01/12/2026
A Homage to the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie
The discovery of a murdered passenger aboard the Orient Express as it plows through snow-covered terrain toward Istanbul; Miss Marple stumbling across a body in the library; the shocking revelation that the narrator is the killer. Sound familiar?
These are only a few snippets from the many shocking twists penned by English author Agatha Christie. With over two billion copies of her novels sold, Christie continues to hold the record for the bestselling and most translated author of all time.
A writer during the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, Christie has long been called the Queen of Crime, a nickname now trademarked by her estate. In 1955, she was the first recipient of the Mystery Writers of America’s Grand Master Award, and in 1971, Queen Elizabeth made her a dame for her contributions to the literature world.
Five decades after her death, Christie remains an influential figure. Her 66 detective novels and countless short stories continue to serve as inspiration for films, TV and video games, while her play, ‘The Mousetrap’, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952, is the world’s longest running play.
So, in honour of her death 50 years ago today on January 12, 1976, why not curl up with one of her novels, make friends with Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple and enjoy unravelling one of the many clever mysteries that have entertained readers for decades?
Photo Attribution: Agatha Christie plaque -Torre Abbey.jpg: Violetriga derivative work: Flanker, CC BY-SA 3.0
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