Agatha Christie was volunteering at a hospital dispensary during World War I when an idea for a crime novel came to her.
It would be about a wealthy matriarch, whose mysterious death-by-poisoning is ultimately solved by a fussy but fantastically smart Belgian detective named Hercule Poirot.
Its title? “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”.
After being rejected by several publishers, the book was finally published in 1921 in the United Kingdom — and was met with an underwhelming response. This would all change just five years later, when Christie’s “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” shocked the world with its masterful twist.
A century later, Christie remains the world’s best-selling female author, with over 2 billion copies of her works sold around the world. She wrote an astonishing 95 books throughout her life, including 66 detective novels and around 15 short story collections. “Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case” was the last to be published — shortly before her death in 1976.
To mark the 50th anniversary of her passing, the British Library in London is hosting a major new exhibition that explores the Queen of Crime’s life, works and enduring legacy.
For fans and wannabe detectives alike, it’s akin to walking into a richly adorned manor study filled with delicious clues. The almost 100 rare artefacts on display include early manuscript drafts, exam notes and even Christie’s personal typewriter.
Additionally, life-sized replicas of dispensaries and a 1920s Orient Express carriage allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in the Golden Age of crime fiction.
It goes beyond the books to reveal Christie’s equally colourful (and just as dramatic) personal life, detailing her childhood, the people she met and places she travelled — all of which played a huge part in shaping her characters and creative ideas.
Ahead of the exhibition’s opening, what better time to test your knowledge of Christie and her books?
Put on your best tweed and give your moustache a twirl — there’s trivia to be solved.
Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery opens at the British Library in London, UK, from 30 October 2026 until 20 June 2027.