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The The LOCKED ROOM MYSTERYLOCKED ROOM MYSTERY is a sub-genre of detective fiction is a sub-genre of detective fiction Typically, a "locked room" in this narrow Typically, a "locked room" in this narrow

meaning of the phrase is a room in which a meaning of the phrase is a room in which a murder is committed. There are a limited murder is committed. There are a limited number of suspects, some of them possibly number of suspects, some of them possibly even with a watertight alibi.even with a watertight alibi.

The The COZY MYSTERY COZY MYSTERY is a sub-genre is a sub-genre of detective fiction of detective fiction A murder is committed amongst a small A murder is committed amongst a small

group of people who would normally seem group of people who would normally seem unlikely people to be involved in a crime.unlikely people to be involved in a crime.

History for History for The MousetrapThe Mousetrap

Christie created a Christie created a half-hour half-hour radio play, radio play, Three Blind Mice,Three Blind Mice, to to help celebrate the 80help celebrate the 80thth birthday birthday of Queen Mary in 1947of Queen Mary in 1947. .

The play originated from the The play originated from the 1945 case involving the death 1945 case involving the death of a boy, Dennis O'Neill, who of a boy, Dennis O'Neill, who died while he was in foster care.died while he was in foster care.

Christie’s story did so well on the Christie’s story did so well on the radio that she decided to turn it into radio that she decided to turn it into a stage play called a stage play called The MousetrapThe Mousetrap..

Christie wrote Christie wrote fifteenfifteen plays. plays.The MousetrapThe Mousetrap opened in London’s opened in London’s

West End in November of 1952West End in November of 1952..The MousetrapThe Mousetrap set set a world record for a world record for

the longest continuous run of the longest continuous run of performances.performances.

According to her contract, According to her contract, The MousetrapThe Mousetrap cannot be made into a film until the play cannot be made into a film until the play has been closed for at least six months.has been closed for at least six months.

The play has been running continuously The play has been running continuously for for over 50 yearsover 50 years..

When she wrote the play, Christie gave the When she wrote the play, Christie gave the rights to her grandson Mathew Prichard as rights to her grandson Mathew Prichard as a birthday present. Prichard currently owns a birthday present. Prichard currently owns the rights to all of her works.the rights to all of her works.

Molly and Giles RalstonMolly and Giles Ralston, who are celebrating their first wedding , who are celebrating their first wedding anniversary, open a guest house just after the war and are hosts to anniversary, open a guest house just after the war and are hosts to a strange collection of characters. Among the guests who arrive a strange collection of characters. Among the guests who arrive during a blinding snow storm are …during a blinding snow storm are …

Christopher WrenChristopher Wren, a young architect who gets on Giles's nerves , a young architect who gets on Giles's nerves while flirting with Molly.  while flirting with Molly. 

Mrs. BoyleMrs. Boyle is a sour ex workhouse matron who has more than a is a sour ex workhouse matron who has more than a touch of cruelty about her.  touch of cruelty about her. 

Major MetcalfMajor Metcalf is the strong silent type and it’s his silence that is the strong silent type and it’s his silence that makes him mysterious.  makes him mysterious. 

Miss CasewellMiss Casewell is the slightly masculine type who has a lot of fun is the slightly masculine type who has a lot of fun at Mrs. Boyle’s expense.  at Mrs. Boyle’s expense. 

Mr. ParaviciniMr. Paravicini, whose car broke down in the storm was not , whose car broke down in the storm was not expected, and can thoroughly explain his mysterious appearance.  expected, and can thoroughly explain his mysterious appearance. 

Sgt. TrotterSgt. Trotter is the last to arrive and is there to investigate a is the last to arrive and is there to investigate a murder that took place earlier in London.murder that took place earlier in London.

Monkswell Manor Guest House

Inside Monkswell Manor…

Scotland Yard

• New Scotland Yard or Scotland Yard, informally known as The Yard, is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service.

An Aga• An Aga is a battleship

stove • Literally weighing a ton,

fueled by coke (a fuel used in a blast furnace) superbly insulated and extremely efficient, they were ideal for the larger kitchen, especially in farmhouses, in which lots of cooking jobs had to be carried out throughout the day.

• To stoke the aga means to feed fuel to and tend the fire.

Sir Christopher Wren (the real one)

• October 20, 1632 – February 25, 1723)

• He was a 17th century English designer, astronomer, geometer, and the greatest English architect of his time. Wren designed 53 London churches, including St Paul's Cathedral, as well as many secular buildings of note. He was knighted in 1673.