UK Reading Lists
A Dose of Romance
Themes of love and romance appear in a plethora of Agatha Christie’s novels, plays and short stories. Love acts as a motive for murder, it is a driving force for adventure, can be a comfort in old age, as well as distraction from the real world. Renowned for her crime writing, readers can be forgiven for missing out on some of Christie's prolific stories of love and longing. We've collated some of our favourites to celebrate that warm fuzzy feeling... We can't promise there won't be a dose of danger though too!
The couple - Tommy and Tuppence
Expect international spies, two world wars, murders, and thefts as Tommy and Tuppence uncover adventure at every turn. Tuppence leads the way with her charismatic nature, while Tommy’s slow, considered manner provides the perfect foil. Together they form the 'Young Adventurers Ltd.'
Christie’s most well-known couple begin their adventures in 1922 in The Secret Adversary, Christie’s second published novel. Over the course of 50 years Tommy and Tuppence appear in three further novels and a short story collection. They are Christie’s only characters to age in real time, starting their journey with marriage in the 1920s, we travel with them into their retirement in 1973’s Postern of Fate.
The play – Love from a Stranger
Cecily Harrington has behaved properly, worked hard, and waited five years to marry her fiancé Nigel, and now she’s won big in a sweepstake. Nigel’s return from the Sudan doesn’t go according to plan, as Cecily has bumped into a charming bachelor, Bruce Lovell. Determined for an adventure of her own, Cecily and Bruce kickstart a whirlwind romance and move to a remote cottage, far from family and friends. But how much does she really know about her new husband?
The play, adapted by Frank Vosper, is now available from Samuel French as part of The Collection. It is based on the Christie short story, Philomel Cottage.
The short story collections
This unexpected selection of short stories explores the Queen of Crime's focus on love throughout her works. From dangerous dalliances to crimes of passion, these are love stories with a twist. Published now in the US, coming soon to the UK, with international publishing dates to be announced.
Explore 14 stories, featuring Hercule Poirot, Parker Pyne, Miss Marple, Mr Quin and Tommy and Tuppence - that's a lot of Christie detectives to sink your teeth into. Uncover deadly love triangles, expose hidden secrets and enjoy these unique themed stories with caution... Happily ever after is never guaranteed!
It had been a typical New Year’s Eve party. But as midnight approaches, Mr Satterthwaite - a keen observer of human nature – senses that the real drama of the evening is yet to unfold. And so it proves when a mysterious stranger knocks on the door.
Meet the unusual pairing, Mr Quin and Mr Satterthwaite, in 12 short stories. With his seemingly supernatural foresight, Mr Quin leads Satterthwaite as he untangles feuds, love affairs, and the occasional murder! Mr Satterthwaite’s new friend is an enigma. Throughout this book he seems to appear and disappear almost like a trick of the light. In fact, the only consistent thing about him is that his presence is always an omen – sometimes good, but sometimes deadly.
Known as 'The Love Detective', Parker Pyne's newspaper advertisement promises to make his clients happy. From miserable lovers, to those in search of adventure, Pyne has a solution - and plenty of staff to help him pull it off!
Featuring six stories set in his London office, and eight that take our Detective (and the reader) further afield, this collection is packed full of excitement, adventure, and of course romance. Will one of Christie's sleuths every be able to take a holiday in piece? Probably not.
The novel – The Hollow
Hercule Poirot has been invited to lunch. Prolific hostess Lady Angkatell has several weekend visitors, but she's worried about the guest-list. There'll be Doctor John Christow and his wife Gerda, her cousin Midge is staying, and David Angkatell is down from Oxford (or is it Cambridge?). Plus Edward the heir, Veronica the actress, and Henrietta the sculptor (she usually causes a stir), and the famous detective, Hercule Poirot. A crime scene is staged in Poirot's honour, but the mock-victim sadly loses his life for real. His last words as the gun falls into the swimming pool? "Henrietta"...
The Hollow is a country house murder with romantic liaisons at its heart.
The short story – 'The Manhood of Edward Robinson'
Sensible Edward Robinson secretly dreams of fast cars, adventurous women and danger, but his fiancée, Maud, believes in common sense. When Edward wins some money in a newspaper competition, he secretly buys the sleek car of his dreams, "It stood to him for Romance, for Adventure,for all the things that he had longed for and had never had." Adventure swiftly ensues, as he is embroiled in high society scandals that lead him to a significant transformation.
The story is an ode to motorcar, which Christie confessed in her autobiography was one of the two things that excited her most in her life - she had a Morris Cowley. This short story features in The Listerdale Mystery (UK), and The Golden Ball and Other Stories (US).
The pseudonym – Mary Westmacott
Agatha Christie published six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. The idea sprung from Christie's desire "to write something other than a detective story." It would be 15 years after the publication of her first Westmacott novel, Giant's Bread (1930), that her identity was revealed. Examining crimes of the heart, these stories explore family ties, love and passion, childhood and parenting, loss and indiscretion.
Agatha Christie's daughter, Rosalind Hicks said the following about the novels, "They are not ‘love stories’ in the general sense of the term, and they certainly have no happy endings. They are, I believe, about love in some of its most powerful and destructive forms."
