Ninety years ago today, Archibald Christie argued with his wife and walked out of the house, revealing to her that he was leaving her for another woman. This sort of domestic tragedy happens all the time, but when it happens to the world’s most successful mystery writer, the repercussions are bound to affect the work … Continue reading OH YOU CAN GET A MAN WITH A GUN: Christie and the Cad
Agatha Christie
GIVE ‘EM A RIGHT HOOK: Carr vs. Christie on Roping In the Readers
Only yesterday my buddy JJ, on his insightful blog site, InsultingAgathaChri-, oops, I mean, The Invisible Event, celebrated the 110th birthday of his favorite author, John Dickson Carr - an author, I might add, whom I also count among my favorites. Among his many moments of praise for the Locked Room Master, JJ asserted the … Continue reading GIVE ‘EM A RIGHT HOOK: Carr vs. Christie on Roping In the Readers
COMING HOME: Two Examples From Agatha Christie’s Post-War England
Critics of classic mysteries complain that these tales lack any grounding in reality. People die horrible deaths - sometimes a great many people during the same country weekend - but nobody seems particularly put out, unless you count the irritation one feels about having to put off one’s golf game in order to be interrogated … Continue reading COMING HOME: Two Examples From Agatha Christie’s Post-War England
A BIENTOT, POIROT: Agatha Christie’s Curtain
Every month, Rich Westwood at Past Offenses gathers mystery fans from all over the stratosphere to celebrate the mystery literature and films of a specific year, and for November he has chosen . . . 1975?!?!? After October’s foray into 1907, I thought Rich might take pity on us and choose a nice juicy year from … Continue reading A BIENTOT, POIROT: Agatha Christie’s Curtain
HERE I GO AGAIN: Looking for a Halter That Works
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” My blogging pal JJ from The Invisible Event reminded me of this bit of wisdom only the other day after I told him that I had purchased a new Paul Halter novel. You see, my relationship with Halter’s work has … Continue reading HERE I GO AGAIN: Looking for a Halter That Works
DEVIL IN DISGUISE – Christie’s Costumed Criminals . . . AND a Quiz!
When the Tuesday Night Bloggers selected October’s topic – Costume in Crime – I made straight for Agatha Christie, as is my wont. It only took me a moment to cover an entire page with titles that concern criminals in disguise. Christie’s use of this trick is frequent enough and varied enough that I’m sure … Continue reading DEVIL IN DISGUISE – Christie’s Costumed Criminals . . . AND a Quiz!
TELL ME WHY YOU CRIED (And Why You Died on Me)*
What’s this? Two posts in one day?!? My adoring fans will grow tired of me – both of them! But after all, it is Agatha Christie’s birthday, and the blogosphere is lit up with celebrations and personal confessions over why Christie means so much to mystery fans. Author Margot Kinberg really got into the swing of the … Continue reading TELL ME WHY YOU CRIED (And Why You Died on Me)*
CHRISTIE FIRSTS: Another Blogger’s Take
Happy 126th birthday to you, Happy 126th birthday to you! Happy 126th birthday, Dame Agatha . . . I can’t believe it has been a year since all the fuss occurred in Torquay over Agatha Christie’s 125th birthday! The panels, the performances, the men and women dressed up as Countess Vera Russakoff . . . … Continue reading CHRISTIE FIRSTS: Another Blogger’s Take
ALL MY DEADLY DAUGHTERS: Christie’s Children in Fact and Fiction
“I know all mothers rave about their babies, but I must say that, though I personally consider newborn babies definitely hideous, Rosalind actually was a nice-looking baby. She had a lot of dark hair, and she looked rather like a Red Indian; she had not that pink, bald look that is so depressing in babies, … Continue reading ALL MY DEADLY DAUGHTERS: Christie’s Children in Fact and Fiction
L’EXCROISSANCE or, Giving the (Moving) Finger to Christie
My buddy Kate over at Cross Examining Crime just wrote an interesting article on Agatha Christie’s The Moving Finger. While she’s not as fond of the novel as I am, she had a fascinating take on the character of Megan Hunter here. By an amazing coincidence, I happened to watch the TV adaptation of The … Continue reading L’EXCROISSANCE or, Giving the (Moving) Finger to Christie
Ah Sweet Mystery! 