How did Agatha Christie develop her detective plots?
My plots are built upon an intimate understanding of human nature, its frailties and its capacity for deception. I begin with the effect – the crime – and then work backward, meticulously constructing the cause. It is essential to place the clues carefully, not too obviously, but present nonetheless. The reader should have the opportunity to solve the mystery alongside my detectives, but they must be led astray by red herrings and the sheer unexpectedness of human behaviour. As I always say, one can never be too careful in the placement of details.
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