The Agatha Christie Cure What Reading the Queen of Crime Taught Me About Life
- 10 Sep 2026
- 9781837262885
- £20
- 352 pp
- 141×220mm
- 10 Sep 2026
- 9781837262892
- £15.99
- 256 pp
- 10 Sep 2026
- 9781837262908
- £25
- 8 hrs 16 min
In a few words
A moving memoir and thrilling journey about the mystery at the heart of the Queen of Crime’s life, from bestselling Cathy Rentzenbrink
In a few words
A moving memoir and thrilling journey about the mystery at the heart of the Queen of Crime’s life, from bestselling Cathy Rentzenbrink
In a few words
A moving memoir and thrilling journey about the mystery at the heart of the Queen of Crime’s life, from bestselling Cathy Rentzenbrink
Following the end of her marriage, Rentzenbrink sought comfort and escapism – so why not turn to Agatha Christie, her first literary love? Challenging herself to read each of her novels in order, while delving into the ups and downs of Christie’s own life, she discovered there is much we can all learn from the consummate crime writer
The Best New Books To Read In September 2026
The iPaperAgatha turns out to be the ultimate life coach in this joyous amalgam of a read. An easy book to befriend
Matt Haig
Agatha turns out to be the ultimate life coach in this joyous amalgam of a read. An easy book to befriend
Matt Haig
Beautiful, warm and clever. I want to press it into the hands of everyone I love
Daisy Buchanan
Agatha turns out to be the ultimate life coach in this joyous amalgam of a read. An easy book to befriend
Matt Haig
Beautiful, warm and clever. I want to press it into the hands of everyone I love
Daisy Buchanan
More about
the book
‘Joyous’ MATT HAIG
‘I want to press it into the hands of everyone I love’ DAISY BUCHANAN
‘Beautiful, moving, surprising’ PHILIPPA PERRY
‘Hugely readable’ OLIVER BURKEMAN
‘A gorgeous, immersive read’ SAMANTHA ELLIS
One Christmas, Cathy Rentzenbrink finds herself drained by life’s upheavals. In need of comfort and escape, she turns to her first literary love: Agatha Christie.
As Cathy delves into Agatha’s novels and her mysterious disappearance in 1926, she discovers more than she expected. Beyond the hidden jewels, detectives and thrilling escapes on trains and automobiles, Cathy unearths an adventurer and innovator who hid – within the pages of her own books – the secrets of how she survived a personal crisis and started life again. With the Queen of Crime at her side, Cathy soon begins finding answers to questions she hadn’t even realised she was asking.
A literary detective story and a memoir of finding hope in reading, this journey into the heart of the most successful writer of the 20th century is the perfect tonic for anyone in search of life-affirming resilience, and proof that if ever you’re lonely, tired and in need of solace, getting in the bath with an Agatha Christie is always an excellent idea.
More about
the book
‘Joyous’ MATT HAIG
‘I want to press it into the hands of everyone I love’ DAISY BUCHANAN
‘Beautiful, moving, surprising’ PHILIPPA PERRY
‘Hugely readable’ OLIVER BURKEMAN
‘A gorgeous, immersive read’ SAMANTHA ELLIS
One Christmas, Cathy Rentzenbrink finds herself drained by life’s upheavals. In need of comfort and escape, she turns to her first literary love: Agatha Christie.
As Cathy delves into Agatha’s novels and her mysterious disappearance in 1926, she discovers more than she expected. Beyond the hidden jewels, detectives and thrilling escapes on trains and automobiles, Cathy unearths an adventurer and innovator who hid – within the pages of her own books – the secrets of how she survived a personal crisis and started life again. With the Queen of Crime at her side, Cathy soon begins finding answers to questions she hadn’t even realised she was asking.
A literary detective story and a memoir of finding hope in reading, this journey into the heart of the most successful writer of the 20th century is the perfect tonic for anyone in search of life-affirming resilience, and proof that if ever you’re lonely, tired and in need of solace, getting in the bath with an Agatha Christie is always an excellent idea.
More about
the book
‘Joyous’ MATT HAIG
‘I want to press it into the hands of everyone I love’ DAISY BUCHANAN
‘Beautiful, moving, surprising’ PHILIPPA PERRY
‘Hugely readable’ OLIVER BURKEMAN
‘A gorgeous, immersive read’ SAMANTHA ELLIS
One Christmas, Cathy Rentzenbrink finds herself drained by life’s upheavals. In need of comfort and escape, she turns to her first literary love: Agatha Christie.
As Cathy delves into Agatha’s novels and her mysterious disappearance in 1926, she discovers more than she expected. Beyond the hidden jewels, detectives and thrilling escapes on trains and automobiles, Cathy unearths an adventurer and innovator who hid – within the pages of her own books – the secrets of how she survived a personal crisis and started life again. With the Queen of Crime at her side, Cathy soon begins finding answers to questions she hadn’t even realised she was asking.
A literary detective story and a memoir of finding hope in reading, this journey into the heart of the most successful writer of the 20th century is the perfect tonic for anyone in search of life-affirming resilience, and proof that if ever you’re lonely, tired and in need of solace, getting in the bath with an Agatha Christie is always an excellent idea.
Beautiful, warm and clever. I want to press it into the hands of everyone I love
Daisy Buchanan
One of those books that felt like an old friend, from the very first page. So honest, and funny and somehow . . . kind. It made me want to read a little Christie, it made me want to read all of Rentzenbrink. I’ll return to it again and again
Meg Mason
Beautiful, moving, surprising. Feels like an intimate friend; the sort of book you want to reread because it is such good company
Philippa Perry
[Cathy Rentzenbrink] writes about the human soul with remarkable insight, and I know this book will resonate with many readers
Nina Pottell
PrimaOne of those books that felt like an old friend, from the very first page. So honest, and funny and somehow . . . kind. It made me want to read a little Christie, it made me want to read all of Rentzenbrink. I’ll return to it again and again
Meg Mason
Beautiful, moving, surprising. Feels like an intimate friend; the sort of book you want to reread because it is such good company
Philippa Perry
A hugely readable and illuminating memoir that's ultimately about something we could all benefit from, these days: the power of the imagination to help us navigate tumultuous times
Oliver Burkeman
Part memoir, part meditation on the life and work of Agatha Christie, The Agatha Christie Cure is moving, enlightening, hopeful and a joy to read.
Paula Hawkins
One of those books that felt like an old friend, from the very first page. So honest, and funny and somehow . . . kind. It made me want to read a little Christie, it made me want to read all of Rentzenbrink. I’ll return to it again and again
Meg Mason
Beautiful, moving, surprising. Feels like an intimate friend; the sort of book you want to reread because it is such good company
Philippa Perry
A hugely readable and illuminating memoir that's ultimately about something we could all benefit from, these days: the power of the imagination to help us navigate tumultuous times
Oliver Burkeman
Part memoir, part meditation on the life and work of Agatha Christie, The Agatha Christie Cure is moving, enlightening, hopeful and a joy to read.
Paula Hawkins
Cathy Rentzenbrink
View profileCathy Rentzenbrink is the Sunday Times top ten bestselling author of The Last Act of Love, Dear Reader, How to Feel Better, Everyone Is Still Alive and Ordinary Time. She is a renowned book reviewer and literary festival panellist and host. Prior to writing her own books, Cathy was a passionate bookseller at Waterstones, working in seven different branches before becoming Publisher Relations Manager for the group. After that she became Project Director at literacy charity Quick Reads, then Books Editor at the Bookseller. She runs the Curtis Brown memoir-writing course and the highly popular online ‘Sunday Sessions’.
@CatRentzenbrink | cathyreadsbooks.com
Cathy Rentzenbrink
View profileCathy Rentzenbrink is the Sunday Times top ten bestselling author of The Last Act of Love, Dear Reader, How to Feel Better, Everyone Is Still Alive and Ordinary Time. She is a renowned book reviewer and literary festival panellist and host. Prior to writing her own books, Cathy was a passionate bookseller at Waterstones, working in seven different branches before becoming Publisher Relations Manager for the group. After that she became Project Director at literacy charity Quick Reads, then Books Editor at the Bookseller. She runs the Curtis Brown memoir-writing course and the highly popular online ‘Sunday Sessions’.
@CatRentzenbrink | cathyreadsbooks.com
Cathy Rentzenbrink
View profileCathy Rentzenbrink is the Sunday Times top ten bestselling author of The Last Act of Love, Dear Reader, How to Feel Better, Everyone Is Still Alive and Ordinary Time. She is a renowned book reviewer and literary festival panellist and host. Prior to writing her own books, Cathy was a passionate bookseller at Waterstones, working in seven different branches before becoming Publisher Relations Manager for the group. After that she became Project Director at literacy charity Quick Reads, then Books Editor at the Bookseller. She runs the Curtis Brown memoir-writing course and the highly popular online ‘Sunday Sessions’.
@CatRentzenbrink | cathyreadsbooks.com
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From our newsletter: Cathy Rentzenbrink on her commitment to the Queen of Crime and how it led to The Agatha Christie Cure.
