Agatha Christie (1890–1976) was an English writer widely regarded as the greatest mystery novelist of all time. Often called the "Queen of Crime," she authored 66 detective novels, 14 short story collections, and numerous plays, selling over two billion copies worldwide—a record surpassed only by the Bible and Shakespeare.
Christie created two of fiction's most iconic detectives: the brilliant Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot and the sharp-witted elderly spinster Miss Marple. Her masterpiece Murder on the Orient Express (1934) remains one of the most celebrated detective novels ever written. Other notable works include And Then There Were None (1939), the best-selling mystery novel in history, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926), famous for its shocking twist, and Death on the Nile (1937).
Beyond novels, her play The Mousetrap has run continuously in London's West End since 1952, making it the longest-running play in the world. Christie was renowned for her ingenious plots, clever red herrings, and masterful use of misdirection. In recognition of her contributions to literature, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1971. Her influence on the mystery genre remains unmatched to this day.