Welcome to All About Agatha, the podcast dedicated to reading and ranking every single mystery novel written by the Queen of Crime, Dame Agatha Christie.

I am Kemper Donovan, and for the fourth year in a row, I am here in lovely Torquay.

It actually is kind of lovely today, in the south of England at the Agatha Christie Festival

for a live episode of the podcast, this time all about true crime in Christi's work.

However, this is the first year that I have dared to appear all by myself

up here on the stage in the Spanish barn. The first year, when All About Agatha made a virtual

appearance, I still had my late co-creator and co-host, Catherine Brobeck, by my side. And every year

thereafter, I have appeared with a panel of experts, but this

year I do not have the academic muscle of a Mark Aldridge or a John Curran or a Jamie

Bernthal Hooker behind me. There is a distinct dearth of doctoral degrees up on this dais.

So this could all go sideways.

But let's get started because I have a lot to pack into this presentation

if I want to leave time for questions, which I really do.

First, I just have to thank the festival organizers for all that they do.

Heather and Matt, you're the best.

It really is such a joy to come here every year.

But I particularly want to thank Joe Barlow, who does all of the coordinating.

She is the reason this festival runs as smoothly as it does.

She's also in charge of the volunteers, all those people wearing blue shirts,

who makes such a difference every year. Your efforts are very much appreciated,

and I would just love to give all these folks a big round of applause right now.

All right, I'm going to give you all a general and blanket spoiler warning,

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