Known as the Queen of Crime and the Mistress of Mystery, Agatha Christie is the world’s most well-known mystery writer; her work has been outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. Recently she has also earned a reputation as a significant literary artist, and is now receiving serious attention by scholars, literary critics, social critics and even scientists, who have noted that her language patterns stimulate higher than usual activity in the brain. In discussing her classic mysteries, we will examine the considerable uncertainty and disorder underneath her seemingly cozy worlds, which, far from remaining conservative enclaves, address modern times, modern problems, and the realities of war, social change, and unraveling traditions, emerging modernities. We will also examine themes of illusion and truth, appearance and reality, criminal psychology as well as Christie’s highly inventive optimistic curiosity and dark suspense. Readings will feature diabolically clever criminals as well as her great detectives, including her two major sleuths, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Readings: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Murder at The Vicarage, The A.B.C. Murders, Towards Zero, N or M?, The Hollow, And Then There Were None, Death on the Nile, Murder on the Orient Express, A Murder is Announced, Death Comes As the End, At Bertram’s Hotel, Curtain.