Agatha Christie

Born in Torquay, England, in 1890, Agatha Christie became one of the most famous mystery writers in the world. She wrote dozens of detective novels and short-story collections, and her best-known sleuths, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, became lasting fixtures of popular fiction.

Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, introduced Poirot in 1920. Alongside her novels, she also wrote successful plays, including The Mousetrap, which became famous for its extraordinary long run on stage.

Christie also wrote some fiction under the name Mary Westmacott. She died in 1976, but her work remains hugely popular for its neat plotting, memorable characters, and the pleasure of trying to solve the puzzle before the final reveal.