Agatha Christie was a mystery writer.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie , Lady Mallowan , DBE ( née Miller ; 15 September 1890 -- 12 January 1976 ) was an English crime novelist , short story writer and playwright . She also wrote the world 's longest-running play , a murder mystery , The Mousetrap , and six romances under the name Mary Westmacott . The Edgar Allan Poe Awards ( popularly called the Edgars ) , named after Edgar Allan Poe , are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America , based in New York City . They honor the best in mystery fiction , non-fiction , television , film , and theater published or produced in the previous year . The Mousetrap is a murder mystery play by Agatha Christie .