All About Agatha Christie

Meow: The Cats of Agatha Christie Mar 02, 2025

First, dogs. Now, cats. Who knows where this podcast will lead me next?

Come see me on tour! 4th-9th of March in the Northeastern U.S.! Visit my website for more details.

You can now buy Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, here in the United States.

Check out Kate Jackson's excellent article about cats and mysteries.

And here is the article I referenced on the blog Literary Potpourri, which I found to be helpful.

You can also buy The Busy Body, the first book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, in paperback at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Author, or at my author website.

A Special Valentine's Day Episode: All About Love in Agatha Christie Feb 14, 2025

Love and marriage are said to go together like a horse and carriage, but what about love and murder? Like a sheep and herder, maybe? I'm just spitballing here, forgive me; I'm a little delirious after exploring so many iterations of love in so many different Christie works. I hope you enjoy the episode. It was a labor of--well, you know.

BLANKET SPOILER WARNING: spoilers abound in this episode (I cover a lot of ground), so if you are worried about having any Christie novel or short story spoiled for you, please proceed with caution!

Check out my new article on AgathaChristie.com, all about Christie's transportation and travel mysteries.

And speaking of transportation and travel mysteries, consider purchasing my new mystery novel, Loose Lips, set entirely on a cruise ship! (The second book in the Ghostwriter Mysteries series.)

You can listen to two interviews I did on two great podcasts: Mechanicsburg Mystery Presents and Books on the Go.

And you can check out my author website for more details about my upcoming tour in a few weeks' time, in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, from Tuesday March 4th through Sunday March 9th.

Also you can now buy The Busy Body, the first book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, in paperback at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Author or at my author website.

Interview with Lucy Foley, Author of The Midnight Feast (and Other Mysteries) Jan 18, 2025

Chances are you know exactly who Lucy Foley is, and have read one of her bestselling mystery thrillers, all of which have been compared to Agatha Christie. Lucy is also a massive Christie fan herself, and it was such a joy to speak with her about her work, and our shared love of Dame Agatha (and in particular Miss Marple!).

Here are a few organizations to contribute to, in L.A.'s ongoing effort to combat and recover from these devastating fires.

Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation

California Community Foundation's Wildlife Recovery

American Red Cross

The Salvation Army

You can now buy Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, here in the United States!

And you can now buy The Busy Body, the first book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, in paperback at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

You can check out my upcoming tour dates here on my author website.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my author website.

Special Announcement: I Am Okay, But Next Episode Delayed Due to L.A. Fires Jan 12, 2025

Thank you to everyone for understanding. As I mentioned, here are a few organizations you can contribute to, if you are so inclined.

Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation

California Community Foundation's Wildlife Recovery

American Red Cross

The Salvation Army

Stay safe, everyone.

A Special Christmas Episode: Promotion in the Highest by Agatha Christie Mallowan (with Rev. Dr. Sarah Hinlicky Wilson). . . and Some Holiday Poems, Too! Dec 22, 2024

It's always a joy to have the Reverend Doctor Sarah Hinlicky Wilson on the show to explain to us what the heck Agatha Christie Mallowan is getting at in the extremely personal and extremely Christian short stories she wrote within her Star Over Bethlehem and Other Stories collection. Happy holidays to all who celebrate; we certainly know that Agatha Christie did!

Please note there are a few minor spoilers for Passenger to Frankfurt littered throughout our discussion, which I did not note at the top of the episode. But there is an argument to be made that this novel is un-spoilable, since it barely makes any sense.... (I get to be cheeky around the holidays.)

You can pre-order Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, here in the United States.

Come see me on tour for Loose Lips, starting in a few short weeks! Visit my website for more details.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page (a subscription is the perfect holiday gift!), click here.

Check out all that Sarah Hinlicky Wilson is up to (it's a lot!). Her website is here, and you can visit her podcast, Queen of the Sciences, here. You can also check out her substack here.

I also mentioned two previous articles Sarah has written, which I believe every Christie fanatic should read for the insights they provide: "Miss Marple's Low Anthropology" and "Agatha Christie, A Very Elusive Christian."

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my author website.

And you can of course still buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Beware Poppy and Mandragora: Within a Wall by Agatha Christie (with Guest Co-Host Michelle Kazmer) Nov 27, 2024

It was a joy to welcome Dr. Michelle Kazmer back on the podcast to discuss an early and unusual Christie short story that contains echoes of so much of what we love about Christie overall. For those in the United States who may be feeling a bit fatigued from all the tryptophan consumed this holiday weekend, just be thankful it's nothing compared to the "sleepytime" embrace of one Isobel Loring....

You can pre-order Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, here in the United States.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my author website.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Interview with Maureen Johnson, Author of Death at Morning House Nov 09, 2024

Take comfort, for Maureen Johnson is back on the podcast to talk about her newest (standalone) YA mystery novel, and to talk about the nature of YA mystery itself!

You can find out more about Maureen and check out all her brilliant books at her website here.

You can pre-order Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, here in the United States.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my author website.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

A Special HALLOWE'EN SPOOKTACULAR Episode: The Fourth Man by Agatha Christie Oct 26, 2024

We've got strange goings-on in this early, supernatural Christie short story. What happened to poor Felicie Bault? Could it be a multiple personality disorder? A body swap?! Or something even WEIRDER? You be the judge... but first, delight with me in heaps upon heaps of listener correspondence. Happy Hallowe'en, everyone!

For U.S. listeners: pre-order Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, at your bookseller of choice here.

Check out this Monsieur Poirot/Miss Marple spoof, The Teddy Bear Who Knew Too Much, courtesy of The Two Ronnies.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my author website.

You can still buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

*Crossover Episode* with The Swinging Christies (!!): Ranking the 1960s Novels of Agatha Christie Oct 11, 2024

Did you know that Superman's appearance on I Love Lucy is considered by some to be the first crossover episode of television? In that case, I was blessed with the appearance of *TWO* supermen on this crossover episode of All About Agatha and The Swinging Christies, in which I sat down (in Agatha Christie's birthplace and on Agatha Christie's birthday, no less!) with co-hosts Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown. Together, we discussed--and debated--the ranking of Christie's novels from the 1960s, which they've spent the past year considering in glorious detail. I couldn't think of a better way to spend 90 minutes, and only wish it could have been longer. Enjoy!

The following titles are spoiled (to varying degrees) over the course of this episode: At Bertram’s Hotel, The Body in the Library, By the Pricking of My Thumbs, A Caribbean Mystery, Cat Among the Pigeons, The Clocks, Elephants Can Remember, Endless Night, Hallowe’en Party, Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side, Murder is Easy, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Nemesis, The Pale Horse, Passenger to Frankfurt, Postern of Fate, They Do It With Mirrors, Third Girl.

You can find more information about and links to Dr. Mark Aldridge's newest book, Agatha Christie's Marple: Expert on Wickedness at his website.

You can pre-order Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, here in the United States.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my author website.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

You can find Mark and Gray on X and Instagram under @Christie_Time, and at their website.

Interview with Marci Kay Monson, Author of the New Children's Book, Agatha Christie's The Mysterious Affair at Styles Sep 27, 2024

Marci Kay Monson has created something very interesting in this children's picture-book version of The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I can't think of a better way to start off what I hope is a long-running discussion of YA mystery, here on the podcast.

You can check out Marci's book on her website here.

You can pre-order Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, here in the United States.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my author website.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

*LIVE!* Episode: Agatha Christie's Greatest Screen Adaptation? (Recorded at the 2024 Agatha Christie Festival) Sep 13, 2024

It's time for another live episode from the Agatha Christie Festival in Torquay, with a to-die-for panel of Agathologists! And guess what? The sound quality of this one is SUPERB, thanks to the presence of an on-site technician. Thank you to the Festival for making this happen!

I hope you all enjoy; I know we did....

I'm appearing at Bloody Scotland tomorrow, Saturday 14 September, and hope to see some listeners there!

You can currently pre-order Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, in the United States.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my author website.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Summer Rerun: All About the Adaptations of And Then There Were None (with guest Mark Aldridge) Aug 23, 2024

I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane, especially since it will help prepare you for my upcoming live episode at the Agatha Christie Festival, concerning which among the many (many!) screen adaptations of Christie's work is the best....

To find out more and purchase tickets for my appearance at the Bloody Scotland festival on Saturday, 14 September at 11:30am, please click here.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my personal website.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can!) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Special Announcement: I'm Coming to Scotland! Aug 17, 2024

I'm thrilled to be participating in the Bloody Scotland festival this September! Click here for more information about my panel on Saturday, 14 September at 11:30am, at Trinity Church in Stirling.

And for those of you in Southern California, here are the details for my upcoming appearance at a brand-new Barnes & Noble in Santa Monica on Saturday, 31 August at 10:00am, at the Third Street Promenade.

Interview with Kate Gingold, Author of Agatha Annotated Aug 10, 2024

It was such a pleasure to speak with Kate Gingold about her glossary of annotations of Christie novels and short stories from the 1920s.

You can find Kate, her book, and many other offerings at her website: Agatha Annotated. You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and you can find out more about her non-Agatha offerings on this website.

You can find out more about Kate's talk at the Agatha Christie Festival (and purchase a ticket) here.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my personal website.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can!) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Woof: The Dogs of Agatha Christie Jul 26, 2024

Whether it's teeny-tiny dogs like the Pekingese, more medium-sized dogs like the VAST array of terriers who appear in this episode, or large dogs like the scary greyhound who makes quite a memorable appearance, there is something for everyone in my discussion of the canine species in Agatha Christie's works. Special thanks to Kate Jackson and Michelle Kazmer, whose expertise I leaned on in preparing this episode.

Click here to visit and subscribe to Patreon for bonus episodes. And I encourage you to listen to my Patreon episode all about Next to a Dog, as referenced in this episode. If you don't want to become a paying member, simply sign up as a free member, and you can listen free of charge for up to two weeks following the release of this episode.

Please watch the PBS SoCal YouTube series Won't You Be My Gamer?, in which I play a videogame adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express with two experts! Great fun.

You can read Kate Jackson's excellent lecture on animals in classic mystery fiction here.

Here is a link to that old, dog-and-cat-centric episode of the Crown Court series that I mentioned, Evil Liver, written by Ngaio Marsh and starring Joan Hickson (among others).

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my personal website.

Click here to purchase tickets for my panel at the upcoming Agatha Christie Festival.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can!) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Interview with David Morris of Collecting Christie Jul 13, 2024

It was a dream to be able to sit down with David Morris, and pore over all the priceless goodies he brought with him having to do with Agatha Christie books, art, and ephemera.

The following titles are spoiled during the course of our conversation: The Mystery of the Blue Train, Death on the Nile.

To watch me watch two gamers play Murder on the Orient Express the videogame while we discuss all things Agatha Christie, click here. This is the first episode of the PBS SoCal series Won't You Be My Gamer? It was a lot of fun.

For more of David's scholarly work from a collector's point of view, you can visit his website here, find him on Twitter here, and on Facebook here. You can also check out his upcoming talk at the Agatha Christie Festival here.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my personal website.

Click here to purchase tickets for my panel at the upcoming Agatha Christie Festival.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can!) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Overbearing, Rich, and Idiomatic: The Americans of Agatha Christie Jun 29, 2024

It's time to discuss those pesky Americans who appear in the Christie canon, and answer such burning questions as: Are all Americans millionaires? (Alas, no.) Do all Americans speak solely by way of idiom? (Happily, no.) I was also able to answer a ton of mailbag questions, which involved one hundred percent more Spice Girls than I expected it to.

The following titles are spoiled to varying degrees in this episode: The Actress; After the Funeral; The Big Four; A Caribbean Mystery; Cat Among the Pigeons; Death on the Nile; Destination Unknown; Endless Night; Evil Under the Sun; Lord Edgware Dies; The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side; Motive v. Opportunity; The Mousetrap (though only in a minor way), Mrs. McGinty’s Dead; A Murder is Announced, Murder on the Orient Express; The Soul of the Croupier; Sparkling Cyanide; They Do It With Mirrors.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my personal website.

Click here to purchase tickets for my panel at the upcoming Agatha Christie Festival.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can!) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Collecting the Collectors: The Gays of Agatha Christie (Special *PRIDE* Edition... with Bonus Jamie Bernthal!) Jun 15, 2024

It's raining long-haired, antique-loving, architecturally-inclined men! And a few women, too! June is Pride month for the LGBTQIA+ community here in the United States, which I took as an opportunity to explore the topic of "gay" characters in Christie... along with revisiting an interview Catherine Brobeck and I did with long-time friend of the podcast, Jamie Bernthal. Enjoy, my dears!

The following titles are spoiled to varying degrees in this episode: The Mousetrap, The Rats, “Death by Drowning,” “Greenshaw’s Folly,” After the Funeral, Cards on the Table, Endless Night, Five Little Pigs, Hallowe’en Party, Lord Edgware Dies, The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side, The Moving Finger, Mrs. McGinty’s Dead, A Murder is Announced, Murder is Easy, Nemesis.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my personal website.

Click here to purchase tickets for my panel at the upcoming Agatha Christie Festival.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can!) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Interview with Journalist Karen Robinson on the Discovery of a Rare, Early Agatha Christie Artifact Jun 01, 2024

It isn't every day a new discovery is made regarding a physical record of Agatha Christie's writing, especially one from her earliest days as a writer.... Thank you to journalist Karen Robinson for sitting down with me to talk about What We Did in the Great War by Agatha Christie... and by others in the VAD in Torquay during the First World War! It was a fantastic discussion.

For information about the exhibition in London where you can see this handmade magazine for yourself, click here.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

Visit the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit me personally on Facebook at Kemper Donovan Books, or at my personal website.

Click here to purchase tickets for my panel at the upcoming Agatha Christie Festival.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (make it an indie if you possibly can!) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Ten Little Poirots & Marples: Ranking Agatha Christie's Detectives on the Screen May 17, 2024

It's another episode focused on the adaptations of Agatha Christie: specifically, those talented actors who have brought life to Monsieur Poirot and Miss Marple in films and television for nearly 100 years now. Who will win the title of Greatest Poirot and Greatest Marple of Them All? And how will the rankings leading up to my #1 picks shake out? I surprised myself with a few of my choices here, and I look forward to receiving outraged responses from at least a few of you. Special thanks to Scott Ratner for his spirited commentary on one of these actors, and the valuable insights his perspective provided.

Please note that I spoil the plot of Curtain, and also the 2018 adaptation of The ABC Murders in this episode.

Click here to purchase tickets for my panel at the upcoming Agatha Christie Festival.

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page by clicking here.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

I mentioned a few different adaptations over the course of this episode. Click below to access them.

Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple (Japanese-language animated series)

Murder by the Book (starring Ian Holm and Peggy Ashcroft)

Various BBC radio plays

Viki.com (where you can watch Ms. Ma, Nemesis)

*LIVE!* Episode: Interview with Kemper Donovan, Author of The Busy Body (and Busman's Holidayer) Apr 26, 2024

Saturday, April 27th is Independent Bookstore Day here in the United States, and what better way to celebrate than with this live interview from my book tour last week at Schuler Books in Grand Rapids, Michigan?! Special thanks to Elizabeth Bosscher for conducting this interview. I had such a great time sitting down with her.

If you'd like to visit or learn more about Schuler Books, which has four locations in Michigan, click here.

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page by clicking here.

Click here to purchase tickets for my upcoming panel at the Agatha Christie Festival.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, at your bookseller of choice (though please do opt for an indie if you possibly can!) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Interview with Andrew Winans, Director of The Hollow by Agatha Christie Apr 12, 2024

Andrew Winans is the director of a new off-Broadway production of Christie's theatrical adaptation of her superb novel, The Hollow. I loved getting to speak with someone who has been in the trenches with his cast of actors and crew of professionals over the past few months, bringing this Agatha Christie play to life....

To purchase tickets for this run of The Hollow (13-21 April) at The Players Theatre in downtown New York, click here.

Come visit me on my ongoing book tour for my mystery novel, The Busy Body! Click here for details.

