Agatha Christie is about to try to solve a new mystery - the riddle of how to teach foreigners English.
Twenty of her most famous novels are being rewritten in simplified versions so they can be used in the classroom to teach non-native English speakers how to read and speak the language. They will also be accompanied by notes aimed at helping the students gain a greater historical and cultural perspective about Britain and CDs with a reading of the story.
It will, of course, mean that for thousands of people their first taste of English life will be centred on duplicitous murder.
Christie's grandson, Mathew Prichard, said the idea would have pleased the famous writer. "My grandmother would have quite liked her books being used for the teaching of English she would have thought it a very good idea," he said.
The first batch of novels includes Christie's debut novel and Poirot's first case, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and Miss Marple's first mystery, The Murder at The Vicarage.