Giant's Bread: A Novel

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.  

In the first of six novels written under this nom de plume, Giant’s Bread tells the story of Vernon Deyre, a young composer who reinvents his identity after being declared dead in World War I. Vernon Deyre is a sensitive and brilliant musician, even a genius. But there is a high price to be paid for his talent, especially by his family and the two women in his life. His sheltered childhood in the home he loves has not prepared Vernon for the harsh reality of his adult years, and in order to write the great masterpiece of his life, he has to make a crucial decision with no time left to count the cost… 

Giant’s Bread is a bittersweet tale of passion and ambition. Critically acclaimed upon publication, it was published fifteen years before Mary Westmacott’s true identity was revealed.