Did a real-life murder inspire Agatha Christie’s debut novel?

Agatha Christie’s debut novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, is set in England and revolves around the suspicious death of Emily Inglethorp and the subsequent investigation that ensues. However, speculation abounds that Christie’s narrative was inspired by a real-life murder that took place in Mussoorie, India. If you don’t mind spoilers, read on…

Agatha Christie, the “queen of crime,” is known for her intricate plots and unforgettable characters. Her very first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, published in 1920, introduced the world to the brilliant detective Hercule Poirot.  The story revolves around a wealthy woman’s murder within a family rife with tension, a classic setup for a Christie whodunit. But did this plot have a real-life inspiration that unfolded over a century ago in India?

In 1911, a real-life murder case in the hill-station Mussoorie, India, sent shockwaves across the globe. Frances Garnett Orme, a 49-year-old woman, was found dead in her hotel room, poisoned with prussic acid (according to the post-mortem report). Her friend, Eva Mount Stephens, a 36-year-old spiritualist, became the prime suspect. 

The case captivated the world’s attention with its twists and turns. The locked room (where the deceased victim was found), the alleged financial motive, and Stephens’ supposed prediction of Orme’s death fueled the media frenzy.  The trial, dubbed the “Mussoorie murder trial” or the “crystal gazing trial” by newspapers,  became a public spectacle. 

In the end, Stephens was acquitted, leaving the true cause of Orme’s death shrouded in mystery. However, the parallels between this real-life drama and Christie’s debut novel are undeniable.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles features Emily Inglethorp, a wealthy woman, poisoned to death.  Just like Orme, Emily’s body is found in a room which is locked from the inside. During the investigation, it is speculated that the culprit, Emily’s companion Evelyn, poisoned her with a motive of financial gain. 

The parallels between the Mussoorie murder and The Mysterious Affair at Styles are irrefutable. Author Ruskin Bond, a resident of Mussoorie, even wrote about this connection in one of his essays. Indian crime writer Manjiri Prabhu further fueled the speculation by highlighting the “interesting connect” at the International Agatha Christie Festival in 2022 according to a BBC report.

Unlike Stephens, who was ultimately acquitted,(spoiler alert!!) Evelyn is the murderer in Christie’s novel. Additionally, the methods of poisoning and the alibis of the suspects differ in each case.