All About Agatha Christie

It's time for another Hallowe'en SPOOKTACULAR episode, covering what I believe to be Christie's final original short story (for now) not yet covered on the podcast.... You might want to pair this one with The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for maximal canine creepiness. Poor hounds; they get such a bum rap.

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Visit the podcast on Instagram, and me personally at my author website.

Please consider purchasing Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series. Loose Lips...

How did it take this long for me to clip from Fawlty Towers on one of my episodes recorded in Torquay?! Thank goodness for Dr. Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown, who were kind enough to come on for another crossover episode, this time with their latest podcast project, Westmapod, focused on the works of Mary Westmacott. It was such a joy to rank all six of the Mary Westmacotts with them for this episode, and I can't wait to have them on again--no matter the topic.

You can check out Mark and Gray's Swinging Christies podcast...

It's the most wonderful time of the year: when I get to catch up with Christie fans, scholars, and friends, and debate questions such as which among all of Agatha Christie's narrators is the best. I had so much fun! Thank you again to my co-panelists Tina Hodgkinson, Brad Friedman, Dr. Jamie Bernthal-Hooker, and Victoria Dowd.

You can now purchase Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series.

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

Visit the podcast on Instagram, and me personally at my author website.

It is time to revisit a crown jewel! I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane, as Catherine Brobeck and I dissect The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. I look forward to discussing this title--and others--at this year's upcoming Agatha Christie Festival.

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

You can now purchase Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series.

Visit the podcast on Instagram, and me personally at my author website.

Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, is currently availa...

In my other job dedicated to the pursuit of fictional mysteries, I've been making the rounds at bookstores around the country to discuss my third mystery novel, Sweet Spot, which came out earlier this summer. I hope you enjoy this live recording of my event at East End Books in Provincetown. Special thanks to Jeff Peters for hosting me!

Click here to purchase one of the few remaining tickets for A Gameshow is Announced, which I will be hosting in part at the Agatha Christie Festival.

You can now purchase Sweet Spot, the third book i...

I have wanted to air my thoughts on Christie's denouements for quite some time now. I'm so happy finally to be sharing them with you all.

Here is the article I wrote on Crimereads, which forms the basis of the episode.

And here is the spoof of the drawing room (or en masse) denouement referenced in the episode.

Come visit me on tour, in New York, the Midwest, and West! Check out my website here for more details.

You can now purchase Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries...

It was fascinating to get a different angle on so many beloved characters within the canon. Special thanks to Troy Hunter for sharing his work on this episode.

And speaking of Troy's work, you can learn more about his YA mystery novels Gus and the Missing Boy and Gus and the Burning Stones on Instagram here, as well as here on his website, and on the podcast Words and Nerds (look for Troy's "Queer Writes Sessions" episodes within those listed--including an interview with me!).

I have a new book out! Sweet Spot, the third book...

It's always a special treat to cover a fresh, original story by Agatha Christie on this podcast--especially since we don't have too many of these left!

I'm going on tour here in the United States for Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, which comes out in two weeks' time! Los Angeles, New York, New England, the Midwest: lots and lots of places! Visit my website here for details.

I believe there are still a few tickets available for my two panels at the Agatha Christie Festival in Torquay, England in September. He...

It's an unusual episode of this podcast that focuses on the history of abortion rights here in the United States--but that is just how far-reaching the Agatha Christie fandom has become. Thank you to author Amy Littlefield for sharing her particular--and peculiarly applied--Christie fandom with us.

You can find Amy's book, Killers of Roe, here.

You can now pre-order Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series! (Coming out July 2026. And check out my upcoming bookstore events timed with its release!

There are still tickets available for my two panels at th...

Happy International Nurses Week! To celebrate, A+++ listener co-host Claire Wells is back, and together, we went deep on the many (... many!) ladies of the lamp to be found in the pages of Agatha Christie: red-headed vixens, beautiful-fingered layabouts, square-bodied workhorses, and so very many more. Keep an eye out for small puncture wounds and stray litmus paper, but above all: enjoy!

You can now pre-order Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series (coming out July 2026).

It was a thrill first to read and then to discuss Margot's books, which feature a rare blend of hard-boiled noir (from a female perspective) and the sort of clued mysteries familiar to any Christie fan.

Learn more about Margot's books here, and her overall magnificence.

Check out my website for upcoming appearances around the release of Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series. And please consider pre-ordering Sweet Spot if you haven't yet done so. It comes out at the very beginning of July of this year, 2026!

There are s...

People sometimes forget that the Queen of Crime used an urban setting for many of her mysteries--that city overwhelmingly tending to be London. Allow this episode to serve as a joyous reminder, and special thanks to Tina Hodgkinson for sitting down with me and disclosing a number of the fun and fascinating facts to be found in her recent book.

You can check out Tina's book here.

You can buy tickets to the L.A. Times Festival of Books here; I'll be appearing there on Sunday, 19 April at 1:30pm.

You can now pre-order Sw...

It's another bumper-sized episode of All About Agatha, this time about a character type we see a WHOLE lot of in Christie.... Hope you've got insurance, because it's time to visit a shocking number of doctors! Huge, huge thanks to A+++ listener Claire Wells for co-hosting (and in particular co-researching) this episode with me.

You can now pre-order Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series! (Coming out July 2026.)

To visit and subscribe to the podcast's Pa...

You know when the Reverend Doctor Sarah Hinlicky Wilson makes an appearance, it's going to be a good episode. Join Sarah and me as we cover our final story in the Star Over Bethlehem and Other Stories collection--in good time for Easter!

Tickets to the Agatha Christie Festival in England, in September, are now available, including my events: a balloon debate panel crowning Agatha Christie's Greatest Narrator, and a festive night of games a.k.a. A Gameshow is Announced!

Check out Sarah Hinlicky Wilson's website, podcast, and substack, where much joy awaits you.

It is never a dull episode when Dr. John Curran comes on for a conversation! I had a great time speaking with him about his new book... and sparring over Christie, but of course.

Click here for more information, and to register for the upcoming Cozy Con I'll be attending at Avon Free Public Library in Connecticut on Saturday, 14 March 2026. I hope to see you there! (You can also click on my author website events page.)

I encourage you to check out Dr. Curran's new book, The Murder Game: Play, Puzzles & The Golden Age.

Every piece of mail I receive from you listeners is like a valentine, so it's fitting that I finish going through my bulging listener mailbag on Valentine's Day this year. Please enjoy... and please keep these messages coming!

Here is the link to that 1970 German-language adaptation of The Murder at the Vicarage.

You can now pre-order Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series! (Coming out July 2026.)

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

Visit the podcast on Instagram, and me personally at my author...

It's always a pleasure to have Sophie Hannah on the podcast. And if you're a dog lover and/or Iris Murdoch fan, you'll have reason to be particularly delighted!

Visit Sophie's website to learn more about her Lamberts book, and everything else she has going on--including her newest Poirot continuation novel.

You can now pre-order Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series (coming out July 2026).

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

Visit the podcast on Instagram, and me personally at my author website.<...

I can't think of a better way to start off the New Year than with messages from all of you. And since there were so many--and I want to take my time with every single one of them--I'll be doing a "part 2" in the near future with more letters! Happy New Year, everyone!

You can check out that (free!) Estonian version of The Unexpected Guest right here.

You can now pre-order Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series. (Coming out July 2026.)

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

What's better than a Christie for Christmas? TWO Christies for Christmas, of course!

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

You can now pre-order Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series (coming out July 2026).

Visit the podcast on Instagram, and me personally at my author website.

Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, is currently available for purchase.

You can also buy The Busy Body, the first book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, in paperback at your bookseller of...

It's always a pleasure to commune with a legitimate Christie obsessive, and Ragnar is about as legit as they come. You may know him as one of the leading voices of contemporary noir, but he has also translated a number of Christie novels from English into his native Icelandic--starting at the tender age of seventeen, no less!

You can find out more about Ragnar and his work here, on his website. In particular, we discussed his most recent (and Golden Age-inflected) work, The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer.

You can now pre-order Sweet...

Captains = good. Commanders = bad. Just two revelations made in the course of a very fun episode to research and record. I hope you enjoy. And happy Thanksgiving to all those in the United States!

Here is a link to Brad Friedman's brilliant blog post from 2022, about the military men of Christie.

You can now pre-order Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series! (Coming out July 2026.)

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

Visit the podcast on Instagram, and me personally at my author website.<...

On this Veterans/Remembrance Day, I begin a two-episode series all about the veterans of Agatha Christie, starting with three real-life veterans who meant a great deal to our favorite author....

You can now pre-order Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series! (Coming out July 2026.)

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

Visit the podcast on Instagram, and me personally at my author website.

Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, is currently available for purchase.

You can also...

Ghosts, second sight, and reincarnation, oh my! I hope you're ready for an extremely spooky tale of Christie's. (And yes, I am standing by the apostrophe in "Hallowe'en" and the "i" in "gipsy.") Enjoy... and Happy Hallowe'en!

Also, click here to enjoy, for free, my latest SPOOKTACULAR Patreon episode all about The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Arthur Conan Doyle! Should you wish to subscribe to Patreon, either monthly or yearly, use the code "38105" at checkout for a 20% discount. This offer is available through 5 November 2025.

You can now pre-order Sweet Spot, the third book in...

"For there is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought." Words of wisdom courtesy of Edmund Spenser (and Colonel Brandon, as played by the inimitable Alan Rickman, RIP). And I'm taking them to heart in this episode, as we get to discover two Christie television adaptations that were not readily available to us until quite recently, a Poirot and a Marple. It isn't often that I can say this, but: hooray for the Internet!

You can now pre-order Sweet Spot, the third book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series! It comes out in late June 2026, but pre-orders...

Who doesn't love a puzzle? Maureen and Jay have gone *full bore* on the notion of a solvable Golden Age mystery. Call it a mashup between Agatha Christie and Dennis Wheatley's "crime dossiers" (if you know you know). I have a feeling many of you will enjoy the heck out of it.

You can check out the book, which is now available in the U.S. and UK, on Maureen's website here.

Here are those links I mentioned at the end of the episode to the two previously inaccessible Christie adaptations I'll be discussing in...

Rejoice: it is time for another live episode from the Agatha Christie Festival, in Christie's birthplace of Torquay! This time I braved the stage all by myself, to discuss Christie's use of true crime in her fiction. As usual, I had an absolute blast.

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

Visit the podcast on Instagram, and me personally at my author website.

Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, is currently available for purchase.

You can also buy The Busy Body, the first...

Please enjoy this time capsule from early 2017, all about the real-life disappearance of our favorite author.... See (some of) you in England! Details below regarding my two appearances there.

I'll be appearing first, in London, 12-13 September, at Silent Echoes: Golden Age Crime Fiction and Trauma, hosted by Golden Age Mysteries and Florida State University's College of Communication & Information.

And then I'm heading down to the Agatha Christie Festival in Torquay! My panel will be on 18 September at 4:00pm.

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

Visit...

At long last, another episode about YA mystery! If you haven't yet heard of Marthe Jocelyn's Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen series, you are in for a treat....

Visit Marthe on her website, or on Instagram, or just check out the Aggie Morton books directly. Marthe wanted me to note that the illustrator is Isabelle Follath, who you can visit on Instagram here. And please note that these books are also available as audio books, voiced by Sarah English.

Here is a link to the upcoming Golden Age Mysteries Conference, which Marthe and I will be...

Riley Sager has been producing bestselling mystery thrillers with Christie-like consistency for nine years now. His latest, With a Vengeance, is his most Christie-like yet. It was a pleasure to speak with him about the book, Christie's influence, and what it's like to be a mystery writer in the world of publishing today.

You can visit Riley and peruse his prodigious output on his website here.

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

Visit the podcast on Instagram, and me personally at my author website.

Loose Lips...

I could not be more thrilled to welcome back A+++ listener, and now two-time guest co-host, Helen Frank, to discuss the flesh-and-blood secretaries of Agatha Christie's life. We already covered the ones that Christie created for herself out of ink, so this episode is a completist's delight. So many secretaries!

For those of you in the SoCal area, consider purchasing tickets for Christie's adaptation of Towards Zero, directed by former guest co-host Christopher Diehl!

