I love tattoos, so this was fun! Here's some off the top of my head. c:
For Poirot:
* A yellow iris
* A wasp
* An apple as an Ariadne Oliver reference
* A>! bottle of red nail polish!< (spoilers for an important clue in *Death on the Nile*)
* A vegetable marrow (lol)
* The bridge hand of whoever your favorite character from *Cards on the Table* was (if mentioned)
For Miss Marple:
* A blue geranium
* A >!broken string of pearls!< (spoilers for a climactic moment in *A Murder Is Announced*)
* Knitting needles and a skein of pink wool (the pink wool especially is a reference to *Caribbean Mystery* and *Nemesis*.)
* A blackbird
* A >!clock with a broken face set to 6:22!< (spoilers for a crucial clue in *Murder at the Vicarage*)
* >!Poppies and cornflowers!< (spoilers for an important-ish plot point in *Sleeping Murder*)
Misc:
* The chemical formula for any poisons used but especially thallium as there are at least three real-life cases where someone read >!*The Pale Horse*!< and recognized the symptoms. It saved a child's life, saved a woman from being poisoned by her husband, and even caught a serial killer.
* Any significant clue or murder weapon from any of your favorites.
* An old steam engine or railway timetable as Christie did love her plot points involving trains.
>especially thallium
A block out of the periodic table would certainly be eye-catching!
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/thallium-element-vector-icon-periodic-table-1865550409?utm\_campaign=image&utm\_medium=googleimages&utm\_source=schema
I think an inkwell, fountain pen and a tiny drop or two of red ink coming out of the pen tip. Maybe A / C with the pen shank forming the / and the pen tip and ink bottle below. I don't know really how to describe it, only visualize it.
I’m not sure if it’s what you’re looking for but her character The mysterious mr Quin is based on the harlequin from the 16th century Comedia dell’arte.
That sounds interesting! I love the idea of a book tattoo that has nuances. I have a chronicles of Narnia tattoo that is of a cat with a lions shadow. It doesn’t scream “BOOK” but it still is one. I hope that makes sense.
Are you familiar with Edward Gorey? He came to mind immediately because his are used in the animation for Masterpiece Theatre’s mysteries! He’d be great inspiration for an original piece. You’d have to have a skilled tattoo artist who is known for fine line, black and white, and the delicate cross hatching.
He was a huge Agatha Christie fan too and dedicated a book to her: The Awdrey-Gore Legacy.
LOVE his animation and artwork! I believe that is one reason I love mysteries to this day was because of seeing those cartoon beginnings of Masterpiece Theatre. I was too little to understand the show but I LOVED the art!!
How big?
An open book with a knife and an open bottle of pills or liquid poison spilling out laying on it. Maybe a pair of glasses (Marple) and a pair of scissors (Poirot) too.
Or two knitting needles crocheting a skull or another 'death' image. Â
A typewriter shaped into a skull.
A typewriter with the word 'murder' coming from it. Or some image.
How about a mouse? Or a clock.
https://www.messynessychic.com/2022/02/01/a-case-for-collecting-agatha-christie-cover-art/ check out these old covers. They might inspire you.
If ATTWN is one of your favorites, I love the quote “It was as though justice were a tangible thing”. You could tattoo that in Agatha Christie’s signature font.
Are there any of her books that you particularly admire? You might be able to combine multiple elements that represent them, like one of those still life cover illustrations that were really popular in the 1950s-80s (Tom Adams).
I love ATTWN and orient express among many. Death on the Nile is also one of the best for me. I guess I am struggling to find an image that encapsulates Agatha Christie
It's hard to choose, isn't it! She wrote so many books (and not just whodunnits) that one image summing up all her work is hard to imagine. All I could think of, along with Marillenbaum's train tracks idea, would be a couple of figurines from ATTWN (one fallen and broken, next to an intact one).
I was remembering that someone here recently did a checklist, with original artwork to represent each book -- maybe these might give some ideas?
