Agatha Christie’s birthplace of Torquay, a town on the stretch of Devon’s southern coastline called the English Riviera, hosts the Agatha Christie Festival, which opens Sunday and runs through Sept. 22. Highlights include themed cocktails and a sing-along with a Cole Porter trio at the Grand Hotel on Sunday at 6 and 9 p.m. and a costumed brunch at Burgh Island on Tuesday at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Visitors also can meet authors, enjoy murder mystery dinners, watch theatrical productions based on Christie novels or take part in tea parties or vintage bus tours. Tickets are needed for most events. Learn more at www.englishriviera.co.uk/ agathachristie.

Aspiring crime novelists might also wish to make note of an international crime writing festival running through Sept. 15 titled “Bloody Scotland.” The city of Stirling hosts the event, at which several published crime authors will speak about their novels. Visitors will have a chance to pitch an idea for a crime novel in 100 words to an expert panel. For tickets to lectures and readings, see www.bloodyscotland.com.