I’ve blogged before about Agatha Christie’s masterful use of misdirection. This time, I reread Toward Zero and just as in previous times, I noticed something new. I’ve read pretty much every Agatha Christie novel at least once, but more likely two or three times. If I know who the killer is, I can focus on how the clues and red herrings (false clues) were laid out in the book without getting lost in the story. However, as a writer, I find it helps if I already know what happens. When I first started reading mysteries, I didn’t enjoy rereading them once I knew Whodunit. Recently, I’ve been re-reading a lot of Agatha Christie. For me, that involves Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, and Dorothy Gilman (to name a few). So, what’s a mystery writer to do? I reread the masters. However, as a mystery lover, I do enjoy reading mysteries. Needless to say, my To-Be-Read pile is huge. Reading new books is a treat I allow myself as a reward when I’ve completed a book. Why? Partly, I don’t want to get ideas from other authors and inadvertently use them in my work in progress, but partly I don’t want to get wrapped up in a story that takes me away from my own stories (and deadlines). Jeffries or Victoria Thompson’s Gaslight Mystery Series, but I don’t read new authors or new books, no matter how enticing. Sometimes, I will allow myself to read the latest book in a long running series, like Emily Brightwell’s Inspector and Mrs. Victoria Quay, Salcombe.I rarely read fiction while I’m writing.Used for tea shop where Poirot and Hastings discuss case, meet lady with dog - Agatha Christie's Poirot, Peril at End House (1990)

Outdoor seating area of Fortesque Inn, off Union Street.The Life Boat Station on Union Street, Salcombe is used as the filming location of the external entrance of the firm Vyse, Trevannion & Wynnard - Agatha Christie's Poirot, Peril at End House (1990).Salcombe Yacht Club as exteriors of the Grange Nursing Home - Agatha Christie's Poirot, Peril at End House (1990).Used for exterior shots of End House - Agatha Christie's Poirot, Peril at End House (1990) The Moult, a house at South Sands near Salcombe.Used as the exterior of the Majestic Hotel - Agatha Christie's Poirot, Peril at End House (1990)

The Salcombe - serviced apartments formerly the Salcombe Hotel in Salcombe, South Devon.

Tides Reach Hotel, South Sands, Salcombe as Easterhead Bay Hotel - Agatha Christie's Marple, Towards Zero (2008).

Salcombe - Agatha Christie's Marple, Towards Zero (2008).

Fore Street in Salcombe - Agatha Christie's Poirot, Evil Under the Sun (2001).

Salcombe has been used as the filming location for several adaptations of works by Agatha Christie. Salcombe is a town in South Hams in Devon, not far from Dartmouth.

Marple towards zero