FANS of the world’s most famous murder mystery writer can track down the perfect break and mark a trio of literary anniversaries this year – including what would have been the 120th birthday of Torquay’s very own Agatha Christie.

Visitors to the seaside towns and hidden coves of South Devon can turn detective to discover a host of Christie commemorations on the English Riviera.

September is the 120th anniversary of the birth of Torquay’s most famous literary daughter – while this year also marks milestones for two of her beloved characters.

This year is also the 90th anniversary of the Mysterious Affair at Styles, the first book to feature the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and the 80th anniversary of the Christie heroine Miss Jane Marple, who first appeared in a fulllength novel, in The Murder at the Vicarage, in 1930.

The biggest celebration comes later in the year with the Agatha Christie Festival, (September 12-19).

This sixth annual festival promises to be the best yet, with events taking place across the English Riviera, including theatre productions, open sea swim (Agatha loved to bathe), garden party, nostalgic tea dance and a period fete.

But fans don’t have to wait until September to follow in her famous footsteps. At any time of the year, visitors can walk the Agatha Christie Mile and experience some of the places that were inspirational in her life and works. These include the Grand Hotel, where she spent her honeymoon, Princess Pier where she enjoyed roller-skating, Beacon Cove where she was a regular swimmer (and once nearly drowned) and the Imperial Hotel, featured in two of her books. The Agatha Christie Mile leaflet, with descriptions of landmarks, can be picked up at the Tourist Information Centre on Torquay harbourside, or downloaded from the official website.

There’s also Torre Abbey, home to the new Agatha Christie’s Potent Plant attraction, Torquay Museum with its fascinating Agatha Christie Gallery and Palk Street Gardens, location of both the Agatha Christie Shop and Agatha Christie bust, which was unveiled at the centenary celebrations 20 years ago.

And visitors can also tour Agatha’s former summer home at Greenway, reopened after a multimillion pound refurbishment by the National Trust, complete with many personal collections and mementoes of the writer and her family.

Don’t forget to visit Greenway by green ways – it can be accessed by boat from Torquay, Brixham and Dartmouth, with limited mooring available that must be reserved prior to visiting.

■ Your first clue is to visit englishriviera.co.uk/agathachristie