CHRISTIE VS. QUEEN: MALICE DOMESTIC TAKES ON THE GOD COMPLEX

Given the number of singular surprise endings for which they were responsible, it’s safe to say that Agatha Christie and Ellery Queen were both masters of misdirection. One or the other probably invented nearly every variation on “the least likely suspect” motif. They shared a goal of fooling the reader, using “fair play” methods that, … Continue reading CHRISTIE VS. QUEEN: MALICE DOMESTIC TAKES ON THE GOD COMPLEX

DOCTOR, LAWYER, MERCHANT, CHIEF: Professions in Agatha Christie

October is racing by, which means the Tuesday Night Bloggers' discussion of all things Christie is, alas, drawing to a close. Curtis Evans, our fearless leader, gathered a group of us together a few weeks ago with an offer to let us expound on anything we liked about the Mistress of Mystery. (Check out Curt's blog, … Continue reading DOCTOR, LAWYER, MERCHANT, CHIEF: Professions in Agatha Christie

THE BLOODSTAINED PAVEMENT, PART II: Agatha Christie and Variations on the Serial Killer

Hereby stand warned: In discussing mystery fiction in any sort of depth, including plot points and motivations, certain spoilers may arise that could affect a first-time readers’ enjoyment of the books under discussion. Proceed at your own risk. The modern serial killer tale is typically a crime novel or procedural rather than a mystery, and … Continue reading THE BLOODSTAINED PAVEMENT, PART II: Agatha Christie and Variations on the Serial Killer

THE BLOODSTAINED PAVEMENT, PART I: Agatha Christie and the Serial Killer

I am honored to be included by Curtis Evans, along with Noah, Bev Hankins, Moira Redmond, Helen Szamuely, and Jeffrey Marks, all bloggers par excellence, as a member of the Tuesday Night Bloggers, in honor of that Mistress of Mystery, Agatha Christie. For those of you new or new-ish to Christie’s work, The Thirteen Problems … Continue reading THE BLOODSTAINED PAVEMENT, PART I: Agatha Christie and the Serial Killer