The Busy Body is available to purchase in the United States, the United Kingdom (where it is available via Kindle for £0.99 for all of April!), and Australia and New Zealand.

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

Click here to purchase tickets for my upcoming panel at the Agatha Christie Festival in September.

*Special Announcement* re Next Episode Apr 06, 2024

Next week's episode will be a discussion with Andrew Winans, the director of an upcoming Off-Broadway production of The Hollow, a play written by Agatha Christie, based on her novel.

If you are interested in attending this production, which runs from 13-21 April in New York, go ahead and click here.

And my East Coast/Midwest tour of the United States for The Busy Body is about to begin! Click here for more details. I hope to see some of you very soon--in person!

Klaxon Bell Bonanza: The Actress by Agatha Christie Mar 30, 2024

If you're a longtime listener of this podcast, you'll know never to trust an actor in a Christie story. So what happens when not one but two actors feature among the rather small cast of suspects? A lot, as it turns out, in this early short story that showcases Christie's unique ability to spin seemingly endless variations on a single puzzle....

In addition to the titular story, the following Christies are spoiled in the course of this episode:

"Miss Marple Tells a Story”

"The Affair at the Bungalow”

"Murder in the Mews”

Cat Among the Pigeons

Three Act Tragedy

Death in the Clouds

And Then There Were None

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Lord Edgware Dies

Evil Under the Sun

To purchase tickets for my panel at the upcoming Agatha Christie Festival, click here.

To visit the Festival website and check out all the other fantastic panels on offer, click here.

For details on my upcoming book tour in the Northeast and Midwest of the U.S., click here.

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

You can purchase my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Ranking Some (But Not All!) of the Various Screen Adaptations of Agatha Christie (with Teresa Peschel) Mar 16, 2024

Quick: what is the best Joan Hickson adaptation of a Miss Marple novel? Or how about your least favorite Suchet episode? If you like pondering such questions, then this is the episode for you! Just beware of spoilers; I list all the novels Teresa and I spoil in the course of this wide-ranging conversation at the top of the episode.

To buy tickets to the All About Agatha Live! Panel at the upcoming Agatha Christie Festival in Torquay in September, click here.

To check out all the splendid events at this year's Agatha Christie Festival, click here.

Go wild perusing all that Teresa and Bill at Peschel Press have to offer here.

Come visit me in mid-April while I’m on tour in the Northeast and Midwest of the United States! Click here for details.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia and New Zealand.

You can visit and subscribe to the podcast’s Patreon page here.

The Island by Agatha Christie Mallowan (with Guest Co-Host Sarah Hinlicky Wilson) Mar 02, 2024

Sarah Hinlicky Wilson is back! And with this episode, she’s officially earned her title as All About Agatha’s resident expert on Christian theology. I leaned heavily on her expertise for this episode, which involves a lot of parsing of Biblical and even apocryphal references, as we discussed this curious, fascinatingly revealing short story from the Star Over Bethlehem and Other Stories collection.

To read Sarah’s newly published article “Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Christian,” click here.

To visit Sarah’s website, click here.

To visit my website to check out upcoming dates and locations for my book tour, click here.

You can buy my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast’s Patreon page here.

Agatha Christie's Most Prolific Stage Actor? Interview with Lee Samuel Tanng Feb 17, 2024

Actor Lee Samuel Tanng has appeared in TEN (!!) regional productions of plays based on Agatha Christie novels over the last eleven years. He sat down with me to discuss the joys of regional theater, the particular challenges (and advantages) of pulling off a murder mystery in real time, and of course, to rank his ten experiences from least to most favorite. This conversation was a blast.

You can see a collage of all Sam's roles on the podcast's Twitter/X account here, and on Instagram here.

Check out the Long Beach Playhouse here, which is where Sam has appeared in all these wonderful productions over the years. Long live regional theater!

Please visit and suscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

Click here for more information on upcoming book tour events for my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body.

And you can now purchase The Busy Body in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

All About The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie (Spoiler-Free!) Feb 03, 2024

Perhaps it was inevitable that an episode about the longest-running play in history would be the longest episode ever produced on this podcast.... And yet there's nary a spoiler in it; so tuck in, safe in the knowledge that the secret of The Mousetrap remains safely locked in my heart.

Nibble nibble. Squeak squeak.

Special thanks to my guests Phil O'Neill and Scott Ratner, and to Nick Cardillo and Christopher Diehl for their invaluable contributions.

Click here to access the BBC Documentary The Mousetrap and Me, which I reference in the show.

You can find Phil O'Neill's wonderful book, Poems from the Unconscious, here, and Scott Ratner's extremely funny original play, Kill a Better Mousetrap, here.

You can find my Crimereads article on why Agatha Christie has endured uniquely among mystery writers here.

You can now purchase my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body (as a paper copy, ebook, or audio book), in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

Click here for more information on upcoming book tour events for The Busy Body.

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page.

Interview (#2!) with Alex Michaelides, Author of The Fury Jan 20, 2024

Alex Michaelides has a new mystery out, and I had such a great time geeking out with him about Agatha Christie and other literary inspirations of his, including the great Ruth Rendell.

You can purchase Alex's new book, The Fury, in the United States here. And you can pre-order it in the UK (it's out February 1st) here.

You can purchase my new book, The Busy Body, in the United States here, the United Kingdom here, and Australia/New Zealand here.

For details on my upcoming book tour, visit my website here.

You can visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

This episode is sponsored by Even the Royals, which you can find wherever you listen to podcasts, including here.

Putting On an Agatha Christie Play (with Three Guest Co-Hosts) Jan 05, 2024

I've talked a bunch--especially recently--about Agatha Christie and the theater. But what is it like to put on an Agatha Christie play? In particular, in one of those smaller regional/community venues that so frequently put on Christie's plays? Thanks to the three experts I gathered together for this episode, we can begin to answer that question. You can find out more about each of them directly below.

1) Do yourself a favor and check out Brad Friedman's mystery blog. It has provided me heaps and heaps of both entertainment and insight.

2) You can look up Christopher Diehl's community theater here. And here is a link to another theater where he works on numerous projects, including those by Christie.

3) Click here to check out Jamie West's debut mystery novel, Death on the Pier, inspired by his love of mystery and theater.

If you'd like to come see me on my upcoming book tour, the details are on my website here.

And you can still pre-order that book (for a few more weeks) in the United States here, the United Kingdom here, and Australia/New Zealand here.

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page.

This episode is sponsored by Britbox. For listeners in the U.S. and Canada, click here and use the promo code "AGATHA" at checkout for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

A Christmas Christie for Christmas: The Naughty Donkey by Agatha Christie Mallowan (with bonus rerun of Star Over Bethlehem) Dec 22, 2023

And you thought the days of bumper-sized episodes of All About Agatha were behind you.... This one might be a bit of a cheat, since it's a Frankenstein's monster (a Bella Baxter?!) of a few different things: 1) a nice long "mail bag"/"housekeeping" segment; 2) a fresh episode analyzing "The Naughty Donkey" in Christie's Star Over Bethlehem and Other Stories collection; and 3) a rerun of the episode I aired in the summer this year with Sarah Hinlicky Wilson co-hosting, in which we discussed the titular story of the same collection.

So much Christie, so much Christianity, so much Christmas. Rejoice!

You can check out Sarah's short story podcast here.

You can see my upcoming book tour events (!!) here. Please come see me!

You can pre-order my mystery novel, The Busy Body, in the United States here, in the United Kingdom here, and in Australia and New Zealand here.

You can visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

This episode is sponsored by BritBox. For listeners in the U.S. and Canada, click here and use the promo code "AGATHA" at checkout for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

How to Survive an Agatha Christie Novel, with Author Kate Jackson Dec 16, 2023

Kate Jackson knows her stuff when it comes to classic crime, and then some. I had such a good time talking to her about non-Christie authors of the Golden Age, and then engaging in a choose-your-own-adventure-style exercise that took us through various plot points she meticulously pulled from scores of Christie novels, short stories, and plays. What fun!

To buy Kate's book How to Survive a Classic Crime Novel in the U.S., click here. In the UK, click here.

To check out Kate's blog, click here.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

To pre-order a copy of my upcoming mystery novel The Busy Body in the U.S., click here. In the UK, click here. And in Australia and New Zealand, click here.

Interview with Sophie Hannah re: The Mystery of Mr E Dec 08, 2023

It's time to discuss friend of the podcast Sophie Hannah's murder mystery musical movie!! Mystery and musical fans, unite!!

To rent/buy Sophie's movie in the U.S., click here.

To rent/buy Sophie's movie in the UK, click here.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

You can pre-order my mystery novel, The Busy Body, in the United States (here), the United Kingdom (here), and Australia and New Zealand (here).

This episode is sponsored by Britbox. For listeners in the U.S. and Canada, click here and use the promo code "AGATHA" at checkout for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

Interview with Mark Shanahan, Playwright and Director of a New Adaptation of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Nov 23, 2023

If you like The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, then this episode is for you! If you like theater, then this episode is *really* for you! Mark was a delight; his passion for Ackroyd, theater, and all things Agatha Christie shines through our entire conversation. Enjoy!

Click here to download the Orson Welles radio adaptation of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd referenced in the episode.

Click here to visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page.

You can pre-order my upcoming mystery novel, The Busy Body, in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand.

This episode is sponsored by Britbox. For listeners in the U.S. and Canada, click here and use the promo code "AGATHA" at checkout for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

Interview with Booktuber (and Agatha Christie Enthusiast) Mara Sinclair Nov 11, 2023

What an excellent opportunity this conversation was to use--and explain--such new-fangled terms as "Booktube," "Bookstagram," and "BookTok." If the online world of readerly appreciation befuddles you (as it often does me), then allow Mara Sinclair to explain all....

For more Mara in your life, check out her YouTube Channel, Bookslikewhoa.

You can also find Mara on Goodreads, Instagram, and Discord.

You can pre-order my upcoming mystery novel, The Busy Body, in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page.

This episode is sponsored by Britbox. For listeners in the U.S. and Canada, click here and use the promo code "AGATHA" at checkout for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

A Special HALLOWE'EN SPOOKTACULAR Episode: In a Glass Darkly by Agatha Christie Oct 28, 2023

'Tis the season for a spooky Christie story, and this one does not disappoint. On the contrary, I would argue it raises the bar by marrying elements of the supernatural and the rational, all in one text. Apparently you can have a trick and a treat; you don't have to choose!

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

You can pre-order my upcoming mystery novel, The Busy Body, in the U.S. here.

And you can pre-order The Busy Body in Australia and New Zealand here.

You can visit Mara Sinclair's BookTube channel (the subject of my next episode) here.

This episode is sponsored by Britbox. For listeners in the U.S. and Canada, click here and use the promo code "AGATHA" at checkout for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

Interview with Jamie Bernthal-Hooker, Author of Jessica Brick Investigates Oct 14, 2023

If you are a longtime listener of this podcast, Jamie Bernthal-Hooker is no stranger to you. But until now, our conversations have focused on his scholarly endeavors vis-a-vis Christie. Last month, I was fortunate enough to snag him for a half-hour at the Agatha Christie Festival to discuss his creative project satirizing murder mysteries in general, and Miss Jane Marple in particular. Get ready to meet Jessica Brick!

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

Please pre-order my debut mystery novel, The Busy Body, here.

*LIVE!* Episode: Agatha Christie's Greatest Short Story? (Recorded at the 2023 Agatha Christie Festival) Sep 29, 2023

Get ready for some hot mics: it's time for a live episode of All About Agatha at the 2023 Agatha Christie Festival! I hope you'll be able to share in some of the fun we had down in Torquay this year, because we certainly had a lot of it. Enjoy!

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

Please pre-order my upcoming mystery novel, The Busy Body, here.

Interview with Colleen Mulaney, Author of a New Book About Agatha Christie and Cocktails Sep 15, 2023

Yes, yes: Agatha Christie famously abstained from cocktails and all other alcoholic drinks. So how was it possible to write an entire book--and speak for an entire hour--about Christie and cocktails?! Take a listen and find out!

Colleen's book, Agatha Whiskey: 50 Cocktails to Celebrate the Bestselling Novelist of All Time is available at all major booksellers. Click here to purchase Colleen's book in the UK, and here for purchase in the U.S.

To pre-order my mystery novel, The Busy Body, click here.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit them here for 10% off your first month of therapy.

Interview with Karen Pierce, Author of a New Cookbook Celebrating the Work of Agatha Christie Sep 01, 2023

I loved geeking out with Karen over the top ten "food-related" books within the Christie canon, and I think you will too!

Visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

You can purchase Karen's book here.

You can pre-order my mystery novel, The Busy Body, here.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit them here for 10% off your first month of therapy.

All About the (Stage) Plays of Agatha Christie Aug 19, 2023

On this episode I talk generally about the stage plays of Agatha Christie (that we know of thus far), but first I do a massive housekeeping segment with messages from all of you. (Letters! We've got letters! We've got stacks and stacks of letters!) It's such a joy to hear from as many of you as I do; please keep in touch.

Visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

You can purchase tickets to the rehearsed (and costumed!) reading of Agatha Christie's version (much like Taylor's version, I imagine) of Towards Zero at the International Agatha Christie Festival here.

You can pre-order my mystery novel, The Busy Body, here.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit them here for 10% off your first month of therapy.

Interview with Julius Green, Author of Curtain Up: Agatha Christie, A Life in the Theatre Aug 05, 2023

I had such a great time focusing on Agatha Christie's theatrical endeavors, with the person who knows more about them than anyone else in the world. Come delight with me and Julius Green in all the drama!

You can visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

You can buy the newer, paperback edition of Julius's book (with a slightly altered title) here.

You can pre-order my mystery novel, The Busy Body, here.

All About the Dedications of Agatha Christie Jul 22, 2023

Get ready for another panoramic episode, in which I take full stock of the Christie canon from the unusual perspective of the dedications she (usually) inserted at the front of her books. I even managed to unearth some unsolved (by me, anyway) mysteries....

Visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

Pre-order my mystery novel, The Busy Body, at the bookseller of your choice here.

Summer Rerun: Accident by Agatha Christie Jun 30, 2023

My former co-host Catherine Brobeck loved this short story, and this episode about this short story. And so do I! It's also one of the short stories under discussion at this year's upcoming International Agatha Christie Festival in September, during which my co-panelists and I will crown Agatha Christie's Greatest Short Story. Take a listen to the first part of the episode for a sneak peek at the other stories we'll be debating. Happy Summer, everyone!

To buy tickets to the Festival, click here.

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page, click here.

To pre-order my mystery novel, The Busy Body, click here.

Ranking the Murderers of Agatha Christie Jun 17, 2023

I loved everything about this nerdiest of episodes... other than the fact that Catherine Brobeck wasn't here to delight in this exercise alongside me. I know she would have dug it. I hope you do, too.

Click here for the YouTube link to the recently uploaded (and free!) video of They Came to Baghdad, a 1950s television adaptation previously very hard to find.

Click here to access the charts referenced in this episode.

Click here to visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page.

Click here to pre-order my mystery novel, The Busy Body, due out in January 2024!

It's Christmas in June! Star Over Bethlehem by Agatha Christie Mallowan (with a Guest Co-Host) Jun 02, 2023

You might want to pour yourself some egg nog and download one of those roaring digital fireplaces for today's offering, which is a rare Christmas-themed, and overtly religious, Christie short story. Many thanks to Sarah Hinlicky Wilson for co-hosting this episode with me.

Click here to visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page.

Click here to visit Sarah's website.

Click here to read Sarah's article referenced in the episode: "Miss Marple's Low Anthropology."

Click here to pre-order my mystery novel.

All About Ableism in Agatha Christie (with Three Guest Co-Hosts) May 19, 2023

This episode is one of those happy occasions on which you all get to hear a voice--and a perspective--other than my own. Three voices, in fact. Many thanks to my co-hosts Jenni Bishop, Tina Hodgkinson, and Emma for a fabulous talk on such an important topic.

Click here to visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page.

Click here to pre-order my mystery novel!

