Agatha Christie was a prolific English crime novelist, short story writer, and playwright. She is best known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those featuring her famous detective characters Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Her works have been adapted into numerous films, television series, and plays, and her books have sold over two billion copies in the English language and a billion in other languages. Christie was born in Torquay, Devon, in 1890 and began writing fiction in her early twenties. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, was published in 1920 and introduced the character of Hercule Poirot. She wrote six novels featuring Poirot, and her other detective characters include Miss Marple, Parker Pyne, Harley Quin, and Tommy and Tuppence. Christie's works are known for their clever plots, intricate puzzles, and unexpected twists. She was also a master of suspense, often using red herrings and false clues to keep readers guessing until the very end. Her novels have been translated into over 100 languages, and she is the world's best-selling novelist of all time.