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

Visit the podcast on Instagram, and me personally...

How has it taken me this long to talk about audiobooks?! Huge thanks to Gray Robert Brown, for his willingness to share his considerable expertise on this topic. Thank you also to Hugh Fraser, for the many, many hours he has spent speaking Agatha Christie's words into a microphone. We salute you, Captain Hastings.

You can find Gray at his website here, and if you aren't listening yet, please do check out his stupendous podcast The Swinging Christies, co-hosted with Dr. Mark Aldridge.

I made use of the website Everything Agatha while researching this episode...

Steen Just is a Danish gentleman who is passionate about Agatha Christie--so much so that he has spent his retirement contributing hugely to the Danish-language Wikipedia articles on Agatha Christie. I had a great time talking with him about his unique perspective on our favorite author.

The following Christie titles are spoiled to some degree in this episode: By the Pricking of My Thumbs, Endless Night, Lord Edgware Dies, A Murder is Announced, and The Thumbmark of St. Peter. We also talk in semi-spoilery ways about The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup, and The Documents in t...

There's a decent chance you've heard about the recent online course put out by BBC Maestro, in which a digitally manipulated representation of Agatha Christie teaches the craft of writing a mystery. Yes, really! I was fortunate enough to sit down with the person responsible for all the research that went into this quite heavily researched project: Dr. Mark Aldridge. As many longtime listeners will know, Mark has been a guest here many times, and his appearance on this episode was just as enjoyable and informative as what we've come to expect of him. Let's get into it.

When A+++ podcast listener Helen Frank contacted me about doing a themed episode on the secretaries of Agatha Christie, little did I know there would be so much to talk about. And little did she know that I would hoodwink her into co-hosting the episode in question! But I'm so glad I did. I think you'll be as well.

Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, is currently available for purchase.

You can also buy The Busy Body, the first book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, in paperback at your bookseller of...

It was a delight to speak to Jeffrey Round--both about his work, and of course, about Agatha Christie. He is every bit as much of a Christie fan as me, and so many of you....

You can visit Jeffrey at his website, or check out his novel The Sulphur Springs Cure directly.

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

Loose Lips, the second book in my Ghostwriter Mysteries series, is currently available for purchase.

You can also buy The Busy Body, the first book in my Ghostwriter...

What fun it was to put together this roving episode of All About Agatha! Thanks again to Christopher Diehl for inviting me to A Poirot Double Bill. I'm already looking forward to his next Christie theatrical production.

Come see me this week, May 4th-9th, on my tour of the (U.S.) South! Click on my website for more details.

Visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page.

You can still buy tickets for my upcoming appearance at the Agatha Christie Festival.

Check out the Redlands Footlighters Community Theatre, where this...

We've done so many Christies for Christmas, it's about time we did one for Easter. Alas, mutations from the radioactive byproduct of a 1960s-era nuclear power plant did not move me or my guest co-host the way Christie seems to have intended. But perhaps your mileage varies.

The following titles are spoiled to varying degrees in this episode: The Man from the Sea, The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, The Murder at the Vicarage, Nemesis, Ordeal by Innocence, Passenger to Frankfurt, They Do It with Mirrors.

Come visit me in the South! (Of the...

It isn't every day I get to interview a map designer on All About Agatha. Nor is it every day I get to work on a map with a map designer, which is something I've been doing on the side in tribute to my late co-host, Catherine Brobeck, whom Ben and I talk about at some length in our conversation. We also talk some Christie, because of course we do; I know Catherine wouldn't have had it any other way.

Visit my website for details on my upcoming U.S. tour in the South.

Click...

Letters! We get letters! We get stacks and stacks of letters! It's a mailbag-only episode of All About Agatha, and you know what that means: Sia's heartbreaking "Breathe Me" song underlying my chatter at various points in the episode! No, I couldn't have predicted this either, but the Sia is a testament to how deeply I cherish all these messages, and how important they are to the podcast. Thank you, one and all, for your contributions. And please: keep them coming!

Here is a link to the YouTuber, Summation Gathering, who I mention in the episode, analyzing...

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...