Agatha Christie

I think I’m going to have to go with Agatha Christie for the writer imitation. She is a writer I truly enjoy, and she has a fairly distinct writing style. Christie’s books usually focus on murder mysteries. She likes to create suspects out of almost every character, and to do so, she establishes almost all of her characters and at least part of their conflicts at the beginning of the novel. Often times, she will introduce the minor characters before the main character. These characters often are traveling to meet the main character. They may have connections with one another, or they may not have a connection to any other characters except the main character. Christie reveals these characters through their thoughts, so they speak for themselves. This way of constructing the story allows Christie to create an intriguing mystery that is hard to solve. Since Christie puts so much effort on creating the characters and setting, I will do the same for this blog.

***
“Annie White?” the conductor called out to the crowded train station while searching for the young mistress. Finally, his eyes lighted on the spot where an elderly lady had just been knocked to the ground, and he saw Ms. White pull herself forward out of the mess. “Ah, there you are miss, your compartment is waiting,” the conductor continued.
“Yes, thank you. But would you mind telling me what you are waiting for,” she retorted as she moved out in front of the conductor, “I would like to get to my compartment before the rest of this riff-raff is allowed through.”
“Uh…C-certainly Ms. White, as you wish.”

***
George Tate, more commonly known as Georgie at home, was quite anxious to reach London. He had never had the opportunity to travel out of the country before, and was more than excited to hear what the famous writer had to say about his first attempt at a novel. He had heard great things about the writer and his family, and couldn’t wait to meet them. As the plane began its descent into the Heathrow airport, Georgie couldn’t help but thinking, “I wonder if Mr. Lovell has any eligible daughters living at home at this point. I wouldn’t mind pulling out the old cologne to spice up the atmosphere.”

***
Amelia Lovell, ignoring the calls from the maid, sat holed up in her room, as she often did, reading her hundredth fantasy novel. She had read all of David’s already, and had moved on to any others she could find. As she heard the bell ring and the front door swing open, she couldn’t help but allow her thoughts to drift towards Annie. “I bet she’s already dumped her unfortunate second husband,” Amelia thought miserably. “That poor, kind-hearted boy; if only he had known what he was getting into with Annie. All he had wanted for her was to be happy; or at least, that’s what he said. And now, with David’s guest coming, who knows where Annie’s interests will go.”

***
Having left his second novel of the year lying open on his desk in mid-sentence, David Lovell went out to meet his daughter at the door. “Annie, sweetheart, I’m so glad you could come home this week. I wish I could say the same for your mother, but you know how she gets. She’s been holed up in the bedroom all week with one of those fake fantasy books that she got at the corner market.”
“Oh, I’m so glad I made it here in one piece,” she replied. “You would think a high rate locomotive wouldn’t be too far short of pleasant, but it’s nothing to the comfort of this home. Where is the novice writer you wrote me about?”
“He should be here any second…In fact, did you hear that? That sounded like the door on the spare Cadillac being closed. I think Frank must just have made it back with him from the airport. Shall we go out to meet him?” Upon receiving a slight nod from Annie, David bounded down the front steps with his arms outstretched in welcome.
“It’s so nice that you could make it, Mr. Tate; I can’t wait to get to know you. I’m sure you had a good trip?”
“Oh, please call me Georgie. And yes, it certainly was sir. I hope I can meet your expectations, I’ve been so anxious this week.”
“Yes, I’m sure you’ll have some wonderful ideas,” David replied, turning to head everyone into the house. Walking into the front entry way, he thought to himself, “Oh how easy this one will be to manipulate…”