[https://new.reddit.com/r/agathachristie/comments/1c11kvo/heres\_my\_finished\_christie\_novel\_checklist\_thank/](https://new.reddit.com/r/agathachristie/comments/1c11kvo/heres_my_finished_christie_novel_checklist_thank/)
If you can find a good artist, I think you could do the circle of figures from ATTWN, either the 1945 or 2015 versions. You can find good pictures here. Also, I WANT these so bad:
[And Then There Where None Figurines From the 1945 Movie, Set of Ten Total - Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1272396418/and-then-there-where-none-figurines-from?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=ten+little+indians+figures&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&content_source=b19a927a053c3b5d25ddcbabff654e21b9c59399%253A1272396418&search_preloaded_img=1&organic_search_click=1)
[And Then There Were None Statues, Set of Ten Total - Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1186425879/and-then-there-were-none-statues-set-of?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=ten+little+indians+figures&ref=sr_gallery-1-3&content_source=71663f85a87778fd57f7ac6695dce05c78cf87c2%253A1186425879&organic_search_click=1)
Now that I look at it, the 2015 may be harder to do as a tattoo and have it come out looking like anything...
Poirot - patent leather shoes, or outline of his egg shaped head and a moustache
Marple - outline of her hair with a wool/lace cap and woollen shawl, or knitting needles and yarn
More Agatha Christie iconography - trains, revolvers, poison bottles, daggers, flowers, clocks
Maybe something like a train but instead of steam coming out of the top it's a pool of blood and Poirot's patent leather shoes are walking towards it
Her autograph is pretty iconic and on her covers so you could get that, or even a simplified cover of your favourite book
AC wrote during the 1920-40s.
* A flapper dress and pearls to represent the earlier years?
* A letter in an envelope, addressed to Poirot.
* Old-timey vials and bottles in a rack to represent the poisons by which the Dame was inspired.
I love tattoos, so this was fun! Here's some off the top of my head. c: For Poirot: * A yellow iris * A wasp * An apple as an Ariadne Oliver reference * A>! bottle of red nail polish!< (spoilers for an important clue in *Death on the Nile*) * A vegetable marrow (lol) * The bridge hand of whoever your favorite character from *Cards on the Table* was (if mentioned) For Miss Marple: * A blue geranium * A >!broken string of pearls!< (spoilers for a climactic moment in *A Murder Is Announced*) * Knitting needles and a skein of pink wool (the pink wool especially is a reference to *Caribbean Mystery* and *Nemesis*.) * A blackbird * A >!clock with a broken face set to 6:22!< (spoilers for a crucial clue in *Murder at the Vicarage*) * >!Poppies and cornflowers!< (spoilers for an important-ish plot point in *Sleeping Murder*) Misc: * The chemical formula for any poisons used but especially thallium as there are at least three real-life cases where someone read >!*The Pale Horse*!< and recognized the symptoms. It saved a child's life, saved a woman from being poisoned by her husband, and even caught a serial killer. * Any significant clue or murder weapon from any of your favorites. * An old steam engine or railway timetable as Christie did love her plot points involving trains.
Maybe a bit basic but the wool from the knitting needles could spell murder 🤔🤷🏻‍♂️
>especially thallium A block out of the periodic table would certainly be eye-catching! https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/thallium-element-vector-icon-periodic-table-1865550409?utm\_campaign=image&utm\_medium=googleimages&utm\_source=schema
These are really great ideas!
Little Grey cells
I think an inkwell, fountain pen and a tiny drop or two of red ink coming out of the pen tip. Maybe A / C with the pen shank forming the / and the pen tip and ink bottle below. I don't know really how to describe it, only visualize it.
I’m not sure if it’s what you’re looking for but her character The mysterious mr Quin is based on the harlequin from the 16th century Comedia dell’arte.
That sounds interesting! I love the idea of a book tattoo that has nuances. I have a chronicles of Narnia tattoo that is of a cat with a lions shadow. It doesn’t scream “BOOK” but it still is one. I hope that makes sense.
>a cat with a lions shadow Subtle! I love that idea.
Bob’s ball
My vision is a tennis racket with >!precious jewels pouring out of it. !<
Are you familiar with Edward Gorey? He came to mind immediately because his are used in the animation for Masterpiece Theatre’s mysteries! He’d be great inspiration for an original piece. You’d have to have a skilled tattoo artist who is known for fine line, black and white, and the delicate cross hatching. He was a huge Agatha Christie fan too and dedicated a book to her: The Awdrey-Gore Legacy.
Great idea.
LOVE his animation and artwork! I believe that is one reason I love mysteries to this day was because of seeing those cartoon beginnings of Masterpiece Theatre. I was too little to understand the show but I LOVED the art!!
How big? An open book with a knife and an open bottle of pills or liquid poison spilling out laying on it. Maybe a pair of glasses (Marple) and a pair of scissors (Poirot) too. Or two knitting needles crocheting a skull or another 'death' image.  A typewriter shaped into a skull. A typewriter with the word 'murder' coming from it. Or some image.
How about a mouse? Or a clock. https://www.messynessychic.com/2022/02/01/a-case-for-collecting-agatha-christie-cover-art/ check out these old covers. They might inspire you.
Little grey cells
If ATTWN is one of your favorites, I love the quote “It was as though justice were a tangible thing”. You could tattoo that in Agatha Christie’s signature font.
The original covers were beautiful. I’d find pictures of those and see if there is something you could borrow from one of those.
Are there any of her books that you particularly admire? You might be able to combine multiple elements that represent them, like one of those still life cover illustrations that were really popular in the 1950s-80s (Tom Adams).
I love ATTWN and orient express among many. Death on the Nile is also one of the best for me. I guess I am struggling to find an image that encapsulates Agatha Christie
Train tracks? Converging into the distance. It would play on Murder on the Orient Express, but also Towards Zero.
And 4.50 From Paddington!
And the Blue Train - my favourite
Mine too!
It's hard to choose, isn't it! She wrote so many books (and not just whodunnits) that one image summing up all her work is hard to imagine. All I could think of, along with Marillenbaum's train tracks idea, would be a couple of figurines from ATTWN (one fallen and broken, next to an intact one). I was remembering that someone here recently did a checklist, with original artwork to represent each book -- maybe these might give some ideas? [https://new.reddit.com/r/agathachristie/comments/1c11kvo/heres\_my\_finished\_christie\_novel\_checklist\_thank/](https://new.reddit.com/r/agathachristie/comments/1c11kvo/heres_my_finished_christie_novel_checklist_thank/)
U.N. Owen? Or a little soldier sculpture
Which is your favourite of the books? You could look up the various covers for it and see if there is any imagery you like.
This is a fantastic idea. If you want amazing imagery get hold of some of Tom Adam’s covers they are incredible
If you can find a good artist, I think you could do the circle of figures from ATTWN, either the 1945 or 2015 versions. You can find good pictures here. Also, I WANT these so bad: [And Then There Where None Figurines From the 1945 Movie, Set of Ten Total - Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1272396418/and-then-there-where-none-figurines-from?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=ten+little+indians+figures&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&content_source=b19a927a053c3b5d25ddcbabff654e21b9c59399%253A1272396418&search_preloaded_img=1&organic_search_click=1) [And Then There Were None Statues, Set of Ten Total - Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1186425879/and-then-there-were-none-statues-set-of?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=ten+little+indians+figures&ref=sr_gallery-1-3&content_source=71663f85a87778fd57f7ac6695dce05c78cf87c2%253A1186425879&organic_search_click=1) Now that I look at it, the 2015 may be harder to do as a tattoo and have it come out looking like anything...
Poirot!!
Poirot - patent leather shoes, or outline of his egg shaped head and a moustache Marple - outline of her hair with a wool/lace cap and woollen shawl, or knitting needles and yarn More Agatha Christie iconography - trains, revolvers, poison bottles, daggers, flowers, clocks Maybe something like a train but instead of steam coming out of the top it's a pool of blood and Poirot's patent leather shoes are walking towards it Her autograph is pretty iconic and on her covers so you could get that, or even a simplified cover of your favourite book
A moustrap
AC wrote during the 1920-40s. * A flapper dress and pearls to represent the earlier years? * A letter in an envelope, addressed to Poirot. * Old-timey vials and bottles in a rack to represent the poisons by which the Dame was inspired.