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  • Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman

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Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman Kindle Edition

by Lucy Worsley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars (3,266)
Editors' pick Best Biographies & Memoirs
A new, fascinating account of the life of Agatha Christie from celebrated literary and cultural historian Lucy Worsley.

"Nobody in the world was more inadequate to act the heroine than I was."

Why did Agatha Christie spend her career pretending that she was “just” an ordinary housewife, when clearly she wasn’t? Her life is fascinating for its mysteries and its passions and, as Lucy Worsley says, "She was thrillingly, scintillatingly modern." She went surfing in Hawaii, she loved fast cars, and she was intrigued by the new science of psychology, which helped her through devastating mental illness.

So why—despite all the evidence to the contrary—did Agatha present herself as a retiring Edwardian lady of leisure?

She was born in 1890 into a world that had its own rules about what women could and couldn’t do. Lucy Worsley’s biography is not just of a massively, internationally successful writer. It's also the story of a person who, despite the obstacles of class and gender, became an astonishingly successful working woman.

With access to personal letters and papers that have rarely been seen, Lucy Worsley’s biography is both authoritative and entertaining and makes us realize what an extraordinary pioneer Agatha Christie was—truly a woman who wrote the twentieth century.
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  1. Print length
    428 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pegasus Crime
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    September 8, 2022
  6. File size
    26.0 MB
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lucy Worsley, OBE, is the author of the bestselling Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman. She is chief curator at the charity Historic Royal Palaces and regularly presents history documentaries for the BBC. Her critically acclaimed books include Queen Victoria; Jane Austen at Home; The Art of the English Murder; and If Walls Could Talk: An Intimate History of the Home. In 2019, her BBC One program Suffragettes with Lucy Worsley won a BAFTA. She lives in England.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09RX5DLMG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pegasus Crime
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 8, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 26.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 428 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639362530
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: #290,566 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars (3,266)

About the author

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Lucy Worsley

Lucy Worsley

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hello! I'm Lucy. For ages I was Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces, now an ambassador for the charity. As well as writing history books, I present the (really excellent) crime history podcast LadyKillers on BBC Radio Four and BBC Sounds, and occasionally present history programmes for BBC Two and PBS. My most recent book, AGATHA CHRISTIE, A VERY ELUSIVE WOMAN was a Sunday Times number one bestseller in the UK, and I'm working now on a new secret project. I'm on lots of social media, and I have a weekly newsletter 'My Life in the Past'.

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
3,266 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find this biography of Agatha Christie to be a fascinating read, written by the author herself and well-researched with historical context. The book provides a thoughtful biography that brings readers into Christie's world, and one customer notes how it covers her life from birth to death. Customers appreciate the narrative style, with one describing it as a masterful account of Christie's life.
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35 customers mention readability, 32 positive, 3 negative
Customers find the book to be a fabulous and wonderful read, with one customer specifically praising Lucy Worley's performance.
...This was a good read, and I learned a lot about Agatha and her family.Read more
The book is well written, very interesting! I recommend this book.Read more
A great book Lucy Worsley has done a masterful job expounding Christie's life and career as an author....Read more
I loved this book. You could feel the personality of Christie.Read more
18 customers mention writing style, 17 positive, 1 negative
Customers praise the writing style of the book, noting it is wonderfully composed and written by the author herself.
A good read about the life of a very interesting, mysterious and prolific writer who created a genre of murder mystery writing that has never been...Read more
This was a well-researched and well-written book on the life of Agatha Christie....Read more
Lucy Worsley has such an engaging writing style that reading this book, I felt like I was sitting down with a friend telling me the story of Agatha...Read more
...The book was well written and as much a history of Christie's era as a biography of the author. Lucy Worsley adds a human side to facts and events.Read more
17 customers mention informative, 17 positive, 0 negative
Customers find the book informative and well-researched, with the author doing extensive work and keeping everything in historical context.
Lucy Worsley explores Agatha Christie's life and writing. Well researched and written. I learned a lot about one of the most successful writers.Read more
Such a well researched book. Learned about Agatha from birth to death, 2 marriages,and of course her books....Read more
This was a well-researched and well-written book on the life of Agatha Christie....Read more
Excellent book by a well known author. Meticulously researched, it has a lot of new information about AC that I didn't know before....Read more
17 customers mention insightful, 16 positive, 1 negative
Customers find the biography insightful, describing it as a thoughtful and engaging account of Agatha Christie's life and writing, with one customer noting how it brings the reader into her world.
Good biography, not a detective storyRead more
...Written by the author herself. Honest presentation of her sad and unfaithful marriage. Gives hope to rest of us who struggle with daily life....Read more
...Lucy Worsley paints a vibrant picture of the author and brings the reader into her world....Read more
...It gave great insight into Agatha Christie’s life and writing, and was a wonderful companion to the novels she already loves....Read more
13 customers mention content, 13 positive, 0 negative
Customers enjoy reading about Agatha Christie and find her to be an interesting woman, with one customer noting the author's masterful job expounding on her life.
We love Lucy Worsley and she really got her arms around a very interesting woman with this book. Very good read.Read more
...I enjoyed reading about Agatha Christie as a person from the perspective of an amazing historian. I highly recommend this book!Read more
...What an interesting life she lead! I enjoyed Lucy Worsley's book that delves into Agatha's life and was sad to reach the end....Read more
This book changed my impression of Agatha Christie. Lucy Worsley paints a vibrant picture of the author and brings the reader into her world....Read more
8 customers mention narrative, 7 positive, 1 negative
Customers appreciate the narrative of the book, describing it as a masterful and engaging story, with one customer noting it's a charming personal account.
Great book about a very interesting woman written by a great historian. Read it.Read more
A thoughtful biography by a good historian, good writer. Lucy Worsley pops up in a lot of places these days....Read more
Ms. Worsley does a great job telling her story. She is open to Ms Christie’s flaws but does a great job of keeping everything in historical context.Read more
...about Agatha Christie as a person from the perspective of an amazing historian. I highly recommend this book!Read more
After reading this brilliant exposé I feel as if Agatha and I have always been close soul mates!
5 out of 5 stars
After reading this brilliant exposé I feel as if Agatha and I have always been close soul mates!
NOTHING!! I was held captive on each delicious page!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • John D. Harding
    5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for Agatha Christie fans
    Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    A good read about the life of a very interesting, mysterious and prolific writer who created a genre of murder mystery writing that has never been eclipsed by subsequent writers, only copied and emulated. She lived her own mysteries. Essential reading for Agatha Christie fans.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • carol
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worsely does a great job with this.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2026
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I loved this book. You could feel the personality of Christie.
    Helpful
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  • Nonfiction author
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sets the record straight in many ways
    Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    The first third of this biography is uncommonly sprightly and spunky, but the last two thirds settle into a more tedious narrative style.

    I found the author's emphasis on Christie's unusual success as a woman author convincing. Likewise her sympathetic portrayal of the reasons for Christie's famous 11-day disappearance in 1926.

    Overall, informative and a fairly good read.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Agatha Christie fans!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I bought this Agatha Christie biography for my mom, who loves her books, and she really enjoyed it. It gave great insight into Agatha Christie’s life and writing, and was a wonderful companion to the novels she already loves. Such a thoughtful gift for any fan.
    Helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Excellent book by a well known author. Meticulously researched, it has a lot of new information about AC that I didn't know before. The author really has a talent for making you feel a part of the story and I was sorry when the book ended.
    One person found this helpful
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  • DANA ISAACSON
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic biography about a brilliant writer by a brilliant writer
    Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2023
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I have loved Lucy Worsley on BBC historical shows and didn't know she was an author. I was thrilled to learn she wrote a biography of Agatha Christie. There is something extraordinary about this book: the biographer's perspective and opinions can be found on many of its pages. This could be intrusive or annoying in a biography, but the opposite is true here because it's the witty and brilliant Worsley. What a great person to guide you on this fascinating journey.

    Agatha defies expectations. She is modest but not, a self-described housewife who was often found on archeological digs in Iraq, a writer of uneven quality who also produced major works. The elderly woman in our mind was once a lovely debutante, a lover of swimming in the sea and a woman who made some bad choices with major consequences. Yet she also led what you might think of as a rather normal family life, with typical tears and joys.