*Special Announcement* re Live Event at the International Agatha Christie Festival, Sept 2023 May 12, 2023

Please join me if you can in Torquay on Thursday, 14 September 2023 at 7:00pm in the Spanish Barn!

Visit the Festival's website here to check out my event, and all the other marvelous offerings.

Click the link here to purchase tickets for my event.

A Miss Marple Nightcap: Sanctuary by Agatha Christie May 06, 2023

What better way to celebrate Coronation Day than with a story Agatha Christie wrote to contribute to the restoration of Westminster Abbey? (No, really!) More such fun facts await you in this, our final Miss Marple story for the podcast.... Miss Marple is done! Long live Miss Marple!

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

Please pre-order my mystery novel! There are an array of links to various booksellers here, including Bookshop, which allows you to buy from indie bookstores while ordering online.

Things We Missed Along the Way: Lord Edgware Dies, A Murder is Announced, The Red Signal by Agatha Christie Apr 22, 2023

In this hodgepodge of an episode, I revisit Christie stories already covered, and discuss a number of adaptations--and one text!--that Catherine and I failed to mention the first time around. (Please know that spoilers will abound for these stories.)

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Agatha Christie Apr 07, 2023

If the teeth don't match, you must give your head a scratch. Au revoir, cher Poirot.

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Interview with Kitty Murphy, Author of Death in Heels Mar 24, 2023

I had a great time chatting with debut author Kitty Murphy about the first book in her "Dublin Drag Mysteries" series. U.S. listeners can find Death in Heels at an indie bookstore by clicking this link.

Click here to visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page.

Agatha Christie: In the Flesh Mar 11, 2023

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to meet Agatha Christie in person? Well, here's your answer. Special thanks to Yasuo Sudoh, Dr. Ernestine Elster, and Norman Home for contributing to this episode.

Please visit and subscribe to the Podcast's Patreon page here.

You can read the L.A. Times article referenced in this episode (all about All About Agatha) here.

How Many Wonders Can One Island Hold? Manx Gold by Agatha Christie Feb 24, 2023

Is this the weirdest thing Christie ever wrote? Maybe! But let's embrace it, and journey together to the Isle of Man, where buried treasure awaits....

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon account here.

Live-Playing (!!) The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge by Agatha Christie... & Hunt a Killer Feb 11, 2023

In this episode, I try my hand at a "live game" experience based on a Poirot short story, which was provided to me for free by the game's creators.... And, spoiler, but I fail. Utterly.

This episode is sponsored by the Art of Crime podcast. Check out their website here.

A Revisitation of (a.k.a. *JUSTICE FOR*) The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie Jan 27, 2023

Double, double toil and trouble.... It's time for a second--and much closer--look at the grand estate of Chimneys and its many, many (no really: many) secrets! (Don't worry, that Macbeth quote will make more sense once you listen.) I had more fun than I've had in a long time creating this episode. I also missed my dear partner Catherine Brobeck so very acutely.... I wish she could have done this with me.

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

It's Raining Rankings! Hallelujah! Jan 14, 2023

What a world we live in where Catherine and I are not the only two fanatics who have taken it upon ourselves to rank every single one of Agatha Christie's 66 mystery novels. In this episode, I delight in comparing and contrasting the All About Agatha grid with two other worthy offerings.... I hope you enjoy the nerdfest; it was a blast to record. Special thanks to our A+++ listener, and to Yasuo Sudoh.

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page.

This episode is sponsored by The Art of Crime podcast.

Interview with Maureen Johnson, Author of Nine Liars Dec 30, 2022

What a joyous and festive way to close out 2022, by chatting with Maureen Johnson, the talented writer of YA mysteries very much inspired by Agatha Christie. Happy New Year, one and all!

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page.

This episode is sponsored by Britbox. Remember that if you buy a gift subscription this holiday season, you have the chance to win all sorts of cool prizes (no purchase necessary). Click here for more details.

And Now There Is None: The Final State of the Rankings... with John Curran!! Dec 16, 2022

My guest co-host John Curran certainly kept me on my toes (and I never expected to be forced to defend poor Nemesis as much as I was!), but I can truthfully say that having him on was the perfect event for this festive, end-of-year period. Happy holidays to all who celebrate, and please enjoy this very, very special episode.

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page for bonus content.

This episode is sponsored by Britbox. Remember that if you buy a gift subscription this holiday season, you have the chance to win all sorts of cool prizes (no purchase necessary). Click here for more details.

Getting Happy with Parker Pyne (and Hercule Poirot?!): The Regatta Mystery by Agatha Christie, with guest co-host Michelle Kazmer Dec 03, 2022

I didn't think I'd care this much about saying farewell to Parker Pyne, heart specialist.... Fortunately, there is a LOT to discuss in this jam-packed (really, pilchard-packed) episode: hot mackerel, plasticine, and corncrakes, for starters. Eternal thanks to Dr. Michelle Kazmer for lending her voice and expertise on this episode. If it isn't the sendoff Parker Pyne deserves, it's because Michelle was way too kind and smart for him. Just saying.

In Conversation with Brad Friedman re Marple: Twelve New Mysteries Nov 19, 2022

It's time to discuss the new collection of Miss Marple short stories that came out this fall in a detail some may find excruciating, but which my co-host Brad Friedman and I found to be juuuuuuust right. Come and get down-and-dirty in the weeds of these stories the way Aunt Jane herself would have done, gardener that she was. Because just like foxglove and belladonna, these weeds are beautiful, fascinating... and deadly.

Visit the podcast's Patreon site here for more content.

Visit Brad's fabulous blog here.

This episode is sponsored by the Art of Crime Podcast, which you can download wherever you download podcasts. Visit the podcast's website here.

This episode is also sponsored by Britbox. Use coupon code "AGATHA" in the U.S. and Canada for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

Communing with Mr. Quin: The Harlequin Tea Set by Agatha Christie Nov 05, 2022

What a joy it was to spend some time again with Christie's most dynamic detective duo, Quin & Satterthwaite (sorry, Beresfords). This is the rare late-career Christie short story, and while the puzzle isn't one of her strongest, there's no denying the strange magic of the Satterthwerse....

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon site.

This episode is sponsored by Britbox. Use coupon code "AGATHA" at checkout in the U.S. and Canada for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

*Surprise* Hallowe'en SPOOKTACULAR: S O S by Agatha Christie Oct 21, 2022

Boo! It's a surprise episode popping up like The Crypt Keeper in the opening credits to Tales from the Crypt (anyone with me here?), featuring one of Agatha Christie's weird tales of the supernatural! If you think this story can't *also* include some of the most grounded elements of a classic Christie puzzle mystery, then consider this the trick to balance out all those treats you've got coming your way at the end of the month.... Happy Hallowe'en, everyone!

Click here for a lovely L.A. Times piece all about the podcast, written by Deborah Netburn.

Click here for the podcast's Patreon page.

This episode is sponsored by Britbox. Use coupon code "AGATHA" at checkout in the U.S. and Canada for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

Interview with David Brawn, Publisher of Agatha Christie Oct 08, 2022

HarperCollins UK publisher David Brawn has been keeping Agatha Christie in print for over 25 years now. More recently, he’s helmed the Christie continuation projects, starting first with Charles Osborne’s novelizations, then Sophie Hannah’s Poirot books, and just last month, Marple: Twelve New Mysteries, a new collection of Miss Marple short stories by twelve different writers. We had a lot to talk about, so I was thrilled to sit down with him in Torquay at the International Agatha Christie Festival a few weeks ago. I hope (and trust) you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast’s Patreon page.

This episode is brought to you by Britbox. Remember to use coupon code “AGATHA” for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription in the U.S. and Canada.

*LIVE!* Episode: Agatha Christie's Greatest Novel? (Recorded at the International Agatha Christie Festival) Sep 23, 2022

This episode was a joy to create: live and in person, in front of an audience and a group of co-panelists all bubbling with the same passion for Christie I'm used to sharing with all of you over the airwaves (podwaves?) alone.... I wish I could say that the recording does the event justice, but it's better than nothing. (Just.)

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon site.

This episode is sponsored by Britbox; use coupon code "AGATHA" at checkout in the U.S. and Canada for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

This episode is also sponsored by BetterHelp. Click this link for 10% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

And Then There Was 1: Curtain by Agatha Christie Sep 08, 2022

Somehow, the day is upon us: the last Agatha Christie novel to review on this podcast.... There is no question this was the hardest episode I've ever done, but also the most rewarding. And not just for the George Eliot and Virginia Woolf references my co-host and I managed to squeeze into the nearly four-hour (!!) proceedings. Much love to you all. À bientôt!

Please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon site for bonus content.

This episode is brought to you by Britbox. Use coupon code "AGATHA" at checkout in the U.S. and Canada for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

Interview with Lucy Worsley, Author of Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman Aug 26, 2022

Lucy Worsley is an author, a historian, a TV presenter, and she is also one of us, because she is a listener of this podcast (!!) and she is *obsessed* with Agatha Christie. As our conversation will attest. Bonus points for the Jane Austen content we manage to shoehorn in here, plus, this is easily the best conversation I've had with anyone (barring my beloved Catherine) about Agatha Christie's infamous disappearance.

For bonus content, please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon site.

This episode is brought to you by Britbox; use coupon code AGATHA in the U.S. and Canada at checkout for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

This episode is also brought to you by BetterHelp. Sign up now for 10% off your first month of therapy sessions.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Mystery of the Baghdad (or is that Spanish?) Chest by Agatha Christie Aug 13, 2022

When I found myself adding an instrumental track of Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back" to an excerpt of this short story I'd been reading aloud, I realized I had passed a milestone of fandom and absurdity I never knew existed till I was on the other side of it. I am happy to be able to share this milestone with you, dear listeners. Enjoy.

Visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.

This episode is brought to you by Britbox. Remember to use coupon code AGATHA at checkout for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription in the U.S. and Canada.

And Then There Were 2: Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie Jul 29, 2022

When Catherine and I started this crazy little venture, I never thought I'd say this, and certainly not with the excitement it inspires in me now, but at long last we've broken the three-hour barrier. That is how much my co-host Tony Medawar and I had to say about this final(/not-final) Miss Marple novel. Please enjoy, because we sure did.

For bonus content, please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon site.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Third Floor Flat by Agatha Christie Jul 15, 2022

It's time to pick apart a Poirot short story in excruciating detail, though thankfully the process is anything but excruciating--especially with a miniature puzzle mystery as clever as this one, and set in the vicinity of Poirot's own digs, to boot! Let us never underestimate the power of propinquity....

This episode is sponsored by Britbox (use coupon code AGATHA) and BetterHelp.

For bonus content, please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon account.

*Special Announcement* re In-Person Appearance at Int'l Agatha Christie Festival in September Jul 08, 2022

I'm going to Torquay, listeners! Or as I like to think of it: Agatha-land. Please join me at the International Agatha Christie Festival for a special, live episode of All About Agatha, where I will debate which title deserves to be crowned Agatha Christie's greatest novel with the likes of John Curran, Jamie Bernthal-Hooker, Mark Aldridge, and Carla Valentine (!!!!). You'll even get to weigh in as an audience member... but only if you're there in person! Wednesday, 14 September at 7:00pm. All other details and ticket purchases to be accessed on the Festival's website here. I hope to see you!

For bonus content, you can always subscribe to the podcast's Patreon account.

Interview (#2!!) with Ruth Ware, Author of The It Girl Jul 01, 2022

Ruth Ware has a new psychological crime thriller out this summer, and it may be her most Christie-ish yet. Listen to us discuss kebab vans in much greater detail than you were probably expecting!

This episode is brought to you by Britbox. Use promo code "AGATHA" for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription in the U.S. or Canada.

For bonus content, please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon site.

And Then There Were 3: Postern of Fate by Agatha Christie Jun 17, 2022

Well thank goodness I had Caroline Crampton, host of the fabulous Shedunnit podcast, to help me wade through the rather disorienting waters of this, the final novel Agatha Christie ever wrote. Get out your hankies--to wipe away not only your tears, but all the dust and spiders out in the garden shed, a.k.a. "KK." It's time to visit Tommy and Tuppence one last time....

This episode is brought to you by Britbox. Visit http://www.britbox.com and use coupon code "AGATHA" for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.

You can access bonus material on the podcast's Patreon page, over at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.

Interview with Carla Valentine, Author of Murder Isn't Easy: The Forensics of Agatha Christie Jun 03, 2022

Carla Valentine is a forensic pathologist and a *massive* Agatha Christie fan. These two facts are very much not unrelated, as you will soon discover in our lively and far-ranging discussion.

This episode is brought to you by Britbox, http://www.britbox.com. (U.S. and Canadian listeners: use the promo code "AGATHA" for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.)

You can find more content on the podcast's Patreon page, over at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.

Interview with Alison Light, a Scholar of Agatha Christie (Among Many Other Subjects) May 20, 2022

I took the opportunity to have a somewhat different conversation about Christie than I usually do, with the literary theorist Alison Light, who wrote about Christie as far back as 1991. We talked a whole lot about the middle classes, the notion of “small c” conservatism, and what it means to be English. Not your usual Christie fare, but I left the conversation with a fresh appreciation of our favorite author, and I hope you do too.

Visit the podcast's Patreon site at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.

And Then There Were 4: Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie May 07, 2022

It's been a while since we’ve done a Stefon, so here goes. This episode has everything: twins, wigs, continuity errors, Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver (surely the model upon which Will & Grace were built) teaming up one last time, and of course, Dr. Mark Aldridge, co-host extraordinaire. It’s time to find out if elephants really can remember! (Spoiler: they mainly can’t.)

You can find bonus content at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.

Interview with Gillian Gill, Author of Agatha Christie: The Woman and Her Mysteries Apr 22, 2022

What a pleasure to chat with one of the early Christie biographers--and critical analysts--about Agatha Christie as both a writer and a person. We even talk about sex! (Consider yourselves titillated... even though Agatha definitely would not have been.) You can find bonus material at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.

This episode is sponsored by http://www.smilebrilliant.com. Remember to use coupon code AGATHA.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: Wasps' Nest by Agatha Christie Apr 08, 2022

Apostrophes, feminine writers, and water butts. Oh my.

This episode is brought to you by http://www.smilebrilliant.com. Remember to use coupon code AGATHA.

You can visit the podcast's Patreon site at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.

Interview with Nita Prose, Author of The Maid Mar 25, 2022

What a pleasure it was to speak with the debut (though by no means inexperienced) author of the genre-busting mystery The Maid. It's such a charming read, and we got to talk a lot--a lot!--about Christie.

Visit the podcast's Patreon site at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.

Interview with Alex Michaelides, Author of The Silent Patient & The Maidens Mar 11, 2022

Alex is the real deal when it comes to his passion for Christie, and for the craft of writing mysteries. This interview was simply a joy. I hope (and trust) you'll feel the same.

Visit the podcast's Patreon site at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.

And Then There Were 5: Nemesis by Agatha Christie (with special guest Jamie Bernthal!) Feb 26, 2022

Get comfortable, because this is a loooong episode (at this rate, Sleeping Murder will have to be released in six parts, like a miniseries). But can you blame me--and Jamie--for wanting to spend as much time as we did critiquing this stupendous (though flawed) late Marple novel? Put on your warmest pink scarf and your red-and-black-checked pullover, and beware of any "rocking stones" in the vicinity as you immerse yourself in the world of... Nemesis.

*Special Announcement* re Magnolia Blossom by Agatha Christie (Free Patreon Episode!) Feb 14, 2022

It may not be a heart-shaped box of chocolates wrapped in crinkly plastic, but I hope you'll enjoy my Valentine's confection for you in the form of a free-to-download, love-themed Patreon episode. (You can click the link below; it'll be the first episode to appear in the queue.) Enjoy! http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha

Interview with Sophie Hannah, Author of The Couple at the Table Feb 11, 2022

Another episode, another Sophie Hannah confection! Come for the Death on the Nile gush-fest and the discussion of character versus plot in contemporary crime fiction, stay for Sophie’s shocking takedown of American English (I jest…). For bonus episodes, check out the All About Agatha Patreon site at: www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: Double Sin by Agatha Christie Jan 28, 2022

We get lots of Poirot and Hastings in this fairly light-hearted short story, and lots of Poirot and Hastings and Lemon and Japp in the stupendously light-hearted episode based on this short story. In other words: a good time all around.

