She often used the characters' interactions. For example, in many of her novels, the detective might have a sidekick who has a romantic interest. This relationship develops gradually as the story progresses, adding an emotional layer to the mystery.
Agatha Christie developed romance through the characters' inner thoughts and dialogues. She would let the characters express their feelings, whether it was unrequited love or a growing affection. In 'A Murder Is Announced', the characters' conversations about their relationships are a key part of how the romance is presented.
Another aspect of developing Poirot was his personality. He had a certain vanity about his skills as a detective. He was often offended if his abilities were questioned. But at the same time, he had a sense of justice and a desire to see the truth come out. His Belgian origin also added an interesting element to his character, as it gave him a different cultural perspective compared to the other characters in the novels, which influenced how he interacted with them and how he approached the mysteries.
She often started with a simple mystery idea, like a strange death or a missing object. Then she would introduce a set of characters, each with their own motives. For example, in 'The Mysterious Mr. Quin', she introduced a character who seems to be more than he appears and weaves the plot around the strange events he is associated with.
She made him very meticulous. For example, in many short stories, Poirot pays great attention to small details like the way a person's hair is combed or how they tie their shoelaces. These details often turn out to be crucial clues.
Agatha Christie wrote her novels from the 1920s onwards. Her prolific output included classics like 'Murder on the Orient Express' and 'And Then There Were None', which are still beloved by readers today.
In 'Murder on the Orient Express', the disappearance of a peaceful train journey due to the murder creates suspense. Christie also withholds information about the passengers' true identities and motives, gradually revealing bits and pieces as the story progresses. This makes the reader constantly question what really happened and who is involved in the disappearance - or rather, the murder that led to the disrupted journey.
She created Poirot with a very distinct personality. He is a Belgian detective, which gives him an outsider's perspective in the English settings of most of the novels. He is meticulous and very observant, relying on his 'little grey cells' to solve the mysteries.
Agatha Christie authored a large number of novels throughout her life. It's estimated that she wrote around 70 novels, making her one of the most successful mystery writers of all time.
Agatha Christie often took the core ideas from her short stories. For example, she might have a character or a situation from a short story. Then she would expand on it. She added more characters, developed more complex relationships, and extended the plot. In 'Murder on the Orient Express', she took the idea of a murder in a confined space like a train compartment, which could have been a short - story concept, and built a whole elaborate story around it with many different characters and motives.
Agatha Christie got her ideas from various sources. Her travels exposed her to different cultures and settings, which she incorporated into her stories. She also had a deep understanding of human psychology. This allowed her to create motives for her characters that were both believable and complex. For instance, in some of her novels, she used the concept of revenge as a motive, which was often intertwined with secrets from the past. By observing the people around her, she was able to create characters with different personalities and quirks, and then build plots around their interactions and possible motives for murder or other crimes.
She used suspense. By withholding key information and slowly revealing clues, she built up tension. For instance, in her works, she might introduce a strange object or an unexplained event early on that keeps the reader guessing.