Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, DBE (nee Miller; 15 September 1890 - 12 January 1976) was an English crime novelist, short story writer, and playwright. She also wrote six romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best known for the 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections she wrote under her own name, most of which revolve around the investigations of such characters as Hercule Poirot, Miss Jane Marple and Tommy and Tuppence. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, 'The Mousetrap.' The Guinness Book of World Records lists Christie as the best-selling novelist