Agatha Christie (1890-1976), the world's best-selling author, is a public institution. Her creations, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, have become fiction's most legendary sleuths and her ingenuity has captures the imagination of generations of readers. But although she lived to a great age and was prolific, she remained elusively shy and determinedly private. Given sole access to family papers and other protected material, Janet Morgan's definitive biography unravels Agatha Christie's life, work and relationships, creating a revealing and faithfully honest portrait. Her book will intrigue those who read detective stories and delight all who are interested in the nature of a writer's life and extraordinary success. 'A masterly an gripping biography... Janet Morgan's study has merits far beyond merely keeping the faithful in touch with their vanished priestess.' STANDARD 'From it cool, beautifully paced and consistently entertaining narrative one gets a clear view of Christie's career and personality.' ROBERT BARNARD, 'TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT'