Dew's Agatha Christie Mystery Site

AC wrote Sleeping Murder and Curtain during the WWII London blitz and saved them in case she was killed during the bombing raids.

Plots Inspired By True Events In The News:
Murder On The Links
The Mirror Crack'd
Murder On The Orient Express (2 different events)


Thanks to two people who read The Pale Horse, two lives were saved. In one case, the reader realized that a man was trying to kill his wife. In the other, a nurse was able to recognize the effects of thallium poisoning before an infant died. A detective was also to figure out why six men mysteriously died and was able to catch the murderer, who later confessed to the crime.


AC's Best Opening (According to her):
The Body in the Library


Hercule Poirot's Christmas was written because AC's brother-in-law, James Watts wanted her to write "a good, violent murder with lots of blood."


AC's Most Hated Book
The Mystery Of The Blue Train


AC's Murder-In-Respect Books:
(These are her mysteries where the detective tries to solve a murder that took place some time in the past.)

Five Little Pigs/Murder In Retrospect
Sparkling Cyanide
Ordeal By Innocence
Elephants Can Remember
Sleeping Murder


In 1972, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum measured AC so they could create a life-size wax figure of her. Upon completion, it was placed in the Grand Hall of the museum.


Only AC Novel With A Historical Setting:
Death Comes As The End


The publishers wanted AC to change the ending of Crooked House but she didn't budge.


The One Book Where AC Finally Agreed To Change The Ending But Regretted It:
Death Comes As The End


The film version of Witness for the Prosecution was nominated for six Academy Awards but received none of them.


AC's Breakout Book:
The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd


In 1960, Max Mallowan (AC's second husband) was honored as Commander of the British Empire. Eight years later, he was knighted for his archaelogy work.


AC was paid $1 Million For The U.S. Paperback Rights To:
Sleeping Murder


In Max Mallowan's memoirs, he said that AC loved apples (just like her creation, Mrs. Oliver). In fact, AC would sometimes plan out her plots in the bathtub while eating them.


In 1924, The Christie's Bought Their First Home And Named It:
Styles House (after her first novel)


AC wrote the radio play Three Blind Mice for Queen Mary's birthday.


AC's Favorite Novel With A Foreign Background:
Death On The Nile


Miss Marple Was Born, In Part, Because:
Of AC's joy in creating Dr. Sheppard's sister, Caroline.


Agatha Christie was a big fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens.


Two AC Books Most Disliked By Critics & Fans:
Pasenger To Frankfurt
Postern Of Fate


In 1926, AC disappeared for ten days. She was said she had a nervous breakdown during this time.


After the death of her mother, Agatha's then brother-in-law, Campbell Christie, helped AC pull a series of short stories together to create the novel, The Big Four.


In 1930, Giant's Bread Was Published Under The Name:
Mary Westmacott. It took fifteen years for the public to learn who Mary Westmacott really was.


AC said that one of her biggest critics was her daughter, Rosalind.


To Help End Her Writer's Block, AC would:
Clean house


AC wrote The Mysterious Affair Of Styles because of a dare/bet made by her sister.


The Two AC Novels That Have Youthful Victims:
Halloween Party (two teens, one is 13 and other is 11)
Dead Man's Folly (one teen, who is 14)


Novels That Feature A Murder Involving A Large Family:
Hercule Poirot's Christmas
What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw!
Crooked House
A Pocket Full Of Rye
The Mysterious Affair At Styles


AC learned about chemistry and poisons from working as a volunteer in a hospital dispensory during the war.