Death Comes As the End

Death Comes as the End is a historical mystery novel by Agatha Christie, first published in October 1944.

The suggestion to base the story in ancient Egypt came from noted Egyptologist and family friend Stephen Glanville.


He also assisted Christie with details of daily household life in Egypt 4000 years ago. A young widow reacquainting herself with her family when her father Imhotep, a successful but pompous and short-sighted mortuary priest, brings a new "wife", Nofret, into their lives.


Nofret soon disrupts and antagonises Imhotep's sons - Yahmose, Sobek and Ipy - as well as their wives. Renisenb realises the housekeeper Henet, while feigning devotion, is full of hatred. She eventually confronts Henet, who in a fit of pique admits she hates Renisenb and hated Renisenb's long-deceased mother...