In Agatha Christie's crime novels, known as 'whodunits', possible suspects are gradually eliminated, either by the killer, or clues, which are pieced together by famous detective characters such as Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple. The reader is cleverly kept guessing until the villain is revealed in the final chapter.

Her writing career, which lasted half a century, was launched in 1926 with 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles'. In addition to detective stories, Agatha wrote six romantic novels using the pen name Mary Westmacott, and was a succesful playwright, notable for 'The Moustrap' - the longest running drama on the London stage. Her works have been outsold only by the Bible, and her books translated into over 100 languages - many more than Shakespeare!

Written by Mike Holgate

© copyright Godfrey Argent

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