All About Agatha Christie
All About Agatha (Christie)
All About Agatha is a podcast all about, well, Agatha. Agatha Christie, of course: the Queen of Crime, a real-life Dame of the British Empire, and author of sixty-six mystery novels that spanned the Twentieth Century, defining a genre. For five years, Catherine Brobeck and Kemper Donovan revisited these novels in publication order, ranking them according to pre-set criteria (plot, character, etc.). Tragically, Catherine Brobeck passed away at the end of 2021. Since then, Kemper has completed the podcast's ranking project, and now contents himself with celebrating the greatness of Christie by attempting to solve the ultimate mystery where she is concerned. Why Christie--and Christie alone--endures as powerfully as she does.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 15, 2022 • 46min
A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: The Third Floor Flat by Agatha Christie
It's time to pick apart a Poirot short story in excruciating detail, though thankfully the process is anything but excruciating--especially with a miniature puzzle mystery as clever as this one, and set in the vicinity of Poirot's own digs, to boot! Let us never underestimate the power of propinquity.... This episode is sponsored by Britbox (use coupon code AGATHA) and BetterHelp. For bonus content, please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon account.
Jul 8, 2022 • 5min
*Special Announcement* re In-Person Appearance at Int'l Agatha Christie Festival in September
I'm going to Torquay, listeners! Or as I like to think of it: Agatha-land. Please join me at the International Agatha Christie Festival for a special, live episode of All About Agatha, where I will debate which title deserves to be crowned Agatha Christie's greatest novel with the likes of John Curran, Jamie Bernthal-Hooker, Mark Aldridge, and Carla Valentine (!!!!). You'll even get to weigh in as an audience member... but only if you're there in person! Wednesday, 14 September at 7:00pm. All other details and ticket purchases to be accessed on the Festival's website here. I hope to see you! For bonus content, you can always subscribe to the podcast's Patreon account.
Jul 1, 2022 • 59min
Interview (#2!!) with Ruth Ware, Author of The It Girl
Ruth Ware has a new psychological crime thriller out this summer, and it may be her most Christie-ish yet. Listen to us discuss kebab vans in much greater detail than you were probably expecting! This episode is brought to you by Britbox. Use promo code "AGATHA" for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription in the U.S. or Canada. For bonus content, please visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon site.
Jun 17, 2022 • 2h 25min
And Then There Were 3: Postern of Fate by Agatha Christie
Well thank goodness I had Caroline Crampton, host of the fabulous Shedunnit podcast, to help me wade through the rather disorienting waters of this, the final novel Agatha Christie ever wrote. Get out your hankies--to wipe away not only your tears, but all the dust and spiders out in the garden shed, a.k.a. "KK." It's time to visit Tommy and Tuppence one last time.... This episode is brought to you by Britbox. Visit http://www.britbox.com and use coupon code "AGATHA" for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription. You can access bonus material on the podcast's Patreon page, over at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.
Jun 3, 2022 • 1h 13min
Interview with Carla Valentine, Author of Murder Isn't Easy: The Forensics of Agatha Christie
Carla Valentine is a forensic pathologist and a *massive* Agatha Christie fan. These two facts are very much not unrelated, as you will soon discover in our lively and far-ranging discussion. This episode is brought to you by Britbox, http://www.britbox.com. (U.S. and Canadian listeners: use the promo code "AGATHA" for 50% off the first month of your monthly subscription.) You can find more content on the podcast's Patreon page, over at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.
May 20, 2022 • 1h 1min
Interview with Alison Light, a Scholar of Agatha Christie (Among Many Other Subjects)
I took the opportunity to have a somewhat different conversation about Christie than I usually do, with the literary theorist Alison Light, who wrote about Christie as far back as 1991. We talked a whole lot about the middle classes, the notion of “small c” conservatism, and what it means to be English. Not your usual Christie fare, but I left the conversation with a fresh appreciation of our favorite author, and I hope you do too. Visit the podcast's Patreon site at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.
May 7, 2022 • 2h 41min
And Then There Were 4: Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie
It's been a while since we’ve done a Stefon, so here goes. This episode has everything: twins, wigs, continuity errors, Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver (surely the model upon which Will & Grace were built) teaming up one last time, and of course, Dr. Mark Aldridge, co-host extraordinaire. It’s time to find out if elephants really can remember! (Spoiler: they mainly can’t.) You can find bonus content at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.
Apr 22, 2022 • 1h 23min
Interview with Gillian Gill, Author of Agatha Christie: The Woman and Her Mysteries
What a pleasure to chat with one of the early Christie biographers--and critical analysts--about Agatha Christie as both a writer and a person. We even talk about sex! (Consider yourselves titillated... even though Agatha definitely would not have been.) You can find bonus material at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha. This episode is sponsored by http://www.smilebrilliant.com. Remember to use coupon code AGATHA.
Apr 8, 2022 • 48min
A Hercule Poirot Amuse-Bouche: Wasps' Nest by Agatha Christie
Apostrophes, feminine writers, and water butts. Oh my. This episode is brought to you by http://www.smilebrilliant.com. Remember to use coupon code AGATHA. You can visit the podcast's Patreon site at: http://www.patreon.com/allaboutagatha.
8 snips
Mar 25, 2022 • 52min
Interview with Nita Prose, Author of The Maid
Author Nita Prose discusses her debut novel 'The Maid' in an interview, exploring character-driven narratives, Agatha Christie's influence, and the balance between mystery and storytelling. They delve into world-building, reader participation, justice in mysteries, and the charm of 'Murder on the Orient Express'. Lastly, they touch on movie adaptations and upcoming mystery novels.