And Then There Were 6: Passenger to Frankfurt by Agatha Christie (with bonus Sophie Hannah!) Jan 15, 2022

It wasn't easy recording my first episode without Catherine, but fortunately I had a friend to help me: Sophie Hannah, who duked out the rankings with me as my guest co-host. And what a time we had discussing this extremely flawed, though extremely fascinating late-career Christie thriller....

A Bittersweet End-of-Year Episode: How Does Your Garden Grow? by Agatha Christie Dec 11, 2021

It was extremely difficult to edit this episode, which is the final one I recorded with my co-host, Catherine Brobeck, before she passed away. I hope you take a listen, and use it as an opportunity to celebrate her. Please know this is the spirit in which I'm offering it to you now. Happy holidays to all who celebrate them; I'm looking forward to a New Year in which we can continue to remember Catherine while continuing to celebrate Agatha Christie and the greater world of mysteries. And thank you--so much--for all your warmth and support during what has been a challenging time. It means the world.

Sad News: A Death in the All About Agatha Family Nov 27, 2021

Please listen for a message about the unexpected passing of one of our own.

A Very Special Episode: Interview with Mystery Author John Copenhaver Nov 20, 2021

We had an absolutely lovely time chatting with author John Copenhaver about his new book, The Savage Kind (https://bookshop.org/books/the-savage-kind-a-mystery/9781643138091). And about Agatha Christie, of course. This episode is sponsored by http://www.smilebrilliant.com (coupon code AGATHA) and Best Fiends.

A Very Special Episode: The State of the Rankings Nov 05, 2021

We do this every year, and it gets more unwieldy and yet more enjoyable as time goes by. Join us as we fine-tune our rankings of the sixty (!!) Christie novels we've covered thus far. We may even engage in a little horse-trading....

And Then There Were 7: Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie Oct 22, 2021

"It's Hallowe'en! It's Hallowe'en! The moon is full and bright! And we shall see what can't be seen on any other night!" Which in a Christie novel means a child murder, lots of velvet trousers, an extended argument between M. Poirot and Mrs. Oliver about form versus function, and an unexpected nod toward the holiday's pagan origins. And SO much more. Come celebrate this spookiest of holidays with us... IF YOU DARE.

A Very Special Episode: Interview (#2!!) with Anthony Horowitz Oct 09, 2021

Let's not bury the lede here: we just may have gotten ourselves written into a future Anthony Horowitz mystery. We encourage you to check out Anthony's latest offering, A Line to Kill, preferably in an indie bookstore near you. This episode is brought to you by Smile Brilliant (http://www.smilebrilliant.com, coupon code "AGATHA") and Best Fiends.

And Then There Were 8: By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie Sep 25, 2021

Tommy and Tuppence are back! But are they better than ever? While the reintroduction of T&T into our lives--along with head injuries, hidden jewels, and (gasp of joy) Albert--is cause for unbridled celebration, this book is by no means a paragon of perfection. Get ready, because we had A LOT to discuss. Oh, and fingers crossed you too are a big Golden Girls fan.... (Sunny Ridge will always be Shady Pines in our book.) This episode is brought to you by: https://www.smilebrilliant.com (coupon code AGATHA) and Best Fiends.

*LIVE!* Episode: Revisiting The Mysterious Affair at Styles at the Int'l Agatha Christie Festival Sep 17, 2021

We were honored to host our own event this week at the International Agatha Christie Festival in Torquay, revisiting Christie's first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. (Fair warning: certain plot elements of this book are spoiled in the course of our conversation!) Unfortunately we had to settle for Zooming in from Los Angeles, but as you can hear for yourself, that didn't stop us from having a wonderful time. Special thanks to Tony Medawar, the Festival organizer and moderator of our panel whose voice peppers this episode. We hope to do this again in one year's time... in person!

A Miss Marple Nightcap: The Case of the Caretaker by Agatha Christie Sep 11, 2021

If you thought two hours was enough for us to talk about Endless Night, you were wrong! Sort of. This short story formed the basis (plot-wise) for that crown jewel of a novel, so in a way we are revisiting it in this episode. But we also get to geek out over a secret unpublished version, too. Hooray! This episode is brought to you by Smile Brilliant (http://www.smilebrilliant.com, coupon code "AGATHA") and Best Fiends.

*Special Announcement* re Our Upcoming (Virtual) Appearance at the Int'l Agatha Christie Festival Sep 04, 2021

We're disappointed that our appearance at the Festival has to be virtual (insert pithy Shakespearean insult of choice here, directed COVID's way), but we're thrilled to be appearing at all. For more information about the Festival (including all the other wonderful presenters on tap), please visit: http://www.iacf-uk.org. We look forward to seeing some of you, if only on a screen!

And Then There Were 9: Endless Night by Agatha Christie Aug 28, 2021

You might want to put on some rain gear before listening to this episode, because it is a bit of a gush fest. Hooray for this late-career Christie gem! Come delight with us in the wonderfully unsettling world of Mr. (Mike) Rogers's neighborhood....

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Under Dog by Agatha Christie Aug 13, 2021

As this is one of Christie's longer short stories--legitimately novella-length--we found a great deal to analyze and discuss. Just think of it as one of the "large miniatures" Suchet fusses over in the adaptation.... No question this is a curious addition to the Poirot canon all around!

And Then There Were 10: Third Girl by Agatha Christie Jul 24, 2021

Unlike so many late Poirots we've read recently, this one actually features a ton of Poirot (and Ariadne Oliver!), from beginning to end. And while seriously flawed, it gave us a lot to discuss in what turned out to be a rather meandering/digressive episode... even for us. Please visit our Patreon site for bonus content, or just to support us: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha. This episode is sponsored by Smile Brilliant (http://www.smilebrilliant.com, promo code AGATHA) and Best Fiends.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Cornish Mystery by Agatha Christie Jul 10, 2021

While our favorite Cornish mystery might involve guessing what's in the latest pasty we’re devouring, this one was pretty satisfying too! Let’s dig in. This episode is sponsored by Smile Brilliant (http://www.smilebrilliant.com, promo code AGATHA) and Best Fiends.

And Then There Were 11: At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie Jun 25, 2021

We may as well admit up front that this was not our favorite Christie. But it *is* a Miss Marple novel, and it *does* have a fantastic setting. So all is not lost. Come travel with us to see what dastardly—and potentially confusing?—deeds are afoot... at Bertram’s Hotel.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly by Agatha Christie Jun 11, 2021

We had as much fun as we usually do unraveling this early Poirot short story--perhaps especially when it came to the adaptation, which is quite a foundational one for the beloved Suchet series.

And Then There Were 12: A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie May 22, 2021

Though the biggest mystery may be how to spell and pronounce "Caribbean," there is plenty of intrigue to go around in this Miss-Marple-on-holiday story, which at least one Christie scholar deems to be the last proper whodunit that she wrote.

A Very Special Episode: Interview with Alexandra Andrews, Author of Who Is Maud Dixon? May 09, 2021

What a great time we had gabbing with this debut author about her recently published (and much buzzed-about) novel... almost as great a time as we had reading it!

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Plymouth Express by Agatha Christie Apr 24, 2021

This short story is a precursor to The Mystery of the Blue Train, but don't let that put you off! We found much to enjoy--both in the source material and the Suchet adaptation.

And Then There Were 13: The Clocks by Agatha Christie Apr 09, 2021

Well... they can't all be winners, can they? This (barely-there) Poirot novel is not one of our favorites, we're sorry to say. But as usual, we relish the opportunity to explore and explain why. Because even a lesser Christie is a source of wonder and joy.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The King of Clubs by Agatha Christie Mar 26, 2021

We've got Poirot. We've got Hastings. We've got a prince. A lady of mysterious origins. A frozen-in-time bridge tableau! If you need more, you're probably not listening to the right podcast....

A Very Special Episode: Interview with Sarah Pearse, Author of The Sanatorium Mar 12, 2021

We were fortunate enough to sit down with Sarah Pearse, the author of one of this season's hottest (or is that iciest?) thrillers, The Sanatorium. There are lots of connections to be made between her book and Christie, and naturally, we made them all. Enjoy! This episode is brought to you by Best Fiends.

And Then There Were 14: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side by Agatha Christie Mar 06, 2021

Someone might need to stage an intervention, because the longer we talk about Christie, the more we apparently have to say! We hope you enjoy our super-sized discussion of this intriguing late Christie novel (perhaps the *first* late Christie novel?), during which we wax poetic about all sorts of topics--from the rigors of film acting to the ravages of time. Oh, and Dark Marple, of course.

A Very Special Episode: Interview with Martin Edwards, Scholar of Agatha Christie... and Much More! Feb 19, 2021

We were thrilled to speak with Martin Edwards, one of the foremost scholars of detective fiction of the Golden Age. He is also a mystery novelist in his own right, and the current President of the Detection Club. What is the Detection Club, you ask? Take a listen and find out! This episode is sponsored by Best Fiends.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Adventure of the Clapham Cook by Agatha Christie Feb 12, 2021

It isn't often that we focus as much on an adaptation of a Christie story as the story itself, but if ever there were an episode to do so, it's this one. Join us as we gush over the very first episode of the David Suchet series, including a lengthy discussion as to why this short story was such an excellent choice for the pilot episode of this excellent program.

And Then There Were 15: The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie Jan 31, 2021

We had such a fantastic time discussing this late-career Christie gem, as creepy and unsettling as the story may be.... Beware the Pale Horse! This episode is sponsored by YARN and Best Fiends.

A Miss Marple Nightcap: Tape-Measure Murder by Agatha Christie Jan 16, 2021

A Miss Marple short story is always cause for celebration, and this one is no exception. Come with us--to St. Mary Mead, of course--where Miss Marple finds herself at the center of a local murder, the solving of which will uncover a long-held secret from the past. In other words: all is exactly as it should be in the Christieverse.... This episode is sponsored by YARN and Best Fiends.

And Then There Were 16: Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie Jan 01, 2021

While there is so much we hope will be different about 2021 as compared to 2020, our passion and appetite for Christie do not feature on that long, long list. Happy New Year, dear listeners: we hope you enjoy our leisurely ramble from Meadowbrook to Ramat and back again for this late-career “turducken” of a Christie that we quite enjoyed. Also, how did Kemper manage to shoehorn not one but two clips from Jurassic Park into this episode?! Listen, and be amazed….

A Special Episode: Listeners Address the "Stuck in its Time" Aspect of Reading Agatha Christie Dec 24, 2020

Consider this our "Christie for Christmas," an original episode all about what it's like to read Christie in the here and now--in particular, those aspects of the texts that may strike us as seeming "stuck in their time" or otherwise difficult/awkward to negotiate. This is something we've talked about a lot over the years, and we're so grateful to be able to add more voices to the conversation with this episode--YOUR voices, in fact. Thank you again to the listeners who contributed their thoughts; it's our hope that you all get something out of the endeavor. Happy holidays!

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Flock of Geryon & The Apples of Hesperides by Agatha Christie Dec 18, 2020

This episode completes our review of The Labours of Hercules collection. We also took the opportunity to comment on the somewhat disappointing--but not entirely disastrous--Suchet adaptation.

A Very Special Episode: Interview with Mark Aldridge, Author of a Brand-New Poirot Reference Book Nov 26, 2020

It's been a while since we've had Mark on our show, but we couldn't pass up the opportunity to fawn over his new book, Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World. This also gave us as good an excuse as any to chatter on about Poirot for an hour or so.... If you feel so inclined (and we wager you will), go to https://bookshop.org to (pre-)order a copy for yourself, if you don't have one already.

A Very Special Episode: Interview with Tana French Nov 21, 2020

We are both HUGE Tana French fans, so we suspect many of you are too. This interview was a joy to record; we hope you enjoy it half as much as we did. And if you haven't yet bought Tana's latest book, The Searcher, or any of the titles mentioned in our conversation, we encourage you to check out https://bookshop.org/, which is a safe and streamlined way to buy books online from independent bookstores in both the U.S. and UK. Happy reading!

And Then There Were 17: Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie Nov 14, 2020

We had A LOT to say about this undeniably striking offering in the latter half of the Christie catalogue--not all of it good, but all of it quite heartfelt. Oh, and we also had A LOT to say about the adaptations, too.

*Special Announcement* re Free-to-Listen Patreon Episode: Murder, She Wrote & Midsomer Murders!! Nov 06, 2020

Visit our Patreon site at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha. We hope you enjoy the episode! (If you've been jonesing after LOTS of Angela Lansbury clips, you should be very pleased.)

A Very Special Episode: Interview with Anthony Horowitz Oct 30, 2020

We're thrilled to have gotten to speak with author/screenwriter/producer Anthony Horowitz, who has brought us so much joy--and not only for the Poirot episodes he adapted in the course of the David Suchet series. Anthony is in the midst of two separate contemporary mystery series, both of which we discussed, with a particular (and spoiler-free!) focus on his most recent novel, Moonflower Murders.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Horses of Diomedes & The Girdle of Hippolyta by Agatha Christie Oct 24, 2020

In a perfect world, we could apply Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” drugs campaign referenced in our first story to the questionable art restoration techniques discussed in the second. Alas--and this is probably not a newsflash--but the world we live in is not perfect. (Don’t worry, this will make a lot more sense after you’ve listened to the episode. Enjoy!)

A Very Special Anniversary Episode: The State of the Rankings Oct 09, 2020

Normally we use this space in our anniversary episode to bemoan the passage of time, but when it comes to 2020 we can all probably agree that we'd like to keep things moving right along, yes? At this point we have quite a roster of titles to discuss, and no shortage of opinions about them. As always, we welcome yours too.

And Then There Were 18: 4.50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie Sep 26, 2020

We apparently couldn't stop talking about what Mrs. McGillicuddy saw! (Especially because this is in some ways still an open question by the end of the novel.) Sometimes the flawed Christies give us more food for thought than the superlative gems, and this was definitely one of those times....

*Special Announcement* re International Agatha Christie Festival (Online Only!) Sep 13, 2020

We encourage you to take a moment to check out not only our three interviews, but all the offerings available starting Tuesday 15 September via the International Agatha Christie Festival's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbc5NjYWmTw6VYlc2R9G3qw. Enjoy!

A Miss Marple Nightcap: Greenshaw's Folly by Agatha Christie Sep 12, 2020

It was a pleasure to revisit our dear old Aunt Jane in short story form... especially in a mystery like this one, which features deceptive appearances, gruesome violence, and a particularly snooty Raymond West (which as we all know by now is *really* saying something).

*Special Announcement* Calling for Listener Submissions Aug 29, 2020

We are truly excited for the opportunity to hear directly from you, our dear listeners, about how you negotiate the "stuck in its time" aspect of reading Christie. Please e-mail us your recorded submissions at allaboutthedame@gmail.com.

And Then There Were 19: Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie Aug 22, 2020

Reading this Poirot novel was like revisiting an old friend. So come along with us to the riparian oasis of Nasse House (a.k.a. Greenway), where all our analysis of the Christie canon up to this point will serve us well in figuring out whodunit.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Stymphalean Birds & The Cretan Bull by Agatha Christie Jul 31, 2020

Our dear Hercules is still labo(u)ring his way through the twelve tasks in this standout short story collection, hooray! Appearances can be--and usually are--deceiving in any Christie, but we'd do well to remember this adage in both tales on offer here....

And Then There Were 20: Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie Jul 18, 2020

Real talk: this was not our favorite Christie. (That may in fact be a massive understatement.) But we will always cherish the opportunity to discuss any Christie text... even one as problematic as this one.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Erymanthian Boar & The Augean Stables by Agatha Christie Jul 03, 2020

We have two more enjoyable entries to cover in The Labours of Hercules collection. Join us as we follow Papa Poirot up into the airy heights of the Swiss Alps, and then down into the very deepest and darkest depths, that special place in hell inhabited by [cue organ] the British tabloids!!

