History of Agatha Christie's Works Quiz

Answer: 1920

This was the first novel in which a famous crime solver, who reappeared in later novels, was introduced to the readers.

Answer: Hercule Poirot

Jane Marple first appeared in 1930, in "Murder at the Vicarage". Ariadne Oliver was one of four sleuths invited to a bridge party in "Cards on the Table" where she met Hercule Poirot. Parker Pyne appeared in short stories released in 1934.

Answer: "The Mysterious Affair At Styles"

This novel was the first case for Hercule Poirot, and was released in 1920. "Murder At The Vicarage" was the first case for Miss Jane Marple, released in 1930. In 1933, "Lord Edgware Dies", known as "Thirteen At Dinner" in the U.S., was released. Another Miss Marple case, "The Moving Finger", was not released until 1943.

Answer: Captain Arthur Hastings

John Cavendish actually played a part in re-introducing Hastings to Poirot when Hastings was convalescing at Styles Court, and Poirot, a Belgian refugee was lodged in nearby Leastways Cottage. Colonel Carbury actually engaged Poirot in a case ("Appointment With Death"). Chief Inspector Japp appears in several stories as the police officer in the case.

Answer: Curtain

"Curtain" was written during World War II, but not published until 1975. "Dead Man's Folly" was another (earlier) Poirot case and "Sleeping Murder" was the final Miss Marple novel. In a letter to his long time friend Hastings, Poirot wrote an explanation of the finer points of the case, and said, 'They have been good days'.

"Dead Man's Folly" is a story in which Ariadne Oliver invites Poirot to her home to take part in what she called a "Murder Hunt".
"Sleeping Murder" is a Miss Marple novel.
"Death Comes as the End" is set in ancient Egypt, and calls on research done by Agatha when she accompanied her second husband on an archeological dig.

Answer: Mr Robinson

Mr Robinson was a member of a mysterious syndicate called The Arrangers. They dealt with matters in the financial world. Felicity Lemon and Ariadne Oliver first appear in short stories, "Parker Pine Investigates", before going on to feature in some Poirot novels.

There is Lady Abbie Chatterton in Poirot's "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding" and Lady Alice Chatterton in Poirot's "The Regatta Mystery" which was published only in the USA.

Answer: No such liaison took place.

"Nemesis" was a Miss Marple novel and the other two novels were Hercule Poirot stories. Agatha Christie never put these two characters together.

Answer: Agatha Miller

Agatha was born Agatha Miller, but wrote her first novels under the name of her first husband, as Agatha Christie. Even after her first marriage broke up in 1926, Agatha continued to write detective novels under the name Agatha Christie, and wrote a series of six psychological novels using the name Mary Westmacott.

She wrote memoirs of her travels in Syria under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.

Answer: 66 novels and 147 short stories

An interesting sideline is that one of Agatha Christie's plays, "The Mousetrap", has the record for the longest running play after some 24,000 plus performances in London.

Answer: "Sleeping Murder"

"Star Over Bethlehem" is a book of poems and children's stories, "Curtain" was actually Hercule Poirot's last case written in 1975 and "Elephants Can Remember" was written in 1972. Miss Marple was the crime solver in "Sleeping Murder". Agatha had written this book in the 1940's, to be published after her death. I am indebted to James25 for this information, which was not in my smaller and less informative source.