Agatha Christie

"An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets, the more interested he is in her."

There are few names in the publishing industry with quite the pulling power, or quite the reputation, as Agatha Christie. This hugely celebrated author wrote no less than 66 detective novels, 14 short story collections, and even the world’s longest-running play, The Mousetrap.

She is widely lauded as the ‘Queen of Crime’, and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, as she has sold more than two billion copies (and counting).

Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, written towards the end of World War I, introduced us to Hercule Poirot, who was to become the most popular detective in crime fiction since Sherlock Holmes. Some of her other best-sellers include Death on the Nile, And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

Meet Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie was born in Torquay, England in 1890. She was a bright and curious child, and was able to read by age four, after which she became a voracious reader. She enjoyed works by Charles Dickens, Alexandre Dumas, Lewis Carroll, and other famous authors.

Christie was able to travel well, from family holidays in Europe to time studying in Paris. She also spent several months in Egypt with her mother. It’s easy to see the influence of her travels in some of her works.

After years of penning short stories and receiving rejections from publishers, Christie wrote her first detective novel after being inspired by Belgian refugees and soldiers she met during the war. This manuscript was eventually accepted by a publisher, who signed her on for five more books.

While it took many more years of work, Agatha’s popularity slowly grew as she penned more books, travelled more, and racked up the awards. She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1956, and was promoted to Dame years later.

Her profound influence over crime & mystery fiction is arguably greater than any other author’s, and her works continue to thrill and intrigue readers today.

What genre and themes does Agatha Christie write?

Christie is best known for detective and crime fiction—puzzle-driven mysteries featuring closed-circle murders, careful plotting, and character-led investigations.

What are some of Agatha Christie's most famous books?

Notable titles include And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

Which recurring detectives and series did she create?

Her best-known detectives are Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote a series featuring Tommy and Tuppence. In total she wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections.

Where should a new reader start with Christie?

For Poirot, many readers start with The Mysterious Affair at Styles (his introduction). And Then There Were None is a widely recommended standalone. Collections like Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories or Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories are good for sampling shorter works.

What awards and recognition did Agatha Christie receive?

She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1956 and was later promoted to Dame. She is nicknamed the 'Queen of Crime', wrote the world's longest-running play (The Mousetrap), and is listed in the Guinness Book as the best-selling fiction writer with over two billion copies sold.