Tea & Murder's very own producer Kate Krosschell finally read a Christie, so of course we talked to her about it! She sits down with host Rebecca Thandi Norman to discuss the classic twist in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (pssst: spoilers for this book!) and the "unreliable narrator" trope. Did Kate guess the murderer? Yes! Did that stop her from enjoying the book? Thankfully, no! This episode is a bonus mini-episode between seasons 2 and 3. Get ready for season 3, launching soon! Want to...

In the final episode of season 2, host Rebecca Thandi Norman speaks with Christie historian and writer Dr Mark Aldridge about a Miss Marple mystery that they both love: At Bertram's Hotel. Mark and Rebecca discuss the way Christie approaches the changes of the 1960s, the fantastic character of Bess Sedgwick, and why this is a book that may not be for those who want lots of clues and a big reveal at the end. They even imagine another ending (tell us if you prefer it too!). Mark is currently...

At age 17, Ragnar Jonasson began translating Agatha Christie books into his native Icelandic. Years later, Ragnar is a crime writer himself, specialising in the region's beloved "Nordic Noir" genre, but he still loves Christie's work. Jonasson and host Rebecca Thandi Norman talk about Ragnar's work as a translator, why he loves the Poirot & Hastings combination, and what book took the longest to translate. They discuss Murder on the Links, a book that Ragnar has a special connection to,...

**Please note that this episode contains mentions of suicide as part of the book discussion. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you are not alone. Please reach out to a loved one or a hotline in your country. All international hotlines can be found here.** We're chatting with Manon Wogan, the creator of Bookstagram account @mysterymanon and the fantastic The Cluesletter newsletter. Host Rebecca and Manon are talking about how to get involved with book-focused social media and dive...

In this episode of Tea & Murder, host Rebecca Thandi Norman chats with digital designer, filmmaker, and astrology expert Freya McOmish. They discuss Agatha Christie's astrological birth chart, what makes astrology interesting, and how Chrstie typically includes spiritual and/or occult elements in her work. In the book club portion of the interview. Rebecca and Freya dive into The Pale Horse, the ideal book to reflect on how Christie often uses spiritual elements as a plot device in her...

"The Mousetrap" is the longest running play of all time; we're discussing what keeps audiences coming back to this charming production! Director Kristian Husted recently staged a version with Copenhagen Theatre Circle, the English-language amateur theatre company based in Copenhagen. He speaks with host Rebecca Thandi Norman about the enduring appeal of the play, how to stage a mystery, and how to direct a play you've never seen before. Don't worry, there are NO SPOILERS in this episode....

It's our first repeat book of the book club, and we couldn't have chosen a better one: And Then There Were None. There are so many elements to explore about the best selling mystery novel of all time, so let's dive in. American author Rachel Howzell Hall discusses her own take on the structure They All Fall Down, as well as why Christie's book is such an enduring classic. And Then There Were None: https://bookshop.org/a/87919/9780062073488 See Rachel Howzell Hall's...

*Spoilers for Crooked House throughout this episode!* In this episode of Tea & Murder, host Rebecca Thandi Norman welcomes author Marthe Jocelyn to discuss Crooked House. They talk about the nature of evil in Christie's work, the psychology of the killer, and how to write murders that young readers connect to. Marthe is the author of the Aggie Morton series, a middle-grade book series based on Agatha Christie as a young girl. See Marthe Jocelyn's...

For this instalment of the book club, host Rebecca Thandi Norman is joined by David Webb Jewels's Head of Archive and Brand Heritage Levi Higgs to discuss The Mystery of the Blue Train. Levi is a jewelry expert, decorative arts aficionado, and mystery-lover, but he hasn't read much Christie...until now! The two discuss jewelry as a narrative device in mysteries, what works about the book (and what doesn't), and whether or not the regular person on the street would know a famous diamond if it...

*Spoilers for Murder in Mesopotamia* Our guest this episode is Caroline Crampton, author and host of the Shedunnit podcast. We discuss Murder in Mesopotamia, a book set in an archeological dig. Christie knew dig sites well, and that's reflected in the details of this book. Rebecca and Caroline discuss how her experiences shaped the book, colonial elements of the narrative, and why this is such a great example of a "closed box" mystery. Listen to Shedunnit's episode on Agatha's...

Author and creator of Hill House Vintage Paula Sutton joins the show to talk about the Poirot classic, "Murder on the Orient Express." She and host Rebecca Thandi Norman discuss "vintage style, not vintage values," why we find certain aesthetics comforting, and why this particular mystery is so enduring. They also talk about the book's abrupt ending, as well as the real-life case it was based on. Learn more about Paula Sutton and buy her...

"Agatha Christie believed in evil..." Season 2 of Tea & Murder: An Agatha Christie Podcast is coming! Get a sneak peek of what's in store with our short trailer. Our first episode comes out on Tuesday, 26th September. We'll be discussing Murder on the Orient Express with Paula Sutton. Read it here: https://bookshop.org/a/87919/9780062073495 Have feedback for us? We'd love to hear from you! Email [email protected]. You can also follow us on Instagram at @teaandmurder. Hosted...