And Then There Were 21: Destination Unknown by Agatha Christie Jun 21, 2020

We can't say we particularly relished reading this mid-career Christie thriller, but we CAN say we relished *discussing* our reading of this mid-career Christie thriller.... Make sure your tray is secure and your seat's in an upright position, because we're leaving on a jet plane for Morocco and things are about to get real bumpy, real fast!

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Lernaean Hydra & The Arcadian Deer by Agatha Christie Jun 05, 2020

You get two Poirot short stories in this episode for the price of one--but the bargain gets even better, because the first of these felt very much like a Miss Marple story, while the second felt even more like one of our beloved Quin/Satterthwaite tales....

A Very Special Episode: Interview with Ruth Ware May 15, 2020

We were delighted to get Ruth Ware on the phone, author of five recent--and already quite beloved--psychological crime thrillers. (This is her preferred term for the books she writes; just one of many topics we discussed!) And we of course couldn't pass up the chance to talk Christie with a fellow aficionado....

And Then There Were 22: A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie May 08, 2020

We're not sure what to say about the length of this episode except that we seem to have a greater bandwidth for gabbing on about Christie these days.... Fortunately you, dear listener, probably have more time and inclination to listen too. So let's settle in together to discuss this incredibly bitter-tinged mystery novel inhabited by such unpleasant characters, because we nonetheless quite appreciated it!

*Special Announcement* in re Extra (Free-to-Download) Content! Apr 25, 2020

We are making our latest Patreon episode, all about the Anthony Horowitz mystery Magpie Murders, free to download (and distract)! This glorious nerdfest of a novel is VERY much inspired by Christie, so chances are if you listen to this podcast, you will very much enjoy the novel itself, and (we hope!) our discussion. You can find it at http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha. Enjoy! And please stay safe. (And sane.)

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Nemean Lion by Agatha Christie Apr 19, 2020

We are so excited to be starting in earnest, at long last, The Labours of Hercules collection. Especially as it begins with such a charming Foreword and an even more charming--and intriguing--opening story. We also threw in some D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths for good measure; why not, right?

And Then There Were 23: After the Funeral by Agatha Christie Apr 03, 2020

We both adored this (somewhat) unsung Christie gem... though not without reservations. Fortunately, for purposes of discussion, those reservations turned out to be slightly different. It's a truth universally acknowledged that every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way, and that certainly holds true for the various familial arrangements portrayed so vividly in this sprawling novel.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Incredible Theft by Agatha Christie Mar 20, 2020

There is a lot going on in the world at the moment, but there will always be Agatha Christie. Join us as we celebrate our final Christie novella, which just may be more remarkable than it appears at first glance (or read, as it were). We also took this opportunity to clip heavily from the hijinks-riddled Suchet series. So let’s all bask in the lightness together, shall we?

And Then There Were 24: They Do It with Mirrors by Agatha Christie Mar 07, 2020

While we never do get the mirror the title seems (out of context) to promise, there was so much to adore in this imperfect yet rollicking early ‘50s novel. Take a deep breath, get out your Freud and Jung, and maybe take an umbrella for the trip down memory lane you’re about to embark on with one Miss Jane Marple.

Communing with Mr. Quin: The Love Detectives by Agatha Christie Feb 22, 2020

The love detectives are back--and in a story titled The Love Detectives, no less! Join us as we puzzle over why this perfectly delightful serialization was the only one not to be included in the Mysterious Mr. Quin collection… and potentially figure it out in real time! (Clearly the magic of Mr. Quin, that wily catalyst of problem-solving, was with us.)

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: Dead Man's Mirror by Agatha Christie Feb 01, 2020

It's time for another novella, this one full to bursting with characters, incident, and puzzle mystery elements. We also get a guest appearance from Mr. Satterthwaite (!!!!), so you know we were both dementedly pleased....

And Then There Were 25: Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie Jan 18, 2020

We couldn’t stop talking about Mrs. McGinty being dead! Mainly good things, though not *all* good things. But what a delight it was to reach, at long last, this first of the “late Poirots” featuring Ariadne Oliver. Come for the drive-by fruiting, stay for the sick Poirot burns as to “feminine intuition.”

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: Murder in the Mews by Agatha Christie Jan 03, 2020

We begin the year in style with one of Dame Agatha's leaner puzzle mysteries--especially among those featuring our favorite grandstanding Belgian detective. It's been a while since we've had the pleasure of discussing our dear Papa Poirot in short story form, though this one is a bit super-sized, as it is in fact one of the few novellas within the canon. This year we all get to celebrate ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF CHRISTIE, so you know we have high hopes for 2020. Happy New Year to all!

A Very Special Holiday Episode: The Call of Wings by Agatha Christie Dec 20, 2019

Most people know the apocryphal tale of Agatha's sister challenging her to write a murder mystery, but years earlier--1912 or thereabouts--her mother is supposed to have challenged her to write as a way of entertaining herself while recovering from influenza. Apparently this lead to an extended bout of neophyte creation that included this rather spiritual yarn, which just may remind you of another classic Christmastime story....

And Then There Were 26: They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie Dec 14, 2019

Real talk: this is not one of our favorite Christies. Alas. But it features some excellent scene setting in and among Baghdad and Basrah; whenever Christie takes us to the Middle East, we know we're in good hands as far as mise en scène goes. We just wish we could say the same about the plot (or lack thereof), and the characters populating this globe-trotting thriller....

A Very Special Episode: Knives Out, the Agatha Christie-Inspired Film Dec 06, 2019

We've been looking forward to this film for months... and are happy to report that on the whole it did not disappoint! Let's swoon together over cleverly employed Christie tropes, perfectly weathered white cable-knit sweaters, and everything in between.

A Very Special Episode: Interview (#2!!) with Sophie Hannah, Author of New Hercule Poirot Novels Nov 27, 2019

We had so much fun speaking with Sophie Hannah a year ago, we had her on again! Tuck in for a free-ranging conversation that starts with Sophie's new mystery novel and ends--as all conversations should--noodling over the finer aspects of moral culpability in And Then There Were None. (DOES Emily Brent get a raw deal?) With lots of chatter about lots of Christie titles in between. (Are Evil Under the Sun and Five Little Pigs diametric opposites as to style? Is The Body in the Library secretly the best Miss Marple? Which should we be more excited about reading in the future: The Pale Horse, or After the Funeral?) We could go on... and we do! See you in the episode.

Getting Happy with Parker Pyne: Problem at Pollensa Bay by Agatha Christie Nov 22, 2019

Somehow, we've reached our penultimate Parker Pyne story. As we won't be covering the last one till that far-off, misty era when our podcast ends, this will be our last Parker Pyne for quite some time.... Which may be welcome news or a disappointment, depending on your point of view. Much to our surprise, we find that we fall into the latter category. Until we meet again, Mr J. (or is it C.?) Parker Pyne....

And Then There Were 27: A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie Nov 08, 2019

You know the drill by now: long episode = lovefest episode. In 1950 a murder was announced, and the world was never the same.... Join us as we gush over this gem of a Marple novel (and lovingly identify its flaws).

A Very Special HALLOWE'EN Episode: The Last Séance & The Lamp by Agatha Christie Oct 26, 2019

We have two creepy and unabashedly supernatural short stories for your spine-tingling pleasure this Hallowe'en season. And even though this is Christie off her regularly beaten path of logic and reason, the lessons to be gleaned from these two macabre tales are fully on brand for our beloved Dame Agatha. Beware: 1) a mother's love; and 2) a real estate bargain. [Insert banshee keen here.]

And Then There Were 28: Crooked House by Agatha Christie Oct 12, 2019

We went a little long with this one, which is as good an indicator as any of how much we *adored* this gem of a Christie (Kemper especially). And what better time of year for such a twisted, creepy tale?! Take a listen... IF YOU DARE.

Getting Happy with Parker Pyne: The Oracle at Delphi by Agatha Christie Sep 27, 2019

Do it, Rockapella: Well he glides around the globe from Paris to Damascus. He’s a double-dealing sleuth with a taste for trickery He’ll take you for a ride on a slow boat down the Nile Tell me where in the world is… Parker Pyne, heart specialist? This week he's in Greece, in close proximity to an oracle, no less. You know what that means: a kidnapping, an impersonation, and an attempted jewel heist, of course. Enjoy!

A Very Special (Anniversary) Episode: The State of Our Rankings Sep 20, 2019

How is it possible that another year has passed? We lay the blame squarely on Dame Agatha, whose light prose and masterful puzzles have made the months slip silkily on by.... ! It's time for another nerd-fest as we assess the state of our rankings, having just passed the three-year mark (!!) on our literary trek through the Christie-verse. We hope you all have as much fun listening to this podcast as we do creating it. Onward, to Year 4!

And Then There Were 29: Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie Sep 12, 2019

We are back with another Poirot novel! And we were on the whole quite pleased with this twisty-turny post-WWII puzzle mystery, perhaps most notable for its searing evocation of a specific time and place in history. So travel back with us to 1946 and the tiny village of Warmsley Vale where--spoiler!--all is not as it first appears to be....

Communing with Mr. Quin: Harlequin's Lane by Agatha Christie Aug 30, 2019

'Tis time for the final story in the Mysterious Mr. Quin collection, and while *technically* things end with a thud rather than a bang, we were by no means disappointed by what we found in this crazypants tale of love gone SERIOUSLY awry. Oh, Mr. Quin. It's a good thing you're a supernatural being intent on haunting us till the end of days, because at this point we'd be lost without you....

Get Your Creep On: The Red Signal by Agatha Christie Aug 17, 2019

We've got an early short story involving supernatural premonitions, inherited insanity, and an early example of the very Christie-ish imperative to read closely. All we're missing is an actor, but hey, there's always next time.

A Miss Marple Nightcap: The Case of the Perfect Maid by Agatha Christie Aug 08, 2019

Sometimes when Christie takes to the short story form, she gets a little loose, a little wacky. We saw that in our last Miss Marple short story, and we see it again here, in a story that features... well, we won't be specific about the number, but let's just say there are a fair amount of maids in this one. Are any of them perfect? Let's find out!

And Then There Were 30: The Hollow by Agatha Christie Jul 27, 2019

Well, whenever we go beyond an hour of nattering away about a title, it's a good sign, and this episode is no exception. Come and bask with us in the many splendors of The Hollow, a much-beloved, mid-career masterwork of Christie's with rich characters and yet almost no puzzling to speak of, despite the presence of our dear Poirot. If this one is a Christie "crown jewel," it's one with all sorts of imperfections, but everyone knows it's the flaws that make a thing more interesting....

Communing with Mr. Quin: The World's End by Agatha Christie Jul 21, 2019

You know the drill by now: we've got Quin; we've got Satterthwaite; we've got spooky intrigue; we've got thwarted lovers. How's it all going to end? With an abrupt departure by our favorite proto-Tyler Durden, of course.

Getting Happy with Parker Pyne: The Pearl of Price by Agatha Christie Jul 13, 2019

It's been a while since we visited the enchanting city of Petra by way of Christie, and this one is definitely a much simpler, slighter puzzle mystery than what we encountered in Appointment with Death. But there is always a healthy amount of intrigue where the wily Parker Pyne is concerned....

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: Yellow Iris by Agatha Christie Jun 30, 2019

What's better than a tale of twin poisonings like we had in our last episode? Twin tales of twin poisonings, of course. This short story is substantially similar to Sparkling Cyanide, which we just covered, but it actually came first, and as a precursor to that novel it also has some fascinating differences. Journey with us not only to New York but--in the Suchet adaptation--to Argentina too as we explore all that this Poirot story has to offer.

And Then There Were 31: Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie Jun 23, 2019

We both relished this glittering tale of twin poisonings set within a posh circle at a swanky London restaurant, though it comes with a few problems/weaknesses all its own. Come geek out with us over the intricacies of cyanide, the later career of Nancy Marchand, and so much more.

A Miss Marple Nightcap: Strange Jest by Agatha Christie Jun 15, 2019

You'd be forgiven for mistaking the bucolic English country estate where this story is set for the Borscht Belt of upstate New York, because this Miss Marple yarn (see what we did there?) is pretty darn funny. Poor Edward and Charmian had no idea what they were in for when Jane Helier (!!) recommended they consult with the very best of amateur sleuths in the attempt to recover a modern-day buried treasure. Take cover, because the hijinks are flying fast!

Communing with Mr. Quin: The Bird with the Broken Wing by Agatha Christie Jun 07, 2019

As Mabelle Annesley could perhaps sing for you herself on her ukulele, it's time to "Get Ur Freak On," and how, in this remarkably cuckoo Monsieurs Quin & Satterthwaite tale. Enjoy! We always do when it's these two....

Getting Happy with Parker Pyne: The House at Shiraz by Agatha Christie Jun 01, 2019

Bar the gates, because Parker Pyne is still abroad, flitting here, there, and everywhere in the Middle East. This time we find him in Persia (i.e., Iran)--specifically, the lovely city of Shiraz. But not so lovely as to prevent it from harboring one who is some combination of murderer, lunatic, and/or impostor. Let's sort it out together before our peripatetic PI jets off someplace else for further adventures.

And Then There Were 32: Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie May 27, 2019

While we did not love this one, we do appreciate what an outlier it is within the Christie canon, and the fact that it was the first "historical whodunit" to combine the genres of detective and historical fiction. Also, like most murder mystery fans we love a high body count, and at seven murders (and eight deaths), this one definitely does not disappoint in that area....

A Miss Marple Nightcap: Miss Marple Tells a Story by Agatha Christie May 17, 2019

It has been too long since we visited with Miss Marple in short story form, which Christie herself identified as our favorite spinster sleuth's natural milieu, after all.... And we get more of Miss Marple than we normally do in this outlier of a short story, written as a script to be read out by Christie herself (!!) on the radio.

Communing with Mr. Quin: The Dead Harlequin by Agatha Christie May 09, 2019

Mr. Quin has decided to haunt our podcast yet again with one of his trademark spooky tales involving a seemingly locked-room suicide, a talented (yet extremely grumpy) artist, and a book that Mr. Satterthwaite authored called Homes of My Friends. There is A LOT to discuss in this one; let's get to it!

*Special Announcement* re Our Brand New Patreon Account! May 05, 2019

We are excited to announce that we have started a Patreon account for bonus or extra episodes of our podcast. Please listen for a more thorough explanation, but our first episode is a VERY lively discussion of the recent John Malkovich adaptation of The ABC Murders.... We hope to see you over on the Patreon account, http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha. And have no fear: our regularly scheduled programming will resume right here next week.

Getting Happy with Parker Pyne: The Gate of Baghdad by Agatha Christie Apr 27, 2019

Parker Pyne is still abroad, spreading his statistician-acquired cynical know-how the same way his forebears spread smallpox, this time on a "Pullman coach" across the desert from Damascus to Baghdad in which a sock may or may not have been used to murder someone. Where's Rob Kardashian when you need him? Fortunately, he's right here!

And Then There Were 33: Towards Zero by Agatha Christie Apr 21, 2019

Christie rarely deals in psychopaths, but when she does she tends to handle them with panache, and this novel is no exception. (Not a spoiler, as we are put on our guard almost immediately that a psycho lurks in these pages....) While it is by no means one of our absolute favorites, we quite enjoyed this one, which features a number of familiar Christie tropes spun/twisted in ingeniously dark ways.

A Very Special Episode: Interview with Jamie Bernthal, Author of Queering Agatha Christie Apr 13, 2019

We were so thrilled to have a special guest on the podcast for a fascinating interview about reading Agatha Christie in a way that may (or may not!) be a departure for some listeners. Jamie's book Queering Agatha Christie (which we've referred to many times on this podcast) applies a subset of literary theory called “queer theory” to Christie’s works, and it is a truly thought-provoking way to analyze what is happening in these beloved texts. We hope you enjoy our discussion as much as we did.

All About Opera: The Face of Helen & Swan Song by Agatha Christie Apr 06, 2019

It's another special double episode, this one focusing on the world of opera and Christie's personal love of music. In our first story we attend Covent Garden with Mr. Satterthwaite and the mysterious Mr. Quin, while in the second it's a private theatrical extravaganza starring world-renowned prima donna Paula Nazorkoff. As anyone familiar with the plots of many an opera will know, it doesn't take long for things to get rather murder-y....

Getting Happy with Parker Pyne: Have You Got Everything You Want? by Agatha Christie Mar 30, 2019

All aboard the... Orient Express?! That's right: heart specialist Parker Pyne is going abroad, and while we've already covered one of his travels in Christie's *other* Death on the Nile, here he untangles a jewel heist (or is it?) aboard that infamous train right around the same time Monsieur Poirot was taking it in the opposite direction. (Maybe one day someone will find an alternate And Then There Were None in the basement at Greenway, in which Pyne finds himself on an island being hunted down by a murderer, only to solve the murderer's problems by means of an elaborate theatrical ruse....)

And Then There Were 34: The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie Mar 23, 2019

It may surprise some listeners to learn how mixed we were on our third Miss Marple novel, given what fans we are (yes, even Catherine) of our dear spinster sleuth. But that just means we had lots and lots to discuss, so get out your gluestick and sharpen a skewer because we've got more than a few moving fingers to account for in the seemingly sweet (read: not at all sweet) village of Lymstock.

The Name's Bond. James Bond. Just Not *That* James Bond: The Rajah's Emerald by Agatha Christie Mar 10, 2019

No, really: the protagonist of this story is "James Bond," who appears more than a quarter century before Ian Fleming's *slightly* more famous character. And our poor James Bond is suffering through a vacation (er, holiday) so wretched, it has to be one of the worst Christie ever depicted--which as we've discussed in previous episodes is definitely saying something, given Poirot's various ill-advised vacances sur la plage.... Let's take the plunge in the icy English waters together, shall we?

Manic Pixie Monster a.k.a. Never Go to the Second Location: The Golden Ball by Agatha Christie Mar 01, 2019

We have been here before, and we will almost certainly be here again. It's time for another kookily "romantic" story in which two young things banter their little hearts out to what seems to be to them--if not us--a satisfying conclusion. It's Listerdale Mystery time, and good God but this one hinges on a piece of fruit, too.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Double Clue & The Capture of Cerberus by Agatha Christie Feb 24, 2019

We’ve heard tell that two hearts are better than one, so we figured we'd take that approach to our exploration of a character within the Christieverse replete with both passion and flair: the Countess Vera Rossakoff. Behold a double episode showcasing the two stories in which she appears, along with a general discussion of who this so-called Countess is and what she may or may not mean to our dear Monsieur Poirot.

And Then There Were 35: Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie Feb 15, 2019

Well, the last time we posted such a prolix episode it was to gush over what became our highest ranked novel, And Then There Were None. We will leave it to you, dear listener, to discover whether this beloved Poirot novel managed to unseat the champion and become our new #1. We’ll give you this much: it was close! Enjoy. FLP4EVA (Catherine is currently requesting this vanity plate from the California DMV.)

Communing with Mr. Quin: The Voice in the Dark by Agatha Christie Feb 09, 2019

This Harley Quin story has, if not quite everything, then nearly so: a boating catastrophe in the distant past that is neither the Titanic nor the Lusitania; a young Mr. Satterthwaite (!!) snogging (!!!!) a maid (!!!!!!); a man named Bimbo (seriously); and a true rarity for Christie—a bathtub murder. Things always get a little weird in this corner of the Christieverse (the Satterthwerse?), so fasten your seatbelts... (oh yeah--Bette Davis gets a shoutout too).

Getting Happy with Parker Pyne: The Case of the Rich Woman by Agatha Christie Feb 01, 2019

Let's just hope for all our sakes we never get another opportunity to go off on a tangent about body-switch comedies. (One never knows in the Christieverse.) In this, the final story in the "Miss Lonelyhearts"-esque section of the Parker Pyne collection, we perhaps see our "heart specialist" at his most dastardly AND brilliant.

On Scheherezade & Omar Khayyám: Mr Eastwood's Adventure by Agatha Christie Jan 25, 2019

We are discussing another early Christie thriller, so we've got a dippy male protagonist combined with dubious gender politics, sigh. But it also turns out this is a very (classically) Persian episode, who knew? We did, and so will you.

And Then There Were 36: The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie (a.k.a. Miss Marple is BA-ACK!) Jan 18, 2019

Praise be: we have at long last arrived at our second Miss Marple novel! We couldn't be more thrilled to revisit St. Mary Mead and its assorted characters, and boy do we get a lot of them in this alternately breezy/bleak story. So let's join our six investigators (no, really--four professional, two amateur) and find out what happens when people stop being polite, and start getting murder-y.

Communing with Mr. Quin: The Man from the Sea by Agatha Christie Jan 11, 2019

Yes, we are back once more with our spooky friends Messieurs Quin and Satterthwaite, and this time things get extra, extra weird, in ways both problematic and not! Let’s puzzle our way through this non-puzzle mystery together, shall we?

A Run-By Fruiting, Twenties-Style: A Fruitful Sunday by Agatha Christie Dec 28, 2018

We've got another light, flirty Christie adventure on our hands here, and while normally we'd say that hijinks ensue, there is so little going on in this short story that perhaps we have only a single hijink? Maybe two? In any case, this is a pleasant enough tale of automotive and fructiferous tomfoolery. Please enjoy, as the year winds down in these final few days of 2018!

A Very Special Holiday Episode with Parker Pyne: The Case of the City Clerk by Agatha Christie Dec 21, 2018

Well if the Grinch's heart can grow three sizes bigger, why not Mr. Parker Pyne's?? 'Tis the season for such character arcs, after all. Join us as we learn a bit more about Christie's heart specialist of a detective. You just may find a new appreciation for him. (Or, if you are cynical like Catherine… you may not.)

And Then There Were 37: N or M? by Agatha Christie Dec 15, 2018

Rejoice or beware, per your preference, because Tommy & Tuppence, those alliterative lovebirds, are back! And in wartime no less: the spring of 1940, to be exact (and Christie is very exact). Join us as we discuss this mid-career thriller of Christie's, which is in many ways quite typical (poor Tommy and his poor head!), but in others quite unusual....

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: Triangle at Rhodes by Agatha Christie Dec 09, 2018

This week we revisit a familiar-seeming love triangle, and while it’s true that this Poirot short story and the Poirot novel we just covered--Evil Under the Sun--share many similarities, they also share some key differences…. Join us for our 100th episode (!!) as we use this little exercise in compare and contrast to marvel yet again at the fecundity of Dame Agatha’s nimble brain.

A Very Special Episode: Interview with Sophie Hannah, Author of New Hercule Poirot Novels Nov 23, 2018

We were thrilled to have bestselling—and Poirot-continuing!—author Sophie Hannah on the podcast for a wide-ranging chat about all things Agatha. Please revel in the Christie fandom, as we did.

Communing with Mr. Quin: The Soul of the Croupier by Agatha Christie Nov 18, 2018

Are you ready for an oh-so-European tale of despair, betrayal, and misplaced pride? Would it help if you listened to some Edith Piaf while we told it to you? Okay, then. Time to sit for another soulful spell with Mr. Harley Quin and his dessicated sidekick, Mr. Satterthwaite, this time on the shores of Monte Carlo. Bon voyage!

And Then There Were 38: Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie Nov 08, 2018

While this one is something of a fan favorite, we were surprised by the simplicity of the central mystery upon a reread, given all the Christie puzzles we've solved thus far.... Add to that a number of characters who are never really suspects, plus a few absurd side-plots that don't quite hang onto the main action as they should, and we come out a bit more critically on this one than we expected, despite retaining a healthy affection for some of this Poirot novel's better elements.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Affair at the Victory Ball by Agatha Christie Nov 02, 2018

How have we not covered Christie’s first published short story yet?! (A Poirot, naturally.) Consider this a master class in some of the fundamental tropes she would go on to use many, many times. Actors, costumes, a temporal deception, even the harlequinade! Add to that a real-world, “ripped-from-the-headlines” analogue, and what more could two Christie podcasters want? (Well, we could always use more Miss Lemon in the Suchet adaptation, but we can't have everything.)

She Works Hard for the Money: Jane in Search of a Job by Agatha Christie Oct 26, 2018

While we can't pretend this is a special Hallowe’en-themed episode, there is perhaps nothing scarier than being in want of a job…. We were also rather frightened by the flimsiness of this early Christie thriller when it came to its establishing concept, its plot, and its romantic intrigue. So take a listen... if you dare.

A Very Special Anniversary Episode: The State of Our Rankings Oct 19, 2018

Given the ceaseless flitting of that winged and mysterious fourth dimension known as time, we have managed to pass the two-year mark for our podcast... which means it's time to check in on our rankings! In other words, we were given a great excuse to nerd out yet again over those Christie creations we've already covered, and boy, did we capitalize on that opportunity. We hope you enjoy, as we did.

And Then There Were 39: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie Oct 12, 2018

While a trip to the dentist with Agatha Christie is the only trip to the dentist one might actually enjoy, we are sad to report our enjoyment of this novel was somewhat sullied by the incompleteness of the puzzle mystery therein. Thank goodness for Inspector Japp, who makes his final appearance in a Poirot novel in these pages, and who does not disappoint on screen either, as brought to life by the talented Philip Jackson.

Communing with Mr. Quin: The Sign in the Sky by Agatha Christie Sep 28, 2018

Time for another wacky installment of the enigmatic Mr. Quin and the put-upon Mr. Satterthwaite, who we see traversing not only the Atlantic Ocean but the Canadian continent in this story of a fatal attraction. (Be assured that no bunnies will be harmed in the reading of this story, or the listening of this episode.)

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Dream by Agatha Christie Sep 21, 2018

It's been a while since we've had the pleasure of dissecting a miniature Poirot mystery puzzle, and this one has almost all the classic Christie clue tropes we've come to love. We also enjoyed revisiting our beloved Captain Hastings and Felicity Lemon, as brought to life on an extremely early episode of the Suchet series. Come and revel with us in the Poirovian splendor of it all.

And Then There Were 40: Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie Sep 14, 2018

While the characters populating this Poirot novel almost all live up to its melancholy title, we're happy to report our reading experience did not, as we both quite liked this unusually structured Christie puzzle mystery... despite some glaring plot holes.

Calling Flannery, Shirley, Joyce, and Stephen Too: Accident by Agatha Christie Sep 07, 2018

To say we loved this shockingly unsung short story is an understatement. We may even have lurved it. Come take a walk with us on the darker, dread-laden side of Christie....

Tea with Tommy & Tuppence: The Ambassador's Boots by Agatha Christie Aug 31, 2018

Our final installment of the Partners in Crime series, in which we say goodbye for now to Tommy and Tuppence, and goodbye forever to the series that adapted the collection. As discussed in previous episodes, we don't love every aspect of Christie's married detective duo, but we found a lot to celebrate here nonetheless.

Getting Happy with Parker Pyne: The Case of the Discontented Husband by Agatha Christie Aug 24, 2018

Another doozy from Mr. Parker Pyne! Someone ought to revise that final couplet of Romeo and Juliet, because we’re pretty sure this story has more woe in it, albeit of the marital variety…. Join us in a discussion so far-ranging, it manages to incorporate creations by Cole Porter, Tennessee Williams, and Jerry Springer. (Yup, Jerry Springer. You’ve been warned.)

And Then There Were 41: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie - Part 2 (The Films) Aug 17, 2018

And then it was time to talk about the film adaptations (and one televised adaptation, too). We were lucky enough to have Dr. Mark Aldridge, author of Agatha Christie on Screen, back on the podcast for an interview about the many films based on this novel. We hope you enjoy... and that you also forgive us the telephonic tinniness of our voices. Alas, we could not fly to England to interview Mark in person. Maybe next year?

And Then There Were 41: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie - Part 1 (The Text) Aug 10, 2018

A bit of a supersized episode for a supersized novel! It is time, at long last, for And Then There Were None. Join us as we focus on the text only (film adaptations to be discussed next week), and revel in what many consider to be Christie’s most glorious creation, outlier though it undoubtedly is when considered in the context of her overall canon. We also deal with the unfortunate original title, as well as the unfortunate allusions made in earlier editions to that problematic nursery rhyme. We will say this, however: as Christie’s first novel to incorporate a titular rhyme, it’s almost definitely her most successful. Consider it one more thing to celebrate in this gem of a novel.

Of Mice and Misogyny: The Manhood of Edward Robinson by Agatha Christie Aug 03, 2018

We found quite a bit to mull over with regard to our titular character, that romance novel-reading, trivia contest-winning, accidental jewel-thieving Edward Robinson. Does he secure his, ahem, manhood by the end of the story? Did we as Twenty-First Century readers find the definition of said manhood in this story to be rather troubling? Yes and yes, naturally.

Tea with Tommy & Tuppence: The Clergyman's Daughter by Agatha Christie Jul 20, 2018

Tommy & Tuppence are ba-ack, so you know what that means: time to start digging for buried treasure! No, really. Join us for this Christmas adventure in July as we discuss, among other topics, the vagaries of keeping potatoes from spoiling in warm climates, and whether or not Tommy and Tuppence are in fact smug marrieds. (They are.)

Communing with Mr. Quin: At the "Bells and Motley" by Agatha Christie Jul 13, 2018

So much happening at the "Bells and Motley" (let's dare not forget those quotation marks). This is a Mysterious Mr. Quin story, so we shouldn't be surprised that things get loopy, fast. But did you ever think a Christie story would directly reference the year 2025? We sure didn't!

And Then There Were 42: Murder is Easy by Agatha Christie Jul 06, 2018

Murder is easy... if you're a small-town serial killer with a whole host of deep-seated issues. But is this decidedly thriller-like puzzle mystery of Christie's easy to read? Or enjoy?

Getting Happy with Parker Pyne: The Case of the Distressed Lady by Agatha Christie Jun 29, 2018

We all know diamonds are a girl's best friend, but are they a distressed lady's best friend? Let us discuss. (Also: if you were thinking to yourself that the one thing this podcast is missing is Marilyn Monroe, then boy are you in luck.)

In re the Perils of Boat Travel: Sing a Song of Sixpence by Agatha Christie Jun 22, 2018

Hoo boy, this one's a bit of a doozy, in that the mystery is unfortunately light and our amateur detective is unfortunately creepy. Join us as we sing a song of sixpence... none the richer, that is. (No, but seriously: what *is* a milky twilight?)

Tea with Tommy & Tuppence: The Unbreakable Alibi by Agatha Christie Jun 15, 2018

It's time to romp once again with our alliterative detective duo, and oh, what a romp we have here. Particularly in the televised adaptation, which we discuss at some length as the "mystery" of this one is rather... simple, shall we say? But not quite as simple as our poor, besotted "victim" Montgomery Jones.

And Then There Were 43: Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie Jun 08, 2018

It is in no way beginning to look a lot like Christmas, either in the real world or inside the pages of this novel. What it *is* looking a lot like is that rare creature, an honest-to-goodness Agatha Christie locked room mystery! Leave your crackers and crowns at home, but perhaps bring along a sponge or paper towel to help absorb the oodles of blood we encounter in one of Christie's more gruesome murder tableaux. Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him...?

Special Episode: Interview with Agatha Christie Scholar John Curran Jun 02, 2018

We were honored to speak with Christie scholar John Curran, whose books we reference so liberally on our podcast! Despite some sound quality issues, we think you’ll enjoy the insights and opinions he shared with us in a wide-ranging conversation about all things Christie.

A Miss Marple Nightcap: Death by Drowning by Agatha Christie May 26, 2018

At long last we complete our baker's dozen of stories within the Thirteen Problems, Christie's first collection of Miss Marple short stories. Get ready to go DEEP on issues of class--not quite as deep as our poor, pregnant (!) victim does in a river snaking through the woods of St. Mary Mead, but deep nonetheless. As we've come to learn by now, nothing is off-limits where Miss Marple is concerned.

