Book cover for The Burden: A Novel by Agatha Christie

The Burden

A Novel

2025 Released
256 Pages
3-4 Hours
Hardback Unavailable
William Morrow PaperbacksISBN 9780063453142

A superb novel of possessive love by Agatha Christie, written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott.

Agatha Christie, famous for her ingenious crime novels, also wrote about crimes of the heart. Written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, Christie’s tales of romantic suspense further explore the human psychology she was so intrigued by, freed from the expectations of her mystery fans. 

The Burden tells the story of Laura Franklin, who bitterly resented the arrival of her younger sister Shirley, an enchanting baby loved by all the family. But Laura’s emotions towards her sister change dramatically one night when she vows to protect her with all her strength and love. While Shirley longs for freedom and romance, Laura has to learn that loving can never be a one-sided affair, and the burden of her love for her sister has a dramatic effect on both their lives.

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in English with another billion in over 100 foreign languages. She is the most widely published author of all time and in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections, over 20 plays, and six novels written under the name of Mary Westmacott.

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