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 . Crime fiction . Suspense and mystery are key elements that are nearly ubiquitous to the genre . Edgar Award . They honor the best in mystery fiction , non-fiction , television , film , and theater published or produced in the previous year .