narrative twist. There the narrator is revealed to be the murderer, challenging traditional detective fiction conventions.
• “The Murder at the Vicarage” (1930): Marking the debut of Miss Marple, this novel showcases her sleuthing skills in the quaint village of St. Mary Mead.

Legacy and Adaptations

Christie’s works have been translated into over 100 languages, and her plays, such as “The Mousetrap,” have enjoyed unprecedented runs in theaters. Her novels have been adapted into numerous films, television series, and radio dramas, cementing her status as a cornerstone of the mystery genre.

Some of the works of Agatha Christie that we will look at here are:

Novels:

• The Mysterious Affair at Styles
• The Secret Adversary
• The Murder on the Links
• The Man in the Brown Suit
• The Secret of Chimneys
• The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
• The Big Four 
• The Mystery of the Blue Train
• The Seven Dials Mystery
• The Murder at the Vicarage
• The Sittaford Mystery
• Peril at End House
• Lord Edgware Dies
• Murder on the Orient Express
• Unfinished Portrait
• Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?
• Three Act Tragedy
• Death in the Clouds
• The A.B.C. Murders
• Murder in Mesopotamia
• Cards on the Table
• Dumb Witness
• Death on the Nile
• Appointment with Death
• Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
• Murder Is Easy
• And Then There Were None
• Sad Cypress
• One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
• Evil Under the Sun
• N or M? 
• The Body in the Library
• Five Little Pigs
• The Moving Finger
• Towards Zero
• Absent in the Spring
• Death Comes as the End
• Sparkling Cyanide
• The Hollow
• Taken at the Flood
• The Rose and the Yew Tree
• Crooked House
• A Murder Is Announced
• Mrs McGinty’s Dead
• They Do It with Mirrors
• A Daughter’s a Daughter
• After the Funeral
• A Pocket Full of Rye
• Destination Unknown
• Hickory Dickory Dock
• Dead Man’s Folly
• The Burden
• 4.50 from Paddington
• Ordeal by Innocence
• Cat Among the Pigeons
• The Pale Horse
• The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side
• The Clocks
• A Caribbean Mystery
• At Bertram’s Hotel
• Endless Night
• By the Pricking of My Thumbs
• Hallowe’en Party
• Passenger to Frankfurt
• Nemesis 
• Elephants Can Remember
• Postern of Fate
• Curtain
• Sleeping Murder

Collections:

• Poirot Investigates
• Partners in Crime
• The Mysterious Mr Quin
• The Thirteen Problems
• The Hound of Death
• The Listerdale Mystery
• Parker Pyne Investigates
• Murder in the Mews
• The Labours of Hercules
• The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
• Poirot’s Early Cases

Agatha Christie’s enduring appeal lies in her masterful storytelling, complex characters, and the timeless allure of her mysteries, ensuring her place as a literary icon for generations to come.