Plot Synopsis

AGATHA CHRISTIE: LUCY WORSLEY ON THE MYSTERY QUEEN is a three-part documentary series that features historian Lucy Worsley, who explores the life of Agatha Christie, the most successful novelist of all time, outsold only by Shakespeare and the Bible. Across 75 novels, plays and countless short stories, she revolutionized the detective genre for over a century -- but the real woman behind the literary persona has long remained an enigma. The series made its U.S. debut on Sunday, December 3, 2023 on PBS, with a new installment airing weekly through December 17:

"Cat Among the Pigeons" (U.S. Premiere on Sunday, December 3, 2023 on PBS): Lucy explores Agatha Christie's early life and the origins of her talent for murder mysteries, unearthing the inspiration for some of her greatest characters and the secrets that the enigmatic Christie kept carefully hidden from public view. Lucy's investigation follows the trail of pivotal moments in Christie's life and the nation's experience to weave a picture of a woman who was both of her time, and thoroughly ahead of it. She explores how, far from being cozy whodunnits, Christie's early books tap into and capture the social upheavals of one of the most tumultuous periods of the 20th century. Like the best Agatha Christie stories, Worsley's exploration is laced with charm, suspense, a sprinkling of humour and a compelling cast of characters. Interviewees include James Prichard, Chairman of Agatha Christie Ltd and great grandson of Agatha Christie; Katie Adie, author and former BBC war correspondent; Sarah Phelps, screenwriter; Ali Marshall, Head Gardener, Torre Abbey and curator of the Poison Garden; and Jamie Bernthal, Agatha Christie expert.

"Destination Unknown" (U.S. Premiere on Sunday, December 10, 2023 on PBS): Lucy investigates Agatha Christie's shocking disappearance in 1926, her subsequent discovery and memory loss, and reveals the profound influence this experience had on her writing. On the evening of December 3, 1926, Agatha Christie left her home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, in her Morris Cowley. The next morning, her car was found abandoned, balanced precariously on the edge of a quarry. Agatha's coat, suitcase and driver's license were inside, but the author had disappeared. What followed was the biggest manhunt in Britain and front-page newspaper coverage. Was this a publicity stunt? A hoax? Or was Agatha the victim of foul play? Ten days later Agatha was discovered in a hotel in Harrogate, claiming to have lost her memory. Lucy delves into this traumatic, watershed moment in Agatha's life, visiting key locations from the chalk pit where Agatha crashed her car to Abney Hall, the grand house where she took refuge and which would go on to inspire several of her books. Lucy reveals connections between Agatha's real-life experiences and her novels and uncovers new evidence about Agatha's mental health and the cutting-edge psychiatric treatment she received. In the late 1920s Agatha had experienced betrayal, bereavement, divorce and writer's block, but also had her first encounters with the movies and journeyed to Iraq, an experience that would boost her confidence and begin her reinvention and recovery. It was in this period the author created perhaps her most famous character: the tenacious, elderly sleuth, Miss Marple. Lucy uncovers the factors that shaped this beloved protagonist and discusses her subversive brilliance with some modern authors including Kate Mosse, Jean Kwok and Ruth Ware. Other contributors include Edgar Jones, Professor in History of Medicine & Psychiatry at King's College London; Claire Hilton, Former Consultant Psychiatrist and Historian in Residence at the Royal College of Psychiatrists; Adrian Bingham, Professor of Modern British History, University of Sheffield; Zainab Bahrani, Edith Porada Professor of Ancient Near Eastern Art & Archaeology, Columbia University and Mark Aldridge, author of "Agatha Christie On Film."

"Unfinished Portrait" (U.S. Premiere on Sunday, December 17, 2023 on PBS): Lucy examines Agatha Christie's later life and discovers how, amid the turbulent social and political change of the 1930s and 1940s, newfound personal happiness ushered in a golden age for her writing. In 1930, recovering from a personal crisis, Agatha Christie traveled to the Middle East. On an archaeological dig in Iraq, she met Max Mallowan and, despite an age difference of 14 years, they fell in love and married. It was this relationship and the security it brought that saw Agatha enter the most prolific and successful chapter of her career. During this period Agatha would pen some of her most famous and enduring bestsellers, including "Murder On The Orient Express." Lucy follows in Agatha's footsteps to discover the origin of these works, from the luxurious Egyptian steam ship that inspired "Death On The Nile" to the picturesque Devon coast, where Lucy explores Burgh Island, the inspiration for her most successful and most controversial mystery, And Then There Were None. Lucy reveals how in later life, Agatha achieved global celebrity but remained the anonymous observer, hiding in plain sight. She uncovers the surprising 'true crime' story that inspired Agatha to write "The Mousetrap," the longest running play in history. And she discovers how, in old age, the novelist finally embraced the lure of Hollywood, securing a legacy for her stories for future generations. Contributors include Elena Pischikova and Katherine Blakeney, South Asasif Conservation Project; Professor Frankie Bailey, Crime Historian and author; Dr Julius Green, author of "Agatha Christie: A Life In Theatre"; and Caroline Crampton, author and podcaster