Agatha Christie: The Indian hotel murder that inspired the queen of crime

Agatha Christie’s debut novel was inspired by a high-profile Indian hotel murder case, earning global attention and shaping the writer’s future literary career.

The sensational case, which made global headlines, is said to have influenced Christie’s first book.

Agatha Christie, often referred to as the “queen of crime,” demonstrated a keen understanding of crime narratives, evident in her debut novel, “The Mysterious Affair at Styles.” Published in 1920, this whodunit revolves around the murder of wealthy Emily Inglethorp, with suspicions cast upon her much younger second husband by the entire Inglethorp family and her confidante, Evelyn Howard.

The novel introduces Hercule Poirot, one of Christie’s iconic detectives, and follows the formula of multiple suspects, surprising twists, cleverly hidden clues, and the eventual revelation of the culprit. However, what sets this work apart is its believed inspiration from a real-life murder that occurred over a century ago in Mussoorie, a popular hill retreat in northern India.

In September 1911, Frances Garnett Orme was discovered dead in her Savoy hotel room, poisoned with prussic acid. The ensuing trial of her friend, Eva Mount Stephens, captivated global attention due to its peculiar circumstances. Newspapers, both in Britain and abroad, provided detailed coverage with headlines like ‘Mussoorie murder trial,’ ‘hotel mystery,’ and the ‘crystal gazing trial.’

Renowned Indian author Ruskin Bond, a resident of Mussoorie, drew a connection between this infamous murder and Christie’s inaugural book in one of his essays. According to Bond, Christie utilized the details of the real crime as it had created a significant sensation during its time.

According to reports, Orme had resided in India for over a decade, forming a friendship with Stephens, a spiritualist from Lucknow. Orme, described as a “lonely woman,” allegedly acquired knowledge of crystal-gazing and occult practices from Stephens.

During their stay at the Savoy, Stephens claimed to have cared for the ailing Orme. However, the prosecution accused Stephens of poisoning Orme to gain from her substantial inheritance, including money, necklaces, and jewelry.

The defense countered, asserting that Orme took her own life due to persistent grief over the death of the man she intended to marry in India and her deteriorating health.

The case puzzled many, including the police, due to its intricate details. Notably, the investigation revealed that Stephens had left for Lucknow before Orme’s death. Furthermore, the room where Orme was found deceased was locked from the inside.

The police found no medications in Orme’s room except for sleeping pills and two labels—one for arsenic and the other for prussic acid. In the early 1900s, buyers had to sign for purchased drugs, but the prosecution argued that the signature for prussic acid did not match Orme’s.

Additionally, Stephens reportedly predicted Orme’s death months before it occurred, expressing concerns about Orme marrying a physician and leaving her wealth to him.

The defense maintained that Stephens was a devoted companion with no evidence of her purchasing or administering poison. Ultimately, Stephens was acquitted, and the judge commented that the “true circumstances of Ms. Orme’s death would probably never be known.”

In Christie’s novel, there are striking parallels with real-life events. Emily, like Orme, succumbs to poisoning within a locked room. The twist unfolds when Evelyn, Emily’s companion, is revealed as the culprit. Ingeniously, Evelyn obtains the poison in disguise, forging a signature, and harbors a financial motive for the murder. Departing from the Inglethorp residence well before Emily’s demise, the question of how she executed the crime remains a mystery, a puzzle only solvable by the brilliant detective Poirot.

Decades later, the enduring similarities between these cases continue to captivate enthusiasts. At the 2022 International Agatha Christie Festival, Indian crime writer Manjiri Prabhu highlighted the intriguing connection between Christie’s inaugural novel and the Mussoorie murder, adding another layer of fascination for dedicated fans.

Christie was not the sole author drawing inspiration from poison-related incidents in India. Cecil Walsh recounted a crime of passion that transpired in Agra, then part of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh in British-ruled India, which sent shockwaves globally. In his work, “The Agra Double Murder: A Crime of Passion from the Raj,” Walsh details the plot orchestrated by Augusta Fullam, an Englishwoman residing in Meerut city, and Dr. Clark, an Anglo-Indian man. Together, they conspired to poison their respective spouses with the aim of being together.

Similar to the prevalence of poisoning cases in the US and Europe during the 19th Century, India experienced a surge in such incidents. The unregulated sale of toxic substances, particularly arsenic, was a contributing factor. In “Toxic Histories: Poison and Pollution in Modern India,” David Arnold highlights how arsenic poisonings played a crucial role in the formulation of the Indian Poisons Act in 1904, aimed at regulating the sale and usage of poisons.

In his book, Arnold notes that when the UP government reviewed the Poisons Act in 1914, they referenced two notorious poisoning cases in the province from recent years—the Orme murder and the Fullam-Clark case.

While true crime continues to enthrall audiences across various mediums like films, podcasts, and web shows, fans of Christie will forever hold “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” in high regard within this intriguing genre.

This captivating incident would later serve as the backdrop for Agatha Christie’s iconic novel, ‘The Murder on the Orient Express’. The intriguing nature of the case, along with its exotic location and enthralling characters, left an indelible mark on the budding author’s imagination. Christie’s visit to India and encounter with the hotel murder became a significant source of inspiration for her future works, solidifying her reputation as a master of the mystery genre. Stay tuned for more fascinating insights into this enthralling tale that shaped the literary prowess of Agatha Christie, the unrivaled queen of crime!