Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890 and became, quite simply, the best-selling novelist in history. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, written towards the end of the First World War, introduced us to Hercule Poirot, who was to become the most popular detective in crime fiction since Sherlock Holmes. She is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and another billion in over 100 foreign languages. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections, 19 plays, and six novels under the name of Mary Westmacott.

‘So simple, so economical, so completely baffling. Every clue scrupulously given, with superb sleight of hand.’Sunday Times‘The plot is perfect and the characters are wonderful.’San Francisco Chronicle‘The best Poirot since such pre-war classics as Cards on the Table.’New York Times‘Highly ingenious – Christie is still able to vary the tricks she plays.’ROBERT BARNARD

Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890 and became, quite simply, the best-selling novelist in history. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, written towards the end of the First World War, introduced us to Hercule Poirot, who was to become the most popular detective in crime fiction since Sherlock Holmes. She is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and another billion in over 100 foreign languages. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections, 19 plays, and six novels under the name of Mary Westmacott.

‘So simple, so economical, so completely baffling. Every clue scrupulously given, with superb sleight of hand.’Sunday Times‘The plot is perfect and the characters are wonderful.’San Francisco Chronicle‘The best Poirot since such pre-war classics as Cards on the Table.’New York Times‘Highly ingenious – Christie is still able to vary the tricks she plays.’ROBERT BARNARD

Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890 and became, quite simply, the best-selling novelist in history. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, written towards the end of the First World War, introduced us to Hercule Poirot, who was to become the most popular detective in crime fiction since Sherlock Holmes. She is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and another billion in over 100 foreign languages. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections, 19 plays, and six novels under the name of Mary Westmacott.

‘So simple, so economical, so completely baffling. Every clue scrupulously given, with superb sleight of hand.’Sunday Times‘The plot is perfect and the characters are wonderful.’San Francisco Chronicle‘The best Poirot since such pre-war classics as Cards on the Table.’New York Times‘Highly ingenious – Christie is still able to vary the tricks she plays.’ROBERT BARNARD