Welcome to Christie's Mysteries!  This preview episode provides an introduction to the podcast and includes a brief biographical sketch of Agatha Christie until the publication of her first novel in 1920. For the full blog post, visit www.christiesmysteries.com. Resources: Christie, Agatha.  An Autobiography.  New York: HarperCollins, 1977. Devon, Brent.  “About Torquay – History.”  Torquay Now.  Accessed April 14, 2018.  http://www.torquaynow.co.uk/Torquay-History.html Morgan, Janet.  Agatha Christie: A Biography.  London: HarperCollinsPublisher ..read more

Murder on the Orient Express, written by Agatha Christie in 1933 and published the following year, is perhaps her seminal work.  It is also possibly the work most directly inspired by a true crime case, the kidnapping and murder of the Lindbergh baby.  This episode explores the novel and several related true crime cases as well as the use of forensic xylotomy in the original Case of the Century. For the full blog post, visit www.christiesmysteries.com. Resources: Christie, Agatha.  An Autobiography.  New York: HarperCollins, 1977. Christie, Agatha.  Murder on the Or ..read more

In 1920, Agatha Christie's first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, was published.  Central to the novel was chemistry and toxicology, and the novel also introduced the character of Hercule Poirot.  This podcast provides a synopsis of the novel as well as a discussion of related true crime cases, legal history, and strychnine poisoning. For the full blog post, visit www.christiesmysteries.com. Resources: Christie, Agatha.  An Autobiography.  New York: HarperCollins, 1977. Christie, Agatha. The Mysterious Affair at Styles.  London: The Bodley Head, 1921. Curran ..read more

Harley Quin was perhaps Agatha Christie's favorite character among all her creations.  Unlike Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, Harley Quin is not a detective.  Rather he is an ephemeral being, arriving at the scene of mysterious circumstances (often involving romantic entanglements) to guide Mr. Sattherthwaite, who could be considered the detective in stories involving Mr. Quin, to the truth about the situations.  Although he wears a typical dark suit, it is often described that the light hits him in certain ways to produce effects of a colorful motley or black domino mask. The ..read more

Although the first full-length novel with Miss Jane Marple as the detective was published in 1930 (Murder at the Vicarage), the character initially appeared in print in a series of 6 short stories Christie wrote for a magazine in 1928.  In 1932, an additional 6 stories were added, and the compilation was published as The Thirteen Problems (UK) or The Tuesday Club Murders (US). This episode focuses on two stories within the collection: The Thumb Mark of St. Peter and The Blue Geranium.  Both stories involve poisoning and have been mimicked or reproduced in some interesting true crime ..read more

Harley Quin was perhaps Agatha Christie's favorite character among all her creations.  Unlike Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, Harley Quin is not a detective.  Rather he is an ephemeral being, arriving at the scene of mysterious circumstances (often involving romantic entanglements) to guide Mr. Sattherthwaite, who could be considered the detective in stories involving Mr. Quin, to the truth about the situations.  Although he wears a typical dark suit, it is often described that the light hits him in certain ways to produce effects of a colorful motley or black domino mask. The ..read more

Although the first full-length novel with Miss Jane Marple as the detective was published in 1930 (Murder at the Vicarage), the character initially appeared in print in a series of 6 short stories Christie wrote for a magazine in 1928.  In 1932, an additional 6 stories were added, and the compilation was published as The Thirteen Problems (UK) or The Tuesday Club Murders (US). This episode focuses on two stories within the collection: The Thumb Mark of St. Peter and The Blue Geranium.  Both stories involve poisoning and have been mimicked or reproduced in some interesting true crime ..read more

Murder on the Orient Express, written by Agatha Christie in 1933 and published the following year, is perhaps her seminal work.  It is also possibly the work most directly inspired by a true crime case, the kidnapping and murder of the Lindbergh baby.  This episode explores the novel and several related true crime cases as well as the use of forensic xylotomy in the original Case of the Century. For the full blog post, visit www.christiesmysteries.com. Resources: Christie, Agatha.  An Autobiography.  New York: HarperCollins, 1977. Christie, Agatha.  Murder on the Or ..read more

Murder on the Orient Express, written by Agatha Christie in 1933 and published the following year, is perhaps her seminal work.  It is also possibly the work most directly inspired by a true crime case, the kidnapping and murder of the Lindbergh baby.  This episode explores the novel and several related true crime cases as well as the use of forensic xylotomy in the original Case of the Century. For the full blog post, visit www.christiesmysteries.com. Resources: Christie, Agatha.  An Autobiography.  New York: HarperCollins, 1977. Christie, Agatha.  Murder on the Or ..read more

In 1920, Agatha Christie's first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, was published.  Central to the novel was chemistry and toxicology, and the novel also introduced the character of Hercule Poirot.  This podcast provides a synopsis of the novel as well as a discussion of related true crime cases, legal history, and strychnine poisoning. For the full blog post, visit www.christiesmysteries.com. Resources: Christie, Agatha.  An Autobiography.  New York: HarperCollins, 1977. Christie, Agatha. The Mysterious Affair at Styles.  London: The Bodley Head, 1921. Curran ..read more