Agatha Christie is often hailed as the “queen of crime” for her captivating mystery novels that have entertained readers for decades. Her very first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, introduced readers to the iconic detective Hercule Poirot and set the stage for Christie’s future works filled with shocking twists and multiple suspects. But what many readers don’t know is that this groundbreaking novel was inspired by a real-life murder that took place over a century ago in Mussoorie, a popular hill retreat in northern India.
In September 1911, Frances Garnett Orme was found dead in her room at the Savoy, an upmarket hotel known for its luxurious accommodations. The post-mortem report revealed that Orme had been poisoned with prussic acid, a cyanide-based poison. Her friend, Eva Mount Stephens, was accused of her murder, and the case quickly made global headlines due to the peculiar circumstances surrounding it.
Orme, a lonely woman, had been living in India for over a decade and had befriended Stephens, a spiritualist who hailed from Lucknow city. The two had stayed together at the Savoy, with Stephens looking after Orme during her poor health. However, the prosecution alleged that Stephens had administered the poison to benefit from Orme’s will, which left her a substantial sum of money and valuable jewelry.
The case took many unexpected twists and turns, confounding both the police and the public. Stephens had left for Lucknow before Orme’s death, and the room in which Orme’s body was found was locked from the inside. The police found no medicines in Orme’s room, except for a bottle of sleeping pills and two labels – one for arsenic and the other for prussic acid. The signature on the prussic acid label did not match the one on Orme’s letters, further adding to the mystery.
During the trial, Stephens’ defense argued that Orme had taken her own life due to unceasing grief and poor health. They portrayed Stephens as a devoted companion with no evidence connecting her to the purchase or administration of the poison. In the end, Stephens was acquitted, and the true circumstances of Orme’s death remained unknown.
It is these real-life events that Christie drew from to create The Mysterious Affair at Styles. In her novel, the character Emily also dies from poisoning, and her body is found in a locked room. The big reveal at the end unveils Evelyn, Emily’s companion, as the murderer. She had purchased the poison using a forged signature and had a financial motive for the crime.
The similarities between the Mussoorie murder and Christie’s novel continue to intrigue fans and crime enthusiasts. Indian crime writer Manjiri Prabhu spoke about the interesting connection between the two cases at the International Agatha Christie Festival in 2022. It is fascinating to see how real-life events can inspire iconic works of fiction that captivate audiences worldwide.
The Mussoorie murder and Christie’s novel are not the only instances of poison-related crimes in India’s history. Poisonings, particularly using arsenic, were common in the 19th century, mainly due to the unregulated sale of toxic substances. Notorious cases like the Orme murder and the Fullam-Clark case prompted the Indian government to pass the Indian Poisons Act in 1904 to regulate the sale and use of poisons.
True crime remains a popular genre that captivates audiences through various mediums like films, podcasts, and web shows. However, Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles will always hold a special place in this genre, not only as her debut novel but also as a work inspired by a real-life murder that continues to intrigue readers to this day.
