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The Mystery of Agatha Christie
A new biography of the enigmatic and reclusive mistress of mystery answers the questions occasioned by Agatha Christie's notorious disappearance in 1926
247 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 7, 2013
This Edgar-Award winning biography of Agatha Christie is not the kind you read because it's a great biography written with insight and style that transcends its subject--but because you find the subject written about interesting. (And know of no better on the subject.) This book was picked up at a rummage sale by my aunt. We've long been Agatha Christie fans in my family--my mother loved her stories and I can't remember the first time I read one of her books--I was so young. She wrote 94 books, 83 of them mysteries. I've read somewhat over a dozen of the most famous including such favorites of mine as The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, And Then There Were None and Death Comes as the End--and intend to read more.
This biography was published only two years after Christie's death in 1976. Although it's evidently well-researched, it felt to me rushed in its assembly--it has the feel of an extended newspaper article, full of quotes from people who knew her, some only very slightly, a bit pedestrian and dry. Some of the minutia of her finances and charitable contributions and the production of her plays bored me. Moreover, I came into the book with questions I felt were never answered and wishing the book had given me more insight into her writing--and the woman herself.
For one, even as a young girl who was much less aware of these things, the ethnic stereotyping in some of Christie's novels could make me cringe. I also took her as Anti-American given depictions in her novels, so I was surprised to find out her father was American. I had read that Christopher Hitchens claimed that on a visit with Christie and her husband, the anti-Jewish comments from them both were "vividly unpleasant" and could not just be "put down to generational prejudice." And I had been shocked to find out years ago that the original and British title of And Then There Were None was Ten Little Niggers, and that in British editions it took place on "Nigger Island" (changed to "Indian Island" in American editions so I never encountered that.) Robyns rather blandly passes over this by mentioning the change of title in the United States as due to sensitivity given the racial discrimination there, as if the term was not equally offensive across the pond. (And the English unlike Americans free of race prejudice.) I found that way too glib. Now, I know the title was based on a Nursery Rhyme of that name that was the basis of the story. Still, I'd have liked a portrait of Christie that went beyond that of just a sweet little old lady. Even if Robyns does admit to a more turbulent time in Christie's life, when discussing her disappearance in 1926--basically done Robyns concluded to take revenge on her unfaithful first husband. And although the book does touch on some critics of Christie's writing, there was no mention of two of the most famous critiques: Edmund Wilson ("Who Cares Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?" - 1945) and Raymond Chandler ("The Simple Art of Murder" - 1950). Maybe because they were Americans?
Robyns does give us a look at Christie's privileged childhood. Maybe not quite to the manor born, and she's often described in the book as "middle class" but it's a middle most Americans would consider fabulously wealthy: a father who frequented clubs, a Nanny, a cook and maids, a Paris finishing school when she was a teenager. Robyns even relates how Christie once wrote in her autobiography that what she would have missed most had she been a child of today was servants--that they added color and drama to everyday life. So all those mysteries set in stately English country homes where cucumber sandwiches were served and Earl Grey poured out of silver teapots? Christie came by it honestly. And Robyns explains why the villain in Christie's books was never the vicar and almost never a member of professions such as lawyers or doctors. "It simply was not done to denigrate one's own class."
There are other little insights into her writing and writing process you can glean from the book I did find interesting. For instance--and this is common among many successful writers--her own insecurity about her writing, her belief while in the midst of writing she was no good. And really, given how shortly this was written after Christie's death, I probably shouldn't complain I didn't feel this gave enough perspective. Robyns herself described Christie as a "fanatically private woman" so we should be graceful for as many clues as she gave us into the mystery of Agatha Christie.
This biography was published only two years after Christie's death in 1976. Although it's evidently well-researched, it felt to me rushed in its assembly--it has the feel of an extended newspaper article, full of quotes from people who knew her, some only very slightly, a bit pedestrian and dry. Some of the minutia of her finances and charitable contributions and the production of her plays bored me. Moreover, I came into the book with questions I felt were never answered and wishing the book had given me more insight into her writing--and the woman herself.
For one, even as a young girl who was much less aware of these things, the ethnic stereotyping in some of Christie's novels could make me cringe. I also took her as Anti-American given depictions in her novels, so I was surprised to find out her father was American. I had read that Christopher Hitchens claimed that on a visit with Christie and her husband, the anti-Jewish comments from them both were "vividly unpleasant" and could not just be "put down to generational prejudice." And I had been shocked to find out years ago that the original and British title of And Then There Were None was Ten Little Niggers, and that in British editions it took place on "Nigger Island" (changed to "Indian Island" in American editions so I never encountered that.) Robyns rather blandly passes over this by mentioning the change of title in the United States as due to sensitivity given the racial discrimination there, as if the term was not equally offensive across the pond. (And the English unlike Americans free of race prejudice.) I found that way too glib. Now, I know the title was based on a Nursery Rhyme of that name that was the basis of the story. Still, I'd have liked a portrait of Christie that went beyond that of just a sweet little old lady. Even if Robyns does admit to a more turbulent time in Christie's life, when discussing her disappearance in 1926--basically done Robyns concluded to take revenge on her unfaithful first husband. And although the book does touch on some critics of Christie's writing, there was no mention of two of the most famous critiques: Edmund Wilson ("Who Cares Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?" - 1945) and Raymond Chandler ("The Simple Art of Murder" - 1950). Maybe because they were Americans?
Robyns does give us a look at Christie's privileged childhood. Maybe not quite to the manor born, and she's often described in the book as "middle class" but it's a middle most Americans would consider fabulously wealthy: a father who frequented clubs, a Nanny, a cook and maids, a Paris finishing school when she was a teenager. Robyns even relates how Christie once wrote in her autobiography that what she would have missed most had she been a child of today was servants--that they added color and drama to everyday life. So all those mysteries set in stately English country homes where cucumber sandwiches were served and Earl Grey poured out of silver teapots? Christie came by it honestly. And Robyns explains why the villain in Christie's books was never the vicar and almost never a member of professions such as lawyers or doctors. "It simply was not done to denigrate one's own class."
There are other little insights into her writing and writing process you can glean from the book I did find interesting. For instance--and this is common among many successful writers--her own insecurity about her writing, her belief while in the midst of writing she was no good. And really, given how shortly this was written after Christie's death, I probably shouldn't complain I didn't feel this gave enough perspective. Robyns herself described Christie as a "fanatically private woman" so we should be graceful for as many clues as she gave us into the mystery of Agatha Christie.
December 27, 2021
I'm kind of up-in-the-air about how many stars to give this book. I feel guilty giving 2 stars to a book that won an Edgar Award. But it really doesn't deserve 3 stars. For a short book, it really dragged. It's not that Agatha Christie isn't an interesting subject but the book is just poorly written and the author (and/or editor) made some style choices that I found really irritating.
Every time Agatha Christie's second husband was mentioned - EVERY SINGLE TIME - it was "Mrs. Christie's husband, Professor Max Mallowan." or "her husband, Sir Max Mallowan." By the last couple of chapters even the dimmest reader must have known that Mrs. Christie's husband was Professor Max Mallowan.
Agatha Christie's books were often published in the U.S. with titles different from the ones they had in England. Simply putting the alternate title in parenthesis after the British title would have been sufficient but the words "titled ... in America" was added over and over again to each title every time it was used.
On page 180 the author interviews a reader of Agatha Christie's books who states "The first book I ever read was King Solomon's Mines ..." Aside from the fact that it's not relevant, it can't possibly be true. The book takes a turn to the weird when the author actually interviews Geri, an obsessed stalker. Her obsession with Agatha Christie contributed to the break up of her marriage after she announced to her husband that she had to leave Chicago and go to England "to be near Agatha."
Chapter 18 addresses what was apparently the main "Mystery" mentioned in the title, even more mysterious to the author than Christie's 10-day disappearance. It is about how much money Agatha Christie made (a lot) and the author seems puzzled about how Christie managed to spend so much of it in her lifetime (unless you count the many trips to exotic lands, the 8 houses, the housekeeper, the gardeners ... ) when she had such simple taste in clothes and Max sold the Rolls Royce because of the poor gas mileage. The chapter also explains that Christie incorporated, that her corporation invested in both family and charitable trusts, and who she left money to. I could hardly keep my eyes open -- it was like taking Dramamine.
Every time Agatha Christie's second husband was mentioned - EVERY SINGLE TIME - it was "Mrs. Christie's husband, Professor Max Mallowan." or "her husband, Sir Max Mallowan." By the last couple of chapters even the dimmest reader must have known that Mrs. Christie's husband was Professor Max Mallowan.
Agatha Christie's books were often published in the U.S. with titles different from the ones they had in England. Simply putting the alternate title in parenthesis after the British title would have been sufficient but the words "titled ... in America" was added over and over again to each title every time it was used.
On page 180 the author interviews a reader of Agatha Christie's books who states "The first book I ever read was King Solomon's Mines ..." Aside from the fact that it's not relevant, it can't possibly be true. The book takes a turn to the weird when the author actually interviews Geri, an obsessed stalker. Her obsession with Agatha Christie contributed to the break up of her marriage after she announced to her husband that she had to leave Chicago and go to England "to be near Agatha."
Chapter 18 addresses what was apparently the main "Mystery" mentioned in the title, even more mysterious to the author than Christie's 10-day disappearance. It is about how much money Agatha Christie made (a lot) and the author seems puzzled about how Christie managed to spend so much of it in her lifetime (unless you count the many trips to exotic lands, the 8 houses, the housekeeper, the gardeners ... ) when she had such simple taste in clothes and Max sold the Rolls Royce because of the poor gas mileage. The chapter also explains that Christie incorporated, that her corporation invested in both family and charitable trusts, and who she left money to. I could hardly keep my eyes open -- it was like taking Dramamine.
March 28, 2014
I think what made this book enjoyable was the lady it was written about, despite the writing. Agatha Christe is such a fascinating woman and writer that I felt engaged and would recommend that people read it if they are fans of the Queen of Crime. I felt the ending was a little weak (an entire chapter was spent on her money and will after her death prior to the chapter when she died), but I still am glad I read it and feel very motivated to pick up one of her mysteries the next time I'm at the library!
February 2, 2019
Worth reading for sure if you're an Agatha Christie fan. In some cases I felt there was too much irrelevant detail (do I really care about the names of people who were only tangentially related to Agatha Christie's life?)--perhaps because so many relevant details of her life were successfully kept private, so every detail the author could find at all was included. I still found a few really interesting nuggets that made the book worthwhile.
Very little content of any kind--mention of some of the unsavory details around the end of her first marriage, and perhaps a few bits of language here and there, but seems fine for most teens. Or, to put it another way, if you're old enough to read Agatha Christie books and care about her biography, you're old enough to read this biography.
Very little content of any kind--mention of some of the unsavory details around the end of her first marriage, and perhaps a few bits of language here and there, but seems fine for most teens. Or, to put it another way, if you're old enough to read Agatha Christie books and care about her biography, you're old enough to read this biography.
July 23, 2024
I love Agatha Christie and wanted to learn more about her. I found this an interesting read. Finding out that Agatha wrote more than just mystery books and how her books were turned in to some long running Broadway shows. Reading about the time she went missing and was in a hotel. You never know what you can learn when you read a book, any type of book.
August 9, 2019
Rambled in places and the synopsis was somewhat misleading (I thought it primarily focused on her disappearance) but overall very pleasant.
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October 29, 2021Great background about Ms. Christie and how clever she was. Love the historical fiction about this beloved author.
October 11, 2024
I’ve only read a few of her books, but her life is pretty fascinating. I saw her play The Mousetrap in The West End years ago and it’s still running.
July 24, 2025
This is a decent book and has some info that other biographers don’t include. Not as comprehensive as some but interesting enough.
December 29, 2008
This was a solid biography of Agatha Christie, although I'm sure there are better ones now. This was published in 1978, shortly after Christie's death, and there is probably more information available about her now. But, based on the privacy that Christie cultivated during her life and that her family strove to maintain after her death, Robyns manages to put together a well-researched and relatively complete biography. There are parts of it that don't really hold together that well--some interviews with people that only knew Christie in passing seem thrown in because the author didn't know what else to do with them--and there are a lot of questions that remain unanswered (and some that shouldn't have been answered, like in an entire boring chapter regarding Christie's finances), but overall it was enjoyable.
May 6, 2016
I gave this book two stars not because it was poorly written or boring. It simply did not interest me. That is all. Agatha Christie isn't exactly my cup of tea, and while I enjoy the occasional dramatized audiobook, I'm not really a fan. But I did want to know a little more about the author, and this was a good book. That's all. An Agatha Christie enthusiast would probably enjoy it a great deal.
April 21, 2014
It was a little scattered and hard to follow. I would recommend reading Agatha Christie's autobiography instead. It's a much larger book, but it is straight from her own hand and not full of speculation.
January 3, 2013
Learned a lot about the author, but the structure of the biography seemed disjointed. It was nice that this was written so soon after her death, allowing for interviews with many contemporaries.
March 25, 2014
Reads like a reference book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews