McDermid reveals legal dispute with Christie estate over 'Queen of Crime' tag

Crime writer Val McDermid says she has been threatened with legal action by Agatha Christie’s estate over use of the phrase "Queen of Crime" because it is trademarked. 

McDermid made the revelation at the Edinburgh International Book Festival while being interviewed by broadcaster Allan Little, who asked her about quotes referring to her as the “Queen of Crime” on the back of her new novel 1989 (Sphere).

The Edinburgh Evening News reported the Christie estate had warned McDermid’s publisher Little, Brown against using the phrase to describe the writer after she was asked to write a new Miss Marple story for an authorised book published by HarperCollins. She is one of 12 writers contributing to the new collection of short stories. McDermid’s story is called “The Second Murder at the Vicarage”. 

McDermid said ,as well as the recent legal threat, she had been contacted by the writer’s great, great grandson about using the phrase on her books. 

She said: “A few weeks ago the Agatha Christie estate wrote to my publisher. 

"They said ‘you must cease and desist referring to Val McDermid as the Queen of Crime. We have trademarked this expression. If you call Val McDermid the Queen of Crime, you will be in breach of copyright and this trademark. You may continue to quote other people calling her the Queen of Crime and obviously you cannot prevent someone calling her Queen of Crime on a platform during the event. But should you use this title elsewhere, in other ways, then you will be in breach and our lawyers will be in touch’. 

"I actually got a letter from Agatha Christie’s great grandson, who helps run the Agatha Christie estate. 

"He said ‘you will imagine my shock when my train pulled into Waverley Station and a poster said ‘new from the Queen of Crime’. You must understand there is nothing personal in this, but we must protect my great grandmother’s legacy’. 

"Obviously if you see that on a poster you’re going to go ‘oh, Queen of Crime. We’re not going to read that Agatha Christie anymore are we?’ It’s just astonishingly pitiful.” 

The Bookseller has contacted the Christie estate for comment. Little, Brown declined to comment.