The Crimes That Inspired Agatha Christie (Hardback)

The Crimes That Inspired Agatha Christie is a fascinating dive into the real-life events that shaped one of the greatest crime writers of all time. Dr. Anna-Lena Berg and Dr. Jonathan Oates clearly did their research, and the book is packed with intriguing cases, historical context, and surprising connections to Christie’s stories.
I especially appreciated how accessible the writing is—scholarly yet readable... it’s a compelling exploration of the intersection between real-life crime and classic mystery fiction.
Overall, it’s enlightening, engaging, and a must-read for fans of Agatha Christie and true crime history alike.

NetGalley, Moira Frederickson

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is the perfect book for any fan of Agatha Christie's works or even someone who loves to read true crime. Bonus points if you like both! Since I haven't read all of Christie's works (one of these days, just there are so many other books to read first), I did have to be careful of what I was reading, since there were spoilers. It's a good thing my memory is horrid and won't remember any of them, anyway.

I did love the real life crimes were connected to the novel, and there were examples of how the characters differed from the real-life counterparts. For example, one was pregnant, and the other wasn't...

I was very glad there weren't any gruesome crime scene photos. I have absolutely no idea why people would want those pictures included.

Definitely would recommend this book!

NetGalley, Rebecca Stewart

This is the best book to read as a companion to Agatha Christie. If you wish to learn more about the possibilities of what inspired Christie (cause let’s be honest the woman was an enigma) to write her iconic books. This is the right book for you. it gives details of the crimes and ties them to Christie’s books at the end of each chapter. If you wish to expand into learning more about the legend herself, this book is a good resource.

NetGalley, Jarrett Connolly

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely fascinating book. I've never been much of an Agatha Christie fan, but I have always been interested in crime and how it shapes books we read, laws, etc., and why people do what they do. This book definitely was brilliant to read.

NetGalley, Karen Bull

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is a new and really successful approach to examining both true crimes and their influence on literature. The accounts of the crimes themselves are fascinating but it is the linked analysis of how they informed Christie’s work which really sets this book apart. It’s nicely written - not at all dense or overdone, but to the point and pithy. Some of the cases covered are very well known and even these bear re-examination with this new perspective.

NetGalley, Louise Gray