Do they have murder in mind? Yes, they do. It’s an Istanbul mystery fest in honor of Agatha Christie

English writer Dame Agatha Christie, poses in March 1946 for a photographer holding a notebook, in her home, Greenway House, in Devonshire. Agatha Christie, born Miller (1890-1976) in Torquay, Devon, wrote, under the surname of her fist husband Colonel Archibald Christie (divorced in 1928) more than 70 detective novels featuring the Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, or the inquiring village lady, Miss Marple. In 1930, Christie married Max E. L. Mallowan (1904-1978; knighted in 1968), professor of archaeology at London University (1947-78), with whom she travelled on several expeditions. Several of her stories have become popular films, such as “Murder on the Orient Express” (1974) and “Death on the Nile (1978). Christie was made a dame in 1971. (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images)

(AFP/Getty Images)

The Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah in Istanbul opened in 1892 primarily to serve guests of the luxury Orient Express train from Europe to Asia. The modern-day hotel claims that mystery writer and regular guest Agatha Christie wrote her most famous book "Murder on the Orient Express" in the hotel's Room 411.

Whether it's true or not, the Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah is hosting a Black Week festival in October that's dedicated to what would have been Christie's 125th birthday. (She was born Sept. 15, 1890.)

Mystery writers Ahmet Umit of Turkey, Alexander McCall Smith ("The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series) from Britain, Robert Constantini ("Deliverance From Evil") from Italy and others are to lead panels and talks.

Christie's grandson Mathew Prichard is also scheduled to speak at the festival.

Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah Kutuphaneli Saloon

(Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah)

Kutuphaneli Saloon. (Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah)

The Pera Palace, which maintains its 19th-century-luxury vibe, offers Christie fans a Black Week package Oct. 20-25. (The festival runs from Oct. 22-24.)

Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah library

(Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah)

The hotel's library. (Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah)

For the package, rooms start at $350 per night, with a two-night minimum stay.

It includes breakfast at the hotel's Agatha Restaurant, an invitation to the opening ceremony and entrance to all panel sessions.

Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah lobby

(Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah)

The lobby. (Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah)

The hotel, with 115 rooms, not only has an Agatha Christie Room, but a suite dedicated to another famous writer, Ernest Hemingway, and an Ataturk Museum Room. The museum is open to visitors and displays the clothes, hats, shoes of the founder of modern-day Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah

(Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah)

(Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah)

The hotel is in the fashionable Beyoglu neighborhood on the European side of the city.

Info: Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah