49 years ago today, on January 12, 1976 (December 12, 1975 in the lunar calendar), Christie, the author of "The Massacre on the Nile", passed away. January 12, 1976. British writer Dam Agata Christie has died at his home in west London at the age of 85. She has created the two most distinctive detective characters in detective novels--the clever Jane. Maipol and the capable Hercule Poirot. The shy but serious writer, who started out as an opera singer, was inspired by her sister to write, publishing 60 detective novels, 6 romantic novels, 19 volumes of short mysteries, 14 plays, 2 non-fiction works and 1 collection of poetry under the pseudonym of Mary Westmacot. She was married to the archaeologist Sir Max Mallowan and often accompanied him on expeditions to the Middle East. His representative works include "The Massacre on the Nile" and "Murder on the Orient Express".