Agatha Christie has never been substantially considered as a war writer, even though war is a constant presence in her writing. This interdisciplinary collection of essays considers the effects of these conflicts on the social and psychological textures of Christie’s detective fiction and other writings, demonstrating not only Christie’s textual navigation of her contemporary surroundings and politics, but also the value of her voice as a popular fiction writer reflecting popular concerns. Agatha Christie Goes to War introduces the ‘Queen of Crime’ as an essential voice in the discussion of war, warfare, and twentieth century literature.

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER! "A stunning story... The ending is ingenious, and it's possible that Benedict has brought to life the most plausible explanation for why Christie disappeared for 11 days in 1926."—The Washington Post The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room returns with a thrilling reconstruction of one of the most notorious events in literary history: Agatha Christie's mysterious 11-day disappearance in 1926. In December 1926, Agatha Christie goes missing. Investigators find her empty car on the edge of a deep, gloomy pond, the only clues some tire tracks nearby and a fur coat left in the car—strange for a frigid night. Her World War I veteran husband and her daughter have no knowledge of her whereabouts, and England unleashes an unprecedented manhunt to find the up-and-coming mystery author. Eleven days later, she reappears, just as mysteriously as she disappeared, claiming amnesia and providing no explanations for her time away. The puzzle of those missing eleven days has persisted. With her trademark historical fiction exploration into the shadows of the past, acclaimed author Marie Benedict brings us into the world of Agatha Christie, imagining why such a brilliant woman would find herself at the center of such murky historical mysteries. What is real, and what is mystery? What role did her unfaithful husband play, and what was he not telling investigators? Agatha Christie novels have withstood the test of time, due in no small part to Christie's masterful storytelling and clever mind that may never be matched, but Agatha Christie's untold history offers perhaps her greatest mystery of all. Fans of The Secrets We Kept, The Lions of Fifth Avenue, and The Alice Network will enjoy this riveting saga of literary history, suspense, and love gone wrong. Other Bestselling Historical Fiction from Marie Benedict: Lady Clementine The Only Woman in the Room Carnegie's Maid The Other Einstein

"I like a good detective story, but they begin in the wrong place! They begin with the murder. But the murder is the end. The story begins long before that." So remarks esteemed criminologist Mr. Treves. Truer words have never been spoken, for a psychopathic killer has insinuated himself , with cunning manipulation, into a quiet village on the river Tern. But who is his intended victim? What are his unfathomable motives? And how and when will he reach the point of murder...the zero point? In the ingenious and noteworthy departure for Agatha Christie, it's the intricate workings of a pathological mind that becomes the stuff of startling mystery as group of friends at a seaside resort remain blithely unaware that their weekend will be the death of them all...

A brand new three-in-one Poirot omnibus, featuring the world-renowned detectiveâe(tm)s wartime adventures. Includes One, Two Buckle My Shoe, Five Little Pigs, Taken at The Flood. It seems Hitlerâe(tm)s Luftwaffe arenâe(tm)t the only ones responsible for the deaths of innocent people as World War II rages âe" it seems plenty of murderers are willing to help them reduce Britainâe(tm) war-torn population even further. And itâe(tm)s up to Hercule Poirot to stop themâe¦ ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE The dentist was found with a blackened hole below his right temple. A pistol lay on the floor near his outflung right hand. Later, one of his patients was found dead from a lethal dose of anaesthetic. A clear case of murder and suicide âe" but why would a dentist commit a crime in the middle of a busy day of appointments? A show buckle holds the key to the mystery. Now âe" in the words of the rhyme âe" can Poirot pick up the sticks and lay them straight? FIVE LITTLE PIGS Beautiful Caroline Crale was convicted of poisoning her husband, yet there were five other subjects: Philip Blake (the stockbroker) who went to market; Meredith Blake (the amateur herbalist) who stayed at home; Elsa Greer (the three-time divorcee) who had roast beef; Cecilia Williams (the devoted governess) who had none; and Angela Warren (the disfigured sister) who cried âe~wee wee weeâe(tm) all the way home. It is sixteen years later, but Hercule Poirot just canâe(tm)t get that nursery rhyme out of his headâe¦ TAKEN AT THE FLOOD A few weeks after marrying an attractive young widow, Gordon Cloade is tragically killed by a bomb blast in the London Blitz. Overnight, the former Mrs Underhay finds herself in sole possession of the Cloade family fortune. Shortly afterward, Hercule Poirot receives a visit from the dead manâe(tm)s sister-in-law, who claims she has been warned by âe~spiritsâe(tm) that Mrs Underhayâe(tm)s first husband is still alive. Yet, what mystifies Poirot most is the womanâe(tm)s true motive for approaching him.

Featuring a half-Chinese detective protagonist, A GENTLEMAN'S MURDER is a must for those who love mysteries and reads like a Christie-esque whodunit with a modern eye toward the historical treatment of Chinese veterans and post-war racism.

A brand new three-in-one Poirot omnibus, featuring the world-renowned detectiveâe(tm)s wartime adventures. Includes One, Two Buckle My Shoe, Five Little Pigs, Taken at The Flood. It seems Hitlerâe(tm)s Luftwaffe arenâe(tm)t the only ones responsible for the deaths of innocent people as World War II rages âe" it seems plenty of murderers are willing to help them reduce Britainâe(tm) war-torn population even further. And itâe(tm)s up to Hercule Poirot to stop themâe¦ ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE The dentist was found with a blackened hole below his right temple. A pistol lay on the floor near his outflung right hand. Later, one of his patients was found dead from a lethal dose of anaesthetic. A clear case of murder and suicide âe" but why would a dentist commit a crime in the middle of a busy day of appointments? A show buckle holds the key to the mystery. Now âe" in the words of the rhyme âe" can Poirot pick up the sticks and lay them straight? FIVE LITTLE PIGS Beautiful Caroline Crale was convicted of poisoning her husband, yet there were five other subjects: Philip Blake (the stockbroker) who went to market; Meredith Blake (the amateur herbalist) who stayed at home; Elsa Greer (the three-time divorcee) who had roast beef; Cecilia Williams (the devoted governess) who had none; and Angela Warren (the disfigured sister) who cried âe~wee wee weeâe(tm) all the way home. It is sixteen years later, but Hercule Poirot just canâe(tm)t get that nursery rhyme out of his headâe¦ TAKEN AT THE FLOOD A few weeks after marrying an attractive young widow, Gordon Cloade is tragically killed by a bomb blast in the London Blitz. Overnight, the former Mrs Underhay finds herself in sole possession of the Cloade family fortune. Shortly afterward, Hercule Poirot receives a visit from the dead manâe(tm)s sister-in-law, who claims she has been warned by âe~spiritsâe(tm) that Mrs Underhayâe(tm)s first husband is still alive. Yet, what mystifies Poirot most is the womanâe(tm)s true motive for approaching him.

A brand new Poirot omnibus, featuring four of the world-renowned detectiveâe(tm)s most challenging cases from the 50s and 60s: After the Funeral, Hickory Dickory Dock, Cat Among the Pigeons and The Clocks As the bleak years of the 1940s and early 50s give way to optimism and the swinging sixties, Hercule Poirot finds himself in a world which bemuses him. But human nature remains the same whatever the decade, and Poirot can console himself in the knowledge that he is still an expert of human nature, of greed, jealousy âe" and murder. After the Funeral The Master of a Victorian mansion dies suddenly âe" and his sister thinks it was murderâe¦ Hickory Dickory Dock Odd things are happening in a London youth hostelâe¦ Cat Among the Pigeons Unpleasant things are going on in an exclusive school for girlsâe¦ The Clocks A typist discovers a manâe(tm)s body behind a sofaâe¦