    This book was a true pleasure to read. Now I must read Worsley's other books.
    29 people found this helpful
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  • Ken
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
    Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Purchased for wife who likes Agatha Christie mysteries. Read by me because I am a fan and respecter of Lucy Worsley's presentations, books and lectures. She is a good popular historian who does not dumb down the material and provides context of the time around her subjects. The book was well written and as much a history of Christie's era as a biography of the author. Lucy Worsley adds a human side to facts and events.
    One person found this helpful
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  • S. Lattanze
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I knew next to nothing about Agatha Christie the person - only that she was the author of many detective novels that I watched as movies and TV shows. What an interesting life she lead! I enjoyed Lucy Worsley's book that delves into Agatha's life and was sad to reach the end. Now on to read some of Agatha's actual books!
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Happy shopper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading
    Reviewed in Australia on November 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Detailed description of the fascinating life of Agatha Christie.
    Report
  • Isabel Sandoval
    5.0 out of 5 stars Real information
    Reviewed in Spain on September 16, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Excellent book.
    Report
  • Atulya Sinha
    5.0 out of 5 stars ELOQUENT LUCY MEETS ELUSIVE AGATHA
    Reviewed in India on April 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Readers might have visualized Agatha Christie as a wealthy Englishwoman dressed in tweeds, who had inherited a country estate full of gardeners and gamekeepers, along with a manor staffed by several maids and a butler. Perhaps they also imagined that she had a team of assistants lurking in a cottage, who helped her in churning out her bestsellers – even as she spent her weekends riding with her husband and handing out buttered scones to her numerous grandchildren.

    Lucy Worsley’s new book ‘Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman’ shows that such notions are quite wrong. While Agatha appears quintessentially English, her father Frederick Miller was an American who chose to settle at the small seaside resort of Torquay in England. Agatha’s mother Clara Boehmer had been born in Dublin to an English mother and a German father. To add to the complexity, the family tree given in the beginning of this book reveals that Clara’s mother was the younger sister of Frederick’s stepmother. “The complicated families often found in Agatha’s fiction,” remarks Worsley, “began life close to home.”

    Dame Agatha Christie (1890-1976) might have been born with the proverbial silver spoon in her mouth. In the author’s words, “Little Agatha seems to have wanted for nothing that an overstuffed, over-furnished, overconfident high-Victorian household could offer.” Sadly, her idyllic childhood ended at the tender age of eleven, when her indulgent father died and her family’s income declined. Rather than give her a formal schooling, Agatha’s mother preferred that she should learn “music, French, conversation and ‘character.’”

    As the First World War broke out in 1914, Agatha volunteered to work as a nurse (and she famously picked up a detailed knowledge of various types of poisons). The same year she got married to army officer Archibald Christie, whose name she bore throughout her life. In 1919, Agatha gave birth to Rosalind, her only child. A few years later, Agatha’s first marriage ended in a divorce and she went on to marry archaeologist Max Mallowan, who was fourteen years younger than her. She frequently travelled with Max and his team to excavation sites in Iraq and Syria – and many of her stories were inspired by her journeys and experiences during such expeditions…

    This book consists of 41 chapters divided into ten sections, roughly corresponding to the decades and important events in Agatha’s long life. There is an evocative black and white photograph of Agatha at the start of each section, besides two sets of colour plates containing more photos of Agatha along with her family and friends. Some of the sections and chapters are named after Christie’s works, e.g. the chapter which talks about her relationship with her daughter Rosalind is titled “A Daughter’s A Daughter.” The very last chapter is poignantly titled “After the Funeral.”

    Author Lucy Worsley – who is a historian by profession – has made extraordinary efforts to gather information from a variety of sources, ranging from books and newspapers to church registers and asylum records. She has also accessed archival material and private correspondence, apart from holding personal conversations with a handful of individuals who can recall interacting with Christie prior to her death in 1976. The author has taken pains to organize and present the fruits of her research in a highly readable manner. Lady Antonia Fraser (undoubtedly a brilliant woman herself), rightly describes this book as “one brilliant woman writing about another…”

    “Max once described his wife as combining ‘outer diffidence with a massive inner confidence’, and there are sometimes hints that her public ‘shyness’ was less a genuine character trait than a weapon.” Worsley shares many insights into Agatha’s personal life, which impacted her work. “Despite the fact that she’s had just the one child…she still managed to create a large, complicated family of which she was the centre.”

    The author has covered not just Christie’s life, but also her works, in her magnificent sweep – for instance, she describes ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ as “one of the greatest detective novels of all time” and quotes copiously from several Christie books. She probes into minute details of celebrated detectives like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple as well as a host of minor characters, to build up her story (though she does let out a spoiler or two). She also identifies numerous “tricks” employed by Christie in her books, including what she calls recycling of a good plot; “the reader simply can’t believe that she might be playing the same game twice.”

    The only flaw I have found in this book is on page 44, where the author says that Archibald Christie was “born on 30 September 1889 in Peshawar, then in Bengal, India, now in Pakistan.” I am sure that neither Poirot nor Marple, much less Christie herself, could have found Peshawar in Bengal, since it lies in north-west Pakistan east of the Khyber Pass!

    In conclusion, let me say that the Eloquent Lucy turns out to be a perfect match for the Elusive Agatha. By the time you finish reading this book, your wish list will be swelling as you will have a strong urge to read or re-read most, if not all, of Agatha Christie’s books.
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  • WR
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent biography.
    Reviewed in Canada on September 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Very informative biography with lots of pictures. Author had me engaged from the first page. Highly recommend for those who want to know more of the life of Agatha Christie.
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  • Marguerite
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating, revisionist and sympathetic review of the woman and her books
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    When I was growing up, there was no concept of Young Adult fiction, so I progressed from Enid Blyton to whatever my mum was reading, which included (thankfully for my future career!) Georgette Heyer, Barbara Cartland (something she still denies), Mary Stewart and crime, which meant primarily Agatha Christie. In fact, in my late teens and early twenties, I devoured almost every book Agatha Christie had ever written, including those she published as Mary Westmacott. Me and my mum would swap them between us, vying to discover whodunnit first, and endlessly dissecting the plots. Then I got a bit up myself reading-wise, and went into my ‘literary’ phase and didn’t read any Christie for decades.
    The first-class BBC adaptations of some of the stand-alone Christie books sent me back to a selective reading, but I have not read Poirot or Marple in a very long time – and I’ve never been fond of any of the tv or film adaptations of them. More recently, I have been re-reading Lord Peter Wimsey and remembering my early love of crime from the golden age, so when Lucy Worsley brought out a biography of Agatha Christie, I had it on pre-order – not least because Worsley is one of my auto-buy historians.
    I think I’d call this a revisionist bio, in that it sets out to revise and review some of the myths that have grown up about Christie’s life, partly because access to her archive has been closely managed by her family, but more importantly because it takes a very different view on the ‘big’ event of Christie’s life – her disappearance. Worsley, as you would expect, has consulted every source she could get her hands on, and very importantly, has been given access to the extensive archive of letters, notebooks, photos etc. She is a first-class historian with a painstaking approach to sources, to cross-checking, to questioning and re-investigating, and as a result does indeed come up with quite a different Agatha Christie than the one that we have come to accept. Is it the real one? Lucy Worsley concludes that we’ll never know the real one – that Christie was a master of deceit and deception in her private life as well as in her writings. How she reaches that conclusion makes for a highly readable and entertaining biography, so I’m not going to spoil it!
    I loved this – of course I did! I particularly enjoyed the insights and connections that Worsley makes between Christie’s books and her personal life. Why did Jane Marple come into her life so late, and why did her initially acerbic, rather unlikeable character soften? And Poirot? He served so many purposes in his long career, at times slick, at times troubled, at times on the verge of badly written, but all of this is put in a fascinating context that made me jump onto Amazon and download two of the books – which I’ve nearly finished. So too with Miss Marple. I’m not sure about Tommy and Tuppence, but there were so many stand-alone books mentioned in passing that I am sure I’ll be re-reading Christie on and off for the foreseeable.
    Whether you want a new take on Christie’s life or a better understanding of her books, or if you are new to both, I highly recommend this.
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