Agatha Christie: Dame, Queen of Crime & Monarch of Mystery

In this episode, we open one of the most iconic case files in literary history: the life of Agatha Christie - the undisputed Queen of Crime and the bestselling novelist of all time. But behind the perfectly constructed puzzles and unforgettable detectives lies a woman whose real life was almost as dramatic, mysterious, and emotionally complex as the stories she created.

We trace Christie's journey from her quiet upbringing in Torquay to the creation of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, exploring the personal experiences, heartbreaks, and obsessions that shaped her writing. You'll hear how a shy, imaginative girl with a passion for storytelling transformed into a literary powerhouse who revolutionised detective fiction and inspired generations of readers and writers.

Of course, no explortation of Christie is complete without examining the real-life mystery that captivated the world: her infamous 1926 disappearance. We walk through the events that led up to those eleven days, the media frenzy that followed, and the theories that still spark debate almost a century later. Was it a breakdown, an escape, a calculated act - or something more complicated? We look at what Agatha said in her own words.

Along the way, we also uncover the less-known parts of Christie's story:

• her work as a wartime hospital dispenser
• how chemistry and poisons became her greatest narrative
• her travels through the Middle East
• and the rebirth she found later in life through love and archaeology

This episode blends biography, literary history, and a touch of detective work to reveal the woman behind the mysteries - a woman who understood human nature with uncanny precision and who left behind a legacy that continues to shape the genre today.

Whether you're a lifelong Christie fan or just curious about the writer who would go on to become the bestselling author of all time, this deep dive uncovers the truths, the secrets, and the unanswered questions behind the world's most enigmatic author.

This is The Author Files.

And this is the incredible life of Dame Agatha Christie.

(I would like to say a huge thanks to the Agatha Christie official website, Lucy Worsley's An Elusive Woman & Agatha Christie herself for her autobiography which have all been great helps in the crafting of this episode.)