Tea with Tommy & Tuppence: The House of Lurking Death by Agatha Christie May 18, 2018

Well this one has a lot of Sturm und Drang for what we've come to expect from the Beresfords! But really, when a story includes *both* a box of poisoned chocolates and a suspected case of ptomaine (t)poisoning, should we really be all that surprised when someone's bed goes up in flames?

And Then There Were 44: Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie May 10, 2018

There are mothers, and then there are MOTHERS. Mrs. Boynton definitely belongs in the latter category, as we explore in our latest novel, another "travelling" Christie--this one set in and around the Holy Lands, including an extended stay in Petra (Indiana Jones and affiliated grail hunting not included). Get out your Freud, your Jung, and of course your little grey cells as Papa Poirot goes deep--and we mean DEEP--into psychology to solve this rather elegant puzzle mystery.

Getting Happy with Parker Pyne: Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie May 04, 2018

That's right; do not adjust your screens; before she wrote her much more famous Death on the Nile, Christie wrote a short story featuring her "heart specialist" Parker Pyne on a trip up that same (in)famous river.... Join us as we plumb the depths of this neat little puzzle mystery, which features a glancing reference to a substance these two American readers found most intriguing of all: Bovril.

Communing with Mr. Quin: The Shadow on the Glass by Agatha Christie Apr 27, 2018

Harley Quin is ba-ack! But barely; he makes all but a fleeting appearance in this light yet surprisingly robust tale of double homicide rooted in a ghost story dating back to the English Civil War. (If you wanted a refresher on the "Roundheads" versus the "Cavaliers," you are in luck!) So grab some popcorn and watch along with us and Mr. Satterthwaite as the romantic sparks--and bullets--begin to fly....

Tea with Tommy & Tuppence: The Sunningdale Mystery by Agatha Christie Apr 19, 2018

Rejoice, for our favorite (well, only) married detective duo are back! And they have chosen to put their brains together in the early Twentieth Century version of a Denny's restaurant to solve a murder-by-hatpin on the links that has been reported in the newspaper. Okay, sure! Plus we were able to shoehorn The Golden Girls into this episode, so everybody wins. (Except the hatpin murderer, of course.)

And Then There Were 45: Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie Apr 13, 2018

This novel officially marks our progress through one third of Christie's canon! And it is of course much beloved among Christie fans... due in no small part to the outrageously enjoyable 1978 film adaptation (we're looking at you, Bette Davis; we are always looking at you). But there is much to discuss, not only about this adaptation and Suchet's spin on the material, but the workings of the story itself. Join us as we tease apart what we believe to be one of Christie's most complex puzzle mysteries. And as we all know by now, that is most certainly saying something!

Getting Happy with Parker Pyne: The Case of the Middle-Aged Wife by Agatha Christie Apr 06, 2018

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned... unless that woman has Parker Pyne to turn to for help with her decidedly scornful husband. Is the "happy" result truly happy? Join us as we discuss this and such other topics as the nuances of movie makeovers (!!).

Get Your Screwball On: The Girl in the Train by Agatha Christie Mar 30, 2018

That's right, there's no typo in this episode's title: it's The Girl *IN* the Train, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Well, perhaps we would have a meatier mystery and more three-dimensional characters, but we couldn't help enjoying this simplistic and somewhat fantastical early thriller story.... Think of it as Christie on a busman's holiday, enjoying herself the entire way.

Bringing on the Drama: The Listerdale Mystery by Agatha Christie Mar 23, 2018

What's the opposite of a no-drama mama? While you're pondering that, get out your hanky and start dabbing lightly at the corner of your eye because we've got a weepie on our hands. Especially if, like one of our co-hosts, you feel especially passionate about real estate. Come take a stroll on the softer side of Christie; we quite enjoyed it! And we hope you do, too.

And Then There Were 46: Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie Mar 16, 2018

Real talk: we are not big fans of this one. But we *are* big fans of the three dogs discussed herein: 1) fictional dog Bob, our titular “dumb witness” (though whether he ever actually witnessed anything is... questionable); 2) Christie’s real-life faithful companion Peter, to whom this book is dedicated; and 3) actor dog Snubby, for whom David Suchet apparently fell as hard as his version of Hercule Poirot did in the televised adaptation. And it isn’t often we get to celebrate man’s best friend in the course of discussing a murder mystery. We just wish the puzzle mystery could have been more up to Dame Agatha’s habitually high standard.

A Miss Marple Nightcap: The Affair at the Bungalow by Agatha Christie Mar 09, 2018

All good things must come to an end. At long last we hear from the final guest at the Bantry dinner party: Jane Helier, actress--and dingbat--extraordinaire. And boy does this one turn out to be a doozy! We've said it before, and we'll say it again. Beware the blue-eyed Janes....

Getting Happy with Parker Pyne: The Case of the Discontented Soldier by Agatha Christie Mar 02, 2018

Yes, we have another Christie detective to meet! But is he a detective at all? Let's explore this question along with an unfortunate "stuck in its time" element we were not expecting in this, the short story that introduced Ariadne Oliver to the world. At the very least we can say that Mrs. Oliver emerged fully-formed from Christie's head, clothed in all her self-deprecating, no-nonsense glory. (Perhaps she should have been named Athena Oliver?)

And Then There Were 47: Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie Feb 17, 2018

Welcome to Dame Agatha's twentieth mystery novel! There are those who love Cards on the Table, and those who loathe Cards on the Table. As it turns out, we (mainly) love it. Regardless of your feelings, you have to admit there is much to unpack here in the way of not just bridge but psychology. Plus: Ariadne Oliver! Let the meta-hijinks begin!

Communing with Mr. Quin : The Coming of Mr. Quin by Agatha Christie Feb 09, 2018

It's time, at long last, to meet the mysterious Mr. Quin! This is a special, spooky little corner of the Christieverse that may be a favorite with some fans, and unknown to others. Join us as we parse not only his first mystery but the literary provenance of his character, which may be the biggest mystery of all....

A Miss Marple Nightcap: The Herb of Death by Agatha Christie Feb 03, 2018

We've all experienced the well-worn trope of the unreliable female narrator at this point, but in this story we have the rare example of the *unwilling* female narrator... with quite interesting results. So join us, as our poor hostess Dolly Bantry is cajoled into telling a tale of vegetal mayhem and murder. Just don't call her Mrs. B.

A Miss Marple Nightcap: The Four Suspects by Agatha Christie Jan 19, 2018

This week's short story relies on both arcane technical knowledge *and* dubious cryptography, and yet it was not written by Dan Brown. Go figure. Come and sit a spell with us at Gossington Hall, at the seemingly never-ending Bantry dinner party. It's Sir Henry Clithering's turn to tell a tale, and he does not disappoint. Plus: a bonus peek at the softer side (or is it?) of Miss Jane Marple!

And Then There Were 48: Murder In Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie Jan 13, 2018

It’s time for Dame Agatha’s first Middle Eastern-set novel! And while there is much to discuss here (including the fascinating real-life inspiration for our murder victim), unfortunately there wasn't quite as much to love in either the novel or the Suchet adaptation. Still, it wasn’t nearly as bad as drinking a glass of hydrochloric acid!

A Miss Marple Nightcap: The Companion by Agatha Christie Dec 29, 2017

What better way to say goodbye to 2017 than with a tale of overlooked--hence underestimated--women? And who better to solve such a tale than our very own Miss Jane Marple? Though let's be real: she isn't ours... she is very much her own, thank you very much. Happy New Year to all; we look forward to bringing you much, much more Christie in 2018!

A *Very Special* Holiday Miss Marple Episode: A Christmas Tragedy by Agatha Christie Dec 22, 2017

Last year we had M. Poirot over for a Christmas visit, so we figured it was only fair to extend the invitation this year to our dear Miss Marple. Luckily she accepted... with a dark tale of sandbagging, impoverishment, and domestic discord! And this is why we cherish her so: she keeps it real, that Jane Marple. Happy holidays, everyone!

And Then There Were 49: The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie Dec 17, 2017

A serial killer is on the loose… or *is* he (or she for that matter)? Come deep-dive with us--into the depths of this unusual Christie novel, in which our analysis gets granular enough to identify not one but two points of intersection between this novel and podcast favorite The Man in the Brown Suit. (I know; we were surprised too… surprised, and delighted.) Does Christie pull off everything she's trying to achieve here? Perhaps not, but we enjoyed the ride nonetheless.

A Miss Marple Nightcap: The Blue Geranium by Agatha Christie Dec 02, 2017

Miss Marple is back! And perhaps better than ever in this inaugural tale of the Tuesday Night Club redux, a.k.a. part two of The Thirteen Problems. Get your thinking caps on because Miss Jane Marple is about to school us all. We wouldn't have it any other way. (Okay, Kemper, at least, wouldn't have it any other way....)

Tea with Tommy & Tuppence: The Crackler by Agatha Christie Nov 22, 2017

For the Americans among us, we may be looking forward to a little R&R over the impending Thanksgiving break, and why not add a little T&T to that equation? Regardless of your nationality, join us in this quaint little counterfeit caper, in which our favorite married detectives are shown the money, and then some.

A *Very Special* Episode: Murder on the Orient Express, the 2017 Film Nov 17, 2017

Just as you, dear listener, have probably done, we have gone out and watched the Kenneth Branagh adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express! And we have thoughts. So many thoughts.... Take a listen to our off-the-cuff remarks, and then feel free to share yours with us; we'd love to hear from you. (Except maybe if you're Josh Gad. Although actually, if Josh Gad were listening to this podcast we would in fact love to hear from him. E-mail us, Josh!)

And Then There Were 50: Death In The Clouds by Agatha Christie Nov 10, 2017

Also known as the OG Jazz Age version of The Bridge meets Snakes on a Plane. There is a lot to unpack in this one, including our mixed/middling feelings about it despite its dishy setting. Come unpack with us; just beware that by the end of the episode contents may have shifted during your listening experience....

A Special HALLOWE'EN Episode: The Dressmaker's Doll & Philomel Cottage by Agatha Christie Oct 30, 2017

It's Hallowe'en! (Yes, we are wedded to that apostrophe, unfortunately.) Join us (IF YOU DARE) as we dissect (LIKE CREEPY SCIENTISTS) two rather horrifying Christie short stories... with lots and lots of references to horror movies both high and low, of course. You may never feel the same way about dolls or husbands ever again.

Tea with Tommy & Tuppence: The Man in the Mist by Agatha Christie Oct 26, 2017

Quick: we say "Gilda," you say... what? Rita Hayworth? Gilda Radnor? Well, after this episode you very well may say "Ghost Cop." It's another caper courtesy of our pals Tommy and Tuppence, and this time Tommy is dressed up as a priest from a previous (failed, naturally) case. Can he do his best Father Brown impersonation and figure out whodunit? That is honestly an open question when it comes to these two, so you'll just have to listen to find out!

Tea with Tommy & Tuppence: The Case of the Missing Lady by Agatha Christie Oct 20, 2017

Time to get your screwball on! This may be Christie's most Wodehousian story yet (and it's certainly got some competition). Join us as we dive into a delightfully lighthearted Tommy & Tuppence caper. Oh, and also: were you aware that FUTURE PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN once played Tommy in a live televised adaptation of this very story?! Because we certainly were not. So much yet to learn about the Christieverse....

And Then There Were 51: Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie Oct 13, 2017

Get ready for some drama! Both from this theater-saturated novel and from your intrepid co-hosts, as one of us quite liked this one, the other, less so. But it's not all tragedy, because stage plays aren't the only things to come in three parts. So too do... love triangles! And we know how Papa Poirot enjoys a romance. So join us as we debate the merits of this rare Hercule Poirot novel to feature another detective, one Mr. Satterthwaite of "The Mysterious Mr Quin" fame. He too enjoys a side-dish of romance amidst a generous helping of murder. Let's dig in.

Tea with Tommy & Tuppence: Finessing The King by Agatha Christie Oct 06, 2017

What happens when our adorably mischievous young married duo T&T get up to no good at a '20s masquerade? Someone gets stabbed through the heart, of course! Nor do the horror and hijinks end there, not even close.... For one thing, we've got both 50 Cent and Andrew Lloyd Webber in this episode; what could possibly go wrong?

Tea with Tommy & Tuppence: The Affair of the Pink Pearl by Agatha Christie Sep 29, 2017

Get ready for some light-hearted banter, folks, because Tommy and Tuppence are back! T&T sightings are relatively sparse in the Christieverse, but this early collection of short stories will help tide us over, as will the early '80s TV adaptations. Prepare to be delighted.

A Very Special Anniversary (!!) Episode: Rankings & Other Musings Sep 23, 2017

We officially turned one year old! Come celebrate with us by engaging in a granular evaluation of the state of our novel rankings thus far, with many a blast from the past! (Mary Cavendish and Jane Wilkinson will be pleased.... Anne Bedingfeld, not so much. Sorry Anne.) Plus our thoughts on this crazy little projects of ours, including what makes Christie so gosh-darn special. Honestly, we could talk about that any time, but a birthday is an excellent excuse.

And Then There Were 52: Why Didn't They Ask Evans? by Agatha Christie Sep 15, 2017

One might be inclined to ponder why they would ever ask Evans anything at all after we're done discussing this mid-career Christie thriller.... But let's focus on the positive, shall we? This episode posts on the birthday of our beloved Dame Agatha, born a whopping 127 years ago, her legacy stronger than ever.... We look forward to celebrating many more together.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Lemesurier Inheritance by Agatha Christie Aug 31, 2017

A.k.a. the one that got away. Yes, friends, this is the *only* Poirot short story not to be adapted by the ITV series starring David Suchet. And while it's a bit... out there, we found ourselves wishing this tale of madness and murder had been adapted in the earlier, peppier seasons featuring the whole crime-solving gang. What would Miss Lemon have made of a centuries-old inherited family curse? What sport would Hastings have been obsessed with as a side-pursuit? When would Japp and his trench coat have made their much-needed appearance? How would a car chase have been shoehorned into the proceedings? The fact that we'll never know just may be our own curse, but we'll learn to live with it together.

A Miss Marple Nightcap: The Thumb Mark of St. Peter by Agatha Christie Aug 25, 2017

Things get a little wild when Miss Jane Marple herself tells the story in this, the final installment of the Tuesday Night Club. We've got carp; we've got haddock; we've got insanity; we've got the power of prayer. We may even have (gasp) true love? Has a romance been blossoming amidst these weekly tales of mayhem and intrigue? Leave it to Miss Marple to ferret it out... and to put it in its place.

A Miss Marple Nightcap: Motive v. Opportunity by Agatha Christie Aug 18, 2017

Are you a fan of the 1990 blockbuster smash-hit film GHOST, starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and--most importantly--Whoopi Goldberg? If your answer to this question was a resounding "yes!" then this is your dream episode, as we found some startling parallels between the situational dynamics in this Miss Marple short story and that film. If your answer was "huh?" then we have so much to teach you.... Let's get started.

And Then There Were 53: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - Part 2 (The Films) Aug 11, 2017

Our first interview! We were so thrilled to chat with Christie scholar Mark Aldridge, author of Agatha Christie on Screen, about the many film adaptations of Murder on the Orient Express…. Please join us in the second (and final) installation of our exploration of this Christie classic. And have no fear: we *will* be revisiting this topic come November when the new film adaptation is released!

And Then There Were 53: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - Part 1 (The Text) Aug 04, 2017

This is a big one! So big, we decided to break it into two parts. This episode deals with the novel only; next episode we will tackle the three English-language adaptations and also touch on the feature film yet to be released, which looms darkly on the horizon.... Our ranking of this one is bound to be a bit controversial, and we'd love to hear any strong opinions you may have. But first, go get your sponge bag, your handkerchief, your pocket watch, your pipe cleaner, your scarlet dressing gown, and of course your passport (no smudges, please) and climb aboard the Simplon-Orient Express with Papa Poirot for this undeniable Christie "crown jewel" of a novel.

