Author Val McDermid claims Agatha Christie’s estate has warned her over ‘Queen of Crime’ title
Scottish crime writer has called correspondence from Christie’s estate ‘astonishingly pitiful’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Crime author Val McDermid has claimed that the estate of Agatha Christie threatened possible legal action over her “Queen of Crime” nickname.
McDermid, who is known for writing suspense novels, including the Wire in the Blood series, was speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival when she had to refute a reference to her being the “unchallenged” Queen of Crime.
The author explained that her appreciation for Christie has resulted in her writing a short story called The Second Murder at the Vicarage, a sequel to Christie’s 1930 title.
Despite having had positive interactions with the Christie estate, her publishers reportedly received a letter from the late writer’s representatives due to the “Queen of Crime” moniker being used in reference to McDermid, instead of Christie.
McDermid said: “They said ‘you must cease and desist referring to Val McDermid as the Queen of Crime. We have trademarked this expression. If you call Val McDermid as the Queen of Crime, you will be in breach of copyright and this trademark.’”
The author said the alleged warning continued: “You may continue to quote other people calling her the Queen of Crime and obviously you cannot prevent someone calling her Queen of Crime on a platform during the event. But should you use this title elsewhere, in other ways, then you will be in breach and our lawyers will be in touch.”
McDermid then went on to explain that she’d also personally received a letter from Christie’s grandson, who helps to run the author’s estate.
“He said ‘you will imagine my shock when my train pulled into Waverley Station and a poster said ‘new from the Queen of Crime’. You must understand there is nothing personal in this, but we must protect my great grandmother’s legacy’,” McDermid said of the letter.
McDermid expressed her disagreement with the pushback over the title, adding: “Obviously if you see that on a poster you’re going to go ‘oh, Queen of Crime. We’re not going to read that Agatha Christie anymore are we?’ It’s just astonishingly pitiful.”
The Independent has reached out to the Agatha Christie estate for comment. Christie died in 1976.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments