Murder in Mesopotamia, Agatha Christie
Christie's lifelong passion with archeology in the Middle East takes flight in this 1936 book. A young nurse/companion, Amy Leatheran, is hired to work on an archaeologic dig in the desert miles from civilization. It is a chance for her to be on her own in an exotic location and have an adventure of a lifetime.
When one looks back at Christie's own life, it is easy to see the inspiration of this mystery. In 1928, reeling from her divorce from Archie Christie, Agatha set off on a solo adventure. She traveled via the Orient Express (and we know what book that train trip inspired!) to Egypt and then to Baghdad. While seeking to find a new direction and purpose to her life, Christie traveled to an archeological excavation at Ur where she was infected with an interest in archeology that spanned her life. It was at Ur, as well, that she met her future husband, Max Mallowan.
However, it took Christie almost 10 years to meld her own travels to the Middle East into Murder in Mesopotamia. In this intriguing mystery, when murder sweeps in across the sands, it is clear that this is more adventure than Christie experienced personally, or certainly that her character, Amy Leatheran, ever had in mind. It is lucky for Nurse Leatheran that Hercule Poirot is visiting the area and can be called on to investigate the clues.
Read our biography of Agatha Christie.