A Miss Marple Nightcap: The Blood-Stained Pavement by Agatha Christie Jul 29, 2017

Another day, another episode wherein Miss Marple outsmarts all those foolish enough to underestimate her. This one is quite a pitch-black little story, as evidenced by its rather fantastic alternate title in the U.S.: Drip! Drip! And perhaps also by the fact that it's set in a place called "Rathole."

A Miss Marple Nightcap: Ingots of Gold by Agatha Christie Jul 22, 2017

What do Poldark, Daphne Du Maurier, and the Spanish Armada all have in common? If you said Cornwall, then you are an ideal listener for this week's tale of Cornish intrigue brought to you by Miss Marple's nephew, the fake novelist Raymond West. (Spoiler: we do not like Raymond West.) Now for another one: what do Olivia de Havilland, Beverly Cleary, and Northanger Abbey all have in common? If you said nothing, then you are correct! Although technically, they are all tangents we explored on this rather freewheeling episode. Enjoy! (We certainly did.)

And Then There Were 54: Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie Jul 17, 2017

This one is a little controversial! In a few different ways. Join us for a rollicking discussion of our latest Poirot novel, including such topics as: feminist literary theory (and whether it has a place in the interpretation of this text), and our first instance of (a subtextual, yet heavily implied) homophobia.... Oh, and there's also David Suchet playing (gasp) Inspector Japp!

A Special SUMMER HOLIDAY Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: Problem at Sea by Agatha Christie Jun 29, 2017

The real mystery of this very special episode is why Hercule "mal de mer" Poirot would choose to spend his summer holiday in a boat on the Mediterranean, but luckily for us he does, along with a cast of characters running the full spectrum of companionability from delightful to despicable.... So come soak in the sun with us as we explore Poirot's most extreme--and perhaps, ironically, darkest--solution of extralegal justice among his many, many cases.

A Miss Marple Nightcap: The Idol House of Astarte by Agatha Christie Jun 22, 2017

Have you watched the new Murder on the Orient Express trailer? We have, and we have thoughts. Many of them. We also have a new Miss Marple short story, one that may be a little short on clues, but not on atmosphere. Not that our dear Aunt Jane’s razor-edged bear trap of a ratiocination machine (a.k.a. her mind) would ever be affected by such a silly thing as atmosphere....

A Miss Marple Nightcap: The Tuesday Night Club by Agatha Christie Jun 10, 2017

So much to discuss in our first Miss Marple short story, including: 1) the "Peter Panning" of yet another beloved Christie detective; 2) the perils of dismissing your dear Aunt Jane if you happen to be a pretentious blowhard of a novelist; 3) the further adventures of dubiously tinned seafood. Throw a log on that fire, spill some lace down your chest, and settle in for some good old-fashioned cynicism, Marple-style.

And Then There Were 55: Peril at End House by Agatha Christie Jun 02, 2017

There is so much to cover in this devilishly clever and somewhat underrated Poirot mystery. (Plus cocaine. A lot of cocaine.) Join us as we discuss just how bad a job M. Poirot does in this one (it's surprising!), the finer points of Art Deco design, and the delightfulness of Cornwall as a setting (though sadly, sans Poldark).

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Chocolate Box by Agatha Christie May 26, 2017

All right, it's time to talk about the *one* case our M. Poirot failed to solve. A better title might be: The One That Got Away, or in the case of the Suchet adaptation, The One *Who* Got Away.... Join us as we discuss television's penchant for spelling out sorrowful/traumatic backstories, and ponder just how big a chocolate can possibly be. We promise you'll never hear the line, "My mama always said, life is like a box of chocolates" quite the same way again.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Lost Mine by Agatha Christie May 19, 2017

There are so many things lost in this story: a mine; the papers pinpointing the location of said mine; the narrative facade whereby Hastings is supposedly the one telling us this story (more on this last point in our next episode).... But one thing we were sure *not* to lose was context, because boy is it necessary while wading through the colonialist Orientalism on display here.... So pull on your gaiters and wade with us. Along the way we get to hear Poirot call Hastings a "grumpus," so all is not lost.

*Special Announcement* in re Agatha Christie: A Reappraisal (a.k.a. We're Going to Cambridge!) May 12, 2017

We are heading to the University of Cambridge in June to present a paper on Agatha Christie! We wanted to share this news with you because 1) we are so excited; and 2) we encourage you to join us there if you can! (Check out http://www.agathachristieconference.com for more details.) Our regularly scheduled programming will resume next week....

And Then There Were 56: The Sittaford Mystery by Agatha Christie May 05, 2017

Well, this turned out to be rather a delightful read, despite a surprising number of unpleasant characters of the male persuasion. Perhaps that is the ultimate revenge of our plucky heroine, Emily Trefusis (not to mention Dame Agatha herself), in this, our very first standalone novel. So make yourself a hot cocoa (sans strychnine, please) and come enjoy with us the wintry wonders of Devon....

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Veiled Lady by Agatha Christie Apr 29, 2017

Irish brides, Chinese boxes, Dutch murders... this mini-thriller masquerading as a Poirot short story has it all! Except for clues. But what it is lacking in clues it makes up for in FUN, particularly in the Suchet adaptation.... Woe to those who find themselves in a cell block next to "Mad Dog" Poirot. It's only a matter of time before he figures out how to make a shiv out of that mustache comb.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Case of the Missing Will by Agatha Christie Apr 22, 2017

It isn't often we're more critical than adoring of *both* a Christie story and its adaptation, but that seems to be the case here. I guess you could say where there's a missing will, there's a missing way. (Oof; just because you *could* say that doesn't mean you should....)We actually had a lot of fun exploring our different issues with each medium here. So put on your best suffragette-white outfit and come spend a spell with "new woman" Violet Marsh.

And Then There Were 57: The Murder at the Vicarage (I.e. Our First Miss Marple!) by Agatha Christie Apr 11, 2017

Introducing… Miss Jane Marple! We could not be more thrilled to have reached, at long last, Dame Agatha’s most celebrated amateur detective. Join us as we endeavor to untangle not just the rather traditional puzzle mystery we find in this novel, but the character of Miss Marple herself. Is she a cynical yet well-meaning old lady with a knack for problem solving, or is there something more devious, even sinister about her powers of observation and inference? Come take a listen before you too fall victim to “sleepy sickness” and turn into a completely different person. (No, seriously: that is a thing in this book. It’s very weird. And not at all a spoiler because it has nothing to do with... anything.)

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman by Agatha Christie Mar 30, 2017

This one is a comely little Christie puzzle that is definitely not going to win any awards for ingenuity, but it's pleasant enough to read. And to discuss. Warning: you might not want to sit down to this one with a cup of coffee. Or a rice soufflé. Or any food, really.... (That's not a spoiler: when Hercule Poirot stares at the remains of a meal for as long as he does at the beginning of this story, you know the meal has to be significant.)

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim by Agatha Christie Mar 22, 2017

This week's pleasing Poirot puzzle is noteworthy for a few reasons: 1) it features Agatha Christie's recitation of the different ways a person might disappear, written five years *before* her own disappearance; 2) the Suchet adaptation features a bit of delightful wordplay involving a parrot; and 3) that same parrot leads to perhaps the greatest Hastings putdown ever recorded. Poor, poor Hastings....

And Then There Were 58: The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie Mar 17, 2017

Join us as we frantically dig our way out of the grand old estate of Chimneys (last visited in The Secret of), like cartoon convicts shoveling our way to freedom.... This is the last of the early Christie thrillers, and if you haven't had your fill of secret societies, happily-ever-afters, or clock masks, you're in luck. There are actually some bright spots here; this may be Christie's most Wodehouse-ian novel yet.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Kidnapped Prime Minister by Agatha Christie Mar 08, 2017

This one gets pretty political! (Because if there's one thing we're missing these days, it's politics....) However, it's at least OLD politics (also known as history), taken from four discrete periods: 1918(ish), 1923, 1936, and 1990. Join us as we two Americans attempt to speak somewhat intelligently about what's been happening across the pond all these years.... Also, this may in fact be our most Irish episode; even Liam Neeson makes a guest appearance!

The Witness for the Prosecution: An Agatha Christie Classic Mar 01, 2017

Back in 1925 Agatha Christie published a short story called "Traitor Hands," which would go on to spawn a successful play and several film adaptations, including the celebrated "Witness for the Prosecution" directed by Billy Wilder, as well as the rather luscious BBC miniseries that aired this past Christmas. Join us as we examine the original story alongside the original play while also taking a closer look at these two adaptations. Wanna kiss me, ducky?!

And Then There Were 59: The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie Feb 15, 2017

Tell people you're reading a Christie novel set on a train--a Poirot, no less--and they'll almost definitely think you're reading Murder on The Orient Express. And you might be! But you might also be reading The Mystery of the Blue Train, which predates its much more famous sibling by a few years.... Climb aboard with us and traverse not just the French countryside but a hybrid whodunit/thriller centered on murder, adultery, priceless jewels, and a 33-year-old woman who is apparently in the "autumn" of her life (!!). This one definitely was not Christie's favorite, but we found a lot to enjoy here.

Gone Girl: The Notorious Real-Life Disappearance of Agatha Christie Feb 06, 2017

We’re going true-crime for this one… or is that true-hoax? Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction, and Agatha Christie’s real-life disappearance for eleven days in 1926 is the perfect encapsulation of this phenomenon. Join us as we unravel the mystery as best we can, including its impact on our beloved author’s work and overall career. There’s also a movie from the ‘70s starring Vanessa Redgrave and Dustin Hoffman that is… interesting. Let’s discuss.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan by Agatha Christie Jan 27, 2017

Put on your thinking cap and solve this bare-bones locked-room logic puzzle with us. Then discard your thinking cap and revel in the theater-filled antics of the much more robust Suchet adaptation. Is "Pearls Before Swine" the best title, EVER, for a play? Undoubtedly. Is Poirot constitutionally capable of taking a proper holiday? Not a chance.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb by Agatha Christie Jan 20, 2017

Do you believe in spirits? Well then M. Poirot believes in YOU. Especially if you happen to find yourself in the vicinity of a murderer willing to kill FOUR people (so... a serial killer) for the slim possibility of a hastily scribbled note passing muster in a probate court as a legitimate will. Join us on one of Dame Agatha's early, pre-Mallowan, archaeological digs.... Hope the sand and heat don't bother you as much as they do Poirot!

And Then There Were 60: The Big Four by Agatha Christie Jan 09, 2017

How do you fit a square peg in a round hole? Awkwardly! In this case the square peg is our beloved M. Poirot, and the round hole is one of Dame Agatha's breezy thrillers from her early years. And yet all is not lost: there is much to love in this episodic novel--and in its adaptation, aired during the final, sepia-tinted season of the Suchet series.... It's 2017 and our resolution is to read as much Christie as possible; let's do this.

A Special HOLIDAY Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie Dec 24, 2016

What better way to celebrate the holiday season than with a very special Christmas-themed episode? Join Poirot as he partakes of a traditional English Christmas involving pudding, mistletoe, a fresh blanket of snow, a jewel thief, a drugging, and a possibly dead child atop said blanket of snow. You know, the usual.... But really, this one is quite lovely. Enjoy, and happy holidays!

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Million Dollar Bond Robbery by Agatha Christie Dec 19, 2016

Toot, toot: all aboard the transatlantic steamer "Olympia," where a robbery has occurred. Or has it? Join us as we pick apart this elegant yet unfairly presented short story, and then revel in the maritime hijinks of the Suchet adaptation.... Hope you're not prone to "mal de mer" like poor Captain Hastings. Oh, Hastings.

And Then There Were 61: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Dec 13, 2016

Ah, finally, our first real classic. A great, inventive, rule-breaking classic. Before there was "Gone Girl," our inimitable Dame Agatha was playing the long narrative con. Plus, we get Poirot in all his masterful gamesmanship, sly as ever. A certain murderer may have wished that mustachioed Belgian had never retired and gone to grow vegetable marrows, but we (and justice seekers everywhere) are so much the better for his countryside foray.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge by Agatha Christie Dec 01, 2016

We all know getting the flu isn't fun, but if you're Hercule Poirot, this dreaded illness has the extra side-effect of unleashing an un-chaperoned Captain Arthur Hastings on the world as replacement detective.... Let's review the hijinks together, shall we?

And Then There Were 62: The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie Nov 24, 2016

Are you a reader who loved "The Man in the Brown Suit" but found it sorely lacking in English country homes? Well, fear not, because this week's episode tackles a Christie novel overflowing with rose gardens, secret passageways, and... chimneys. Does the novel also bear a somewhat suspicious similarity to the plot of our last novel? It does! Join us as we explore this similarity, as well as the intricacies of fictional Balkan geopolitics, diamond thievery, and... chimneys... in this, Superintendent Battle's first case.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Adventure of the Cheap Flat by Agatha Christie Nov 11, 2016

Call it what you will: a flat, an apartment, a love-nest, a pad.... A humble abode is hard to find--especially, apparently, if you live in early Twentieth Century London, where a cheap flat just may get you assassinated.... Come discuss this rather silly and shakily constructed short story, which redeems itself with yet another excellent Suchet adaptation.

And Then There Were 63: The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie Nov 05, 2016

This is about as close as an Agatha Christie novel gets to an episode of "The Love Boat," and in some ways it gets kind of close! Climb aboard as we journey from England to South Africa with our plucky heroine Anne Beddingfeld, getting embroiled in murder, diamonds, espionage, and of course romance along the way.... Are there all sorts of troubling implications in this rollicking adventure of both the gender and race relations variety? Of course! Let's try untangling it together.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor by Agatha Christie Oct 28, 2016

Our second short story episode! And while there's more than enough tragedy to go around in the original version--including a(n arguably) coerced confession and incredibly poor doctoring skills, the Suchet adaptation may be more aptly titled The Comedy at Marsdon Manor. So many hijinks!

And Then There Were 64: The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie Oct 21, 2016

So... there is surprisingly little golf in this Poirot novel, given its title, but there are many, many other things: an unfriendly rivalry between detectives; not one, but two romantic subplots; and lots of “continental” flair. Oh my. Come play with us… not in a creepy-haunted-hotel-twins kind of a way, but in a tumbling-vaudevillian-twins kind of way. I.e., goofy, and dopey, but more fun.

A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Adventure of the Western Star by Agatha Christie Oct 16, 2016

Our first "interstitial" episode between novels. Brush up on your Nineteenth Century detective novels and clichéd Twentieth Century portrayals of Asian culture. Also, take a closer look with us at the televised adaptation: witness the softening of Poirot from page to screen, and some crucial differences in the Poirot/Hastings relationship. Poor Hastings.

And Then There Were 65: The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie Oct 07, 2016

Time for Dame Agatha's very first thriller featuring the delightful detective duo Tommy & Tuppence taking on the devious criminal mastermind "Mr. Brown." Was Tuppence modeled at least somewhat on young Agatha herself? Is "hanging a lantern" an appropriate technique to use in a novel? Do American teenagers really know French *that* well? All these answers... and more!

And Then There Were 66: The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie - Part 2 Sep 30, 2016

In which we dive into the delicious world of David Suchet and Hugh Fraser as Poirot and Hastings. (Shout out to Philip Jackson as Inspector Japp, too.) We also introduce you to our ranking system, which involves an extended discussion about some of the more difficult aspects of enjoying Christie's fiction from a Twenty-First Century perspective....

And Then There Were 66: The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie - Part 1 Sep 22, 2016

Episode 1! In which we tackle Agatha Christie's first published novel--and first Poirot novel--The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Deep-dive with us as we try to figure out how Christie crafted this cunning "puzzle mystery," and why one woman would regularly ingest coffee, cocoa, tonic, and sleeping powders all in one night.... Come for the kissing cousins, stay for the discussion of Holmes/Watson homage (a.k.a. fan-fic).

Teaser Sep 15, 2016

A preview of the upcoming podcast. Also: happy 126th birthday, Dame Agatha!

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