I was never a “OMG AGATHA CHRISTIE IS THE BEST!” but have appreciated what I have read. There were a few things I knew about her style, such as she was not going to be an easy read for someone used to contemporary writing and she would have references not really “okay” for today’s mindset. But what I didn’t know was how she got to be considered one of the greatest writers of mystery ever.
This picture book by Robyn McGrath does a fantastic job of introducing us to Christie. A Mind of Her Own: The Story of Mystery Writer Agatha Christie shows how the youngest child of three would be influenced by and shaped by even the smallest of things. The fact her older siblings were over 10 years older than her meant she was alone with her imagination. She was not a writer, but a person of math and numbers. She was a bit of a dreamer but always had her mind on the prize. Liz Wong shapes this with colorful, but not overwhelming images. The illustrations have a classic feel. They are not “computer” looking and fit the times and tones of what Christie seems to be. They are busy and detailed, like Christie would be when she was hunting down the mystery. 
There are many details that are delightful and could make you want to read not only more about her, but read her works. That is, if you’re an adult. Since poison, murder and mayhem play a role in her books, I do find Agatha Christie as an odd choice for a picture book subject. However, it is always good to know about female authors and authors who are not stereotypically considered authors for a genre.
