Books by Mary Westmacott

Absent in the Spring A Novel

by Agatha Christie, Mary Westmacott

A captivating novel of self-discovery by Agatha Christie, written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott.

Agatha Christie, famous for her ingenious crime novels, also wrote about crimes of the heart. Written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, Christie's tales of romantic suspense further explore the human psychology she was so intrigued by, freed from the expectations of her mystery fans.

In one of six novels written under this nom de plume, Absent in the Spring tells the story of Joan Scudmore who, returning from a visit to her daughter in Iraq, finds herself unexpectedly alone and stranded in an isolated rest house by flooding of the railway tracks. This sudden solitude compels Joan to assess her life for the first time ever and face up to many difficult truths about herself. Looking back over the years, Joan painfully re-examines her attitudes, relationships and actions and becomes increasingly uneasy about the person who is revealed to her...

A Daughter's a Daughter A Novel

by Agatha Christie, Mary Westmacott

A powerful tale of the love--and jealousy-- between mothers and daughters by Agatha Christie, written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott.

Agatha Christie, famous for her ingenious crime novels, also wrote about crimes of the heart. Written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, Christie's tales of romantic suspense further explore the human psychology she was so intrigued by, freed from the expectations of her mystery fans.

In Christie's fifth novel published as Mary Westmacott, the love between a mother and daughter turns to jealousy and bitterness. Ann Prentice falls in love with Richard Cauldfield and hopes for new happiness. Her only child, Sarah, cannot come to terms with the idea of her mother marrying again and wrecks any chance of her remarriage. Resentment and jealousy corrode their relationship as each seeks relief in different directions. Are mother and daughter destined to be enemies for life, or will their underlying love for each other win through?

Giant's Bread A Novel

by Agatha Christie, Mary Westmacott

A spellbinding novel of romantic obsession by Agatha Christie, written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott.

Agatha Christie, famous for her ingenious crime novels, also wrote about crimes of the heart. Written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, Christie's tales of romantic suspense further explore the human psychology she was so intrigued by, freed from the expectations of her mystery fans.

In the first of six novels written under this nom de plume, Giant's Bread tells the story of Vernon Deyre, a young composer who reinvents his identity after being declared dead in World War I. Vernon Deyre is a sensitive and brilliant musician, even a genius. But there is a high price to be paid for his talent, especially by his family and the two women in his life. His sheltered childhood in the home he loves has not prepared Vernon for the harsh reality of his adult years, and in order to write the great masterpiece of his life, he has to make a crucial decision with no time left to count the cost...

Giant's Bread is a bittersweet tale of passion and ambition. Critically acclaimed upon publication, it was published fifteen years before Mary Westmacott's true identity was revealed.

The Rose and the Yew Tree A Novel

by Agatha Christie, Mary Westmacott

A cautionary tale of social climbing by Agatha Christie, written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott.

Agatha Christie, famous for her ingenious crime novels, also wrote about crimes of the heart. Written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, Christie's tales of romantic suspense further explore the human psychology she was so intrigued by, freed from the expectations of her mystery fans.

The Rose and the Yew Tree tells the story of Isabella Charteris, a beautiful, sheltered aristocrat who everyone expected to marry her cousin Rupert when he came back from the War. It would have been such a suitable marriage. How strange then that John Gabriel, an ambitious and ruthless war hero, should appear in her life. For Isabella, the price of love would mean abandoning her dreams of home and happiness forever. For Gabriel, it would destroy his chance of a career and all his ambitions...

A favorite of both Agatha Christie and her daughter Rosalind, this story examines the darker side of class divisions and the price of ambition.

Unfinished Portrait A Novel

by Agatha Christie, Mary Westmacott

An unforgettable tale of a woman at her most vulnerable by Agatha Christie, written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott.

Agatha Christie, famous for her ingenious crime novels, also wrote about crimes of the heart. Written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, Christie's tales of romantic suspense further explore the human psychology she was so intrigued by, freed from the expectations of her mystery fans.

Bereft of the three people she has held most dear--her mother, her husband and her daughter--Celia is on the verge of suicide. Then one night on an exotic island, she meets Larraby, a successful portrait painter. Through a long night of talk, she reveals she is afraid to commit herself to a second chance at happiness with another person, yet is not brave enough to face life alone. Can Larraby help Celia come to terms with the past, or will they part ways, her outcome still uncertain?

Unfinished Portrait is both poignant and personal, borrowing details from the author's own life to create an unforgettable and bittersweet love story.