Annotated Agatha Christie Bingo

The Narratologist has a great series of literary bingo cards, which gently skewer the preoccupations of famous authors. Charles Dickens Bingo includes squares for “fallen woman suicide” and “blackmail,” for instance. Rainbow Rowell Bingo features “pining” and “Curvy Girl.” Agatha Christie is no stranger to tropes. Certain types of characters and settings pop up again and again in her works, though each plot is distinctive. Here’s an Agatha Christie bingo card, followed by links to each square. Someone eats, or is likened to, an egg Multiple murders to hide key murder Poison Will Hastings distracted by a redhead auburn hair Miss Marple knits Military man bores everyone Obsessive attention to timeline Casual racism Clues in conversation Suffocating family The Servant Problem Plucky young woman Hot guys are bastards Inquest adjourned a fortnight Actors! Smudged or charred document Moustaches Delicate English sensibilities Intimidatingly efficient secretary Country house Train hijinks Gardening obsession Matchmaking   With thanks to fellow Book Rioters Kathleen Keenan, Jessica Plummer, and María Cristina García Lynch