What does host Rebecca Thandi Norman think of the controversy surrounding word changes in Christie's books? Will the podcast be discussing film adaptations moving forward? Producer Kate and Rebecca discuss these questions and more in the second part of the listener Q&A. Season 2 begins next month! Please note that there is some feedback throughout the episode on producer Kate's microphone. Thanks for your patience with this small sound issue! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

In this bonus episode between seasons, host Rebecca Thandi Norman and producer Kate Krosschell answer listener questions, including Rebecca's favorite Christies, whether she reads anything else (spoiler: she does), and whether the show will ever cover film and TV adaptations. Mentioned in this episode: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster https://bookshop.org/a/87919/9780394820378 The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin https://bookshop.org/a/87919/9780765382030 We Don't Know Ourselves: A...

How different is the work of a real-life private investigator to the work of Hercule Poirot? In this episode, host Rebecca Thandi Norman interviews her sister (!) Ashley Norman, who is a former private investigator. They discuss how Poirot's work is similar to her own, whether there are really "famous" detectives, and the plot of The A.B.C. Murders. This is our last episode of season 1. Season 2 will start in fall 2023, but keep an eye out for a few fun episodes in between seasons this...

In the penultimate episode of season 1 of "Tea & Murder: An Agatha Christie Podcast," host Rebecca Thandi Norman speaks with the current author of the Hercule Poirot series (as well as many of her own books!) Sophie Hannah. Sophie discusses one of her favorite Christie mysteries: Evil Under the Sun, why Poirot never gets to take a vacation, and what makes for an ideal murder mystery location. She also talks through the process of taking on Poirot as a character but not taking on...

Author of the biography Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life (2007), Laura Thompson, discusses the fabulous Marple mystery set in a small English village, The Moving Finger. She and host Rebecca Thandi Norman talk about Christie's coded-LGBTQ+ characters, which parts of the book they "buy" (and which they don't!), and whether you can enjoy Christies if the ending has been spoiled. See Laura Thompson's website: http://www.laurathompson.co.uk/ Read Agatha Christie: A Mysterious...

Author of the Murder Most Unladylike and Ministry of Unladylike Activity series, Robin Stevens knows a thing or two about writing murder mysteries. Her focus is on Young Adult (YA) fiction. Robin and host Rebecca Thandi Norman discuss the Poirot mystery Hallowe'en Party, why they keep coming back to it although they agree that it's not Christie's best work, and what makes a murder mystery appropriate for young adult literature. Robin also talks about how Christie inspires her own work,...

Historian and writer Dr. John Curran joins the podcast this week to discuss his uncovering of Agatha Christie's secret notebooks and the book Five Little Pigs, a favorite of both he and host Rebecca Thandi Norman. Dr. Curran explains why he thinks people are currently overanalyzing Christie's work, while Rebecca makes the argument that certain analyses are necessary in order for a younger generation to enjoy the books today. Read Agatha Christie's Secret...

British journalist Kate Finnigan has been an Agatha Christie fan since childhood, but hasn't re-read any of her favorites in years. She and host Rebecca Thandi Norman discuss the Miss Marple classic The Body in the Library, what it's like to read Christie's work from a feminist perspective, and why Miss Marple is such a subversie character. Follow Kate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katefinnigan__/ Read "There's a Dead Body in My Library": Crime Fiction Texts and the History of...

It's a meeting of the Agatha Christie podcasts! Host of "All about Agatha" Kemper Donovan joins Rebecca Thandi Norman to discuss one of thelr least favorite books: The Secret of Chimneys. This is the second lowest-rated book on Kemper's podcast, so they're revisiting it to ask, is it really that bad? Turns out: kind of! Find out what both Kemper and Rebecca really think of this book, and why they're committed to reading the Agatha Christie books that they don't like. Kemper also discusses his...

Danish composer Matias Vestergård joins the podcast to discuss his love of the Orient Express (the train, not the book), writing an Agatha Christie-inspired opera, and why boats are such a great setting for both a mystery and, as it turns out, an opera. Listen to Matias's work: https://www.youtube.com/@matiasvestergardhansen6304 See Matias's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matias.vestergard/?hl=en Learn more about Lisbon...

Writer, stylist, and sustainable fashion expert Aja Barber reads her first Agatha Christie in order to discuss Cards on the Table with host Rebecca Thandi Norman. As an avid reader, what does Aja think of Christie's work, and will she be reading another mystery? Listen to her first impressions, including whether she'd want to hang out with Poirot and if she was able to solve the mystery herself. Aja and Rebecca discuss how to love imperfect books, what they read as children, and the joy in...

Host of the podcast "Normal Gossip," founder of Defector Media, and author Kelsey McKinney is on the podcast to chat about the story "The Four Suspects" in the book of Marple short stories The Thirteen Problems. Kelsey and host Rebecca Thandi Norman discuss how gossip and mysteries are intertwined, and what makes a good gossip versus a good mystery. They also talk about the biggest gossip-meets-mystery of all: when Agatha Christie disappeared in 1926! Listen to Kelsey's podcast, "Normal...