Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery – A Christmas Gift for the Mystery Lover in Your Life
I would like to share a book I received in exchange for a review Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery by Martin Edwards (Editor), Lucy Rowland (Editor), Mathew Prichard (Preface), Kenneth Branagh (Foreword). Inside this post is my affiliate links. If you click on the links and make a purchase I will make a small percentage from the products you purchase.
For me there are books I choose to review because I know Charlie or David would love them. Others catch our attention because something about them makes us curious. And every once in a while, a book comes along that makes us think about several people we wish could be sitting around the front porch with us.
That’s how I feel about Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery which when I came across this beautiful hardcover book, I thought it sounded like something David would enjoy. He loves a good mystery, and I thought this would make a wonderful Christmas present. So, instead of keeping it for myself, I decided to add it to our Greatful Moments Christmas Gift Guide/ Wish List.
And here’s the funny part: I really can’t remember who Agatha Christie was! I know, I know. She’s apparently someone I should have known about, especially since I love mysteries and have always been fascinated by crime stories. You would think I would have come across her work somewhere along the way!
Maybe Charlie should have studied her during our #homeschooling years, too. But sometimes we don’t discover the people and subjects we wish we had until years later. So, let’s learn a little about Agatha Christie together! Then lets take the time to thank the LORD for bringing a new book into our lives.
Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery is edited by Martin Edwards and Lucy Rowland, with a preface by Mathew Prichard and a foreword by Sir Kenneth Branagh. Published by Rizzoli Electa in association with the British Library, this hardcover celebrates the life and work of one of the world’s most celebrated mystery writers.
Agatha Christie is often called the undisputed Queen of Crime. Her mysteries, fascinating characters, and closed-circle murder stories have continued to entertain readers across generations. What makes this particular book interesting is that it doesn’t just focus on her fictional stories. It takes readers into the life of the woman behind them.
The book draws on unprecedented access to the Agatha Christie Archive Trust, along with material from the National Trust, the British Library, and private collections. Readers are offered a chance to explore photographs, personal documents, letters, artwork, vintage book covers, and other pieces of history that help tell her story.
And that’s something I really enjoy about a book. I love getting a glimpse into someone’s life and discovering the little details that might otherwise be forgotten. One of the things that caught my attention was the mention of Agatha Christie’s personal brochure from her own journey on the Orient Express.
Oh my goodness! Can you imagine traveling on the Orient Express? I think that would have been absolutely amazing! The book also includes family photographs, documents from her travels, and handwritten pharmaceutical notes from her work in the dispensary of Torquay’s Red Cross Hospital during World War I.
That last detail caught my attention for another reason. David’s mom worked with the Red Cross for years, and I immediately thought she would have enjoyed seeing those historical documents. The book also features collectible first-edition covers, annotated manuscripts, playscripts, letters, and personal belongings. I can’t wait to see all of these things when David opens his present on Christmas morning.
As I was learning about this book, I found myself thinking about several people in my family. I could picture my Uncle Chuck picking this book up and spending time looking through its pages. If he were still here, I think he might have tried to claim it for himself!
And then there’s my dad. The cover features an old-fashioned typewriter, and that immediately made me think of him. My dad owned a typewriter company when I was growing up, so seeing that typewriter brought back memories. Isn’t it funny how something as simple as a book cover can remind you of someone you love? Sometimes the best gifts aren’t just about the person receiving them. They’re also about the memories and people who come to mind along the way.
I also wanted to let you know you could use this book for #Homeschooling? Which is one of the things I enjoy about discovering books like this is realizing how many different ways they can be used. When we were homeschooling Charlie, I could have easily imagined including Agatha Christie in our studies.
You could explore:
- Agatha Christie’s life and childhood.
- Historical fiction and the development of detective stories.
- World War I and her work with the Red Cross.
- Travel, geography, and the Orient Express.
- Archaeology and the places that influenced her writing.
- The history of publishing and first-edition books.
- How authors develop characters, mysteries, and storylines.
And you don’t have to be homeschooling to enjoy those subjects! This would make a wonderful coffee-table book for someone who loves history, literature, mystery, crime fiction, or learning about extraordinary women. It’s also a lovely opportunity to introduce a younger reader to an author whose influence continues today.
This is a hardcover book with a U.S. retail price of $50. The Canadian retail price listed on the book is $67.50. At the time I checked, Amazon listed the hardcover for $46.49. Remember that Amazon prices can change at any time, so be sure to check the current price before purchasing.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review and I’m including it in our Christmas Gift Guide/ Wish List because I thought it would make a wonderful present for David. And yes, I’m leaving the surprise for Christmas! I haven’t opened the package or explored the inside of the book yet because I want David to have that experience first.
If you’re participating in our Greatful Moments 10-Minute Reading Challenge, this is another book worth adding to your reading wish list. You could spend ten minutes exploring Agatha Christie’s life, looking through the historical photographs, or learning about the inspiration behind some of her most famous mysteries. And perhaps you’ll discover an author you want to read more about.
I’m hoping David will enjoy this book and maybe even share a little of what he learns with me. Who knows? Perhaps we’ll end up adding a visit to the British Library to our bucket list someday! So, if you’re shopping for someone who loves mysteries, crime stories, history, beautiful hardcover books, or remarkable women, take a look at Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery. You might discover that the perfect Christmas present is hiding in a world of mystery. And if Santa and I are lucky enough to get everything loaded onto the sleigh, David will be unwrapping this one on Christmas morning!
About the book: Published to mark the 50th anniversary of Christie’s death, this is the first fully illustrated volume to chronicle the life and work of the world’s bestselling author.
Drawing on unprecedented, first-time ever access to the Christie Archive Trust—as well as the National Trust, the British Library, and numerous private sources—this richly illustrated book presents many never-before-seen photographs, artworks, and documents.
The book showcases an extraordinary plethora of ephemera including an early rejection letter from her publisher, vintage first-edition covers, and signed playbills. Also included are the personal brochure of her trip on the Orient Express, her WWI nurses’ Pharmaceuticals Pocketbook for Practitioners, with Poisons, and other archival documents. With thematic chapters ranging from Christie’s English country life to her glamorous global travels, the book examines how her fictional universe grew out of her trailblazing experiences, including archaeological expeditions, a passion for fast cars, and surfing.
Featuring contributions from family members, acclaimed actors, writers (including Kate Mosse), cultural commentators, publishers, and renowned Christie scholars, this volume weaves together a wide array of perspectives. It also situates her achievements within the broader evolution of detective fiction, illuminating her towering influence on the genre.
Have a beautiful day, and happy reading!
Meet the Author: Martin Edwards
About the author
Martin Edwards has received the CWA Diamond Dagger, the highest honour in British crime writing, given for the sustained excellence of his contribution to the genre. His latest novels are the stand-alone puzzle mystery Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife and the Rachel Savernake books, most recently Hemlock Bay. The Rachel Savernake series has received two nominations for the CWA Historical Dagger and three shortlistings for the eDunnit award for best crime novel. British librarians awarded him the CWA Dagger in the Library in 2018 in recognition of his body of work.
His eighth and latest Lake District Mystery is The Crooked Shore and earlier books in the series include The Coffin Trail, short-listed for the Theakston’s prize for best British crime novel. Seven books in his first series, featuring Liverpool lawyer Harry Devlin, starting with the CWA John Creasey Dagger-nominated All the Lonely People, have been reissued by Acorn in new editions with introductions by leading writers including Ann Cleeves and Val McDermid.
Martin is a well-known crime fiction critic, and series consultant to the British Library’s Crime Classics. His ground-breaking study of the genre between the wars, The Golden Age of Murder won the Edgar, Agatha, H.R.F. Keating and Macavity awards. The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books won the Macavity and was nominated for four other awards, while Howdunit, a masterclass in crime writing by members of the Detection Club, won the H.R.F. Keating prize and was nominated for five other awards. His ground-breaking history of the genre, The Life of Crime, won the Edgar, H.R.F. Keating, Macavity, and Anthony awards.
In addition, Martin has won lifetime achievement awards for his short fiction (the Golden Derringer), his non-fiction (the Poirot award) and his scholarship (the George N. Dove award). He has written a stand-alone novel of psychological suspense, Take My Breath Away, and a much acclaimed novel featuring Dr Crippen, Dancing for the Hangman. He also completed Bill Knox’s last book, The Lazarus Widow. He has published many short stories, including the ebooks The New Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes and Acknowledgments and other stories. ‘The Bookbinder’s Apprentice’ won the CWA Short Story Dagger, for which he has been nominated for three other stories.
He has edited over 50 anthologies, which have yielded many award-winning stories, and published diverse non-fiction books, including a study of homicide investigation, Urge to Kill. An expert on crime fiction history, he is archivist of both the Crime Writers’ Association and the Detection Club. He was elected eighth President of the Detection Club in 2015, spent two years as Chair of the CWA, and posts regularly to his blog, ‘Do You Write Under Your Own Name?’ He is consultant to the bestselling British Library Crime Classics.
Greatful Moments
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
