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THIS EVENT IS PART OF THE AGATHA CHRISTIE FESTIVAL

A Murder is Announced celebrates its 75th anniversary of publication in 2025. One of the most beloved Miss Marple novels, this story has been admired for its nuanced interpersonal relationships, immediate-post-war social commentary, and use of the writing itself to clue the solution. It is the noteworthy plot device that draws the reader and characters into the story – an advertisement placed in the local newspaper – that forms the initiation of Dr Kazmer’s talk.

As an information scientist, Kazmer has long been fascinated with how information systems and behaviour appear throughout Christie’s stories. While the published newspaper is the first example of an information system in A Murder is Announced, it is far from the last; as the characters continue their information behaviours including “making enquiries”, the solution of the crime comes closer. Dr Kazmer delights in exploring information science aspects of Christie’s works in engaging and novel ways; expect this talk to be both surprising and entertaining!

Michelle Kazmer, PhD, is Dean and Professor of the Florida State University (USA) College of Communication and Information and a lifelong crime fiction fan who became enamoured of Agatha Christie at the age of 12. Her Christie scholarship has been included in edited volumes, conferences, repertory theatre notes, invited lectures, podcasts, radio, and television.