A SOLENT University professor has been nominated for an award for his books. 

Dr Mark Aldridge is an Associate Professor of Screen Histories and is nominated for an Edgar award, in the Best Critical/Bibliography category for his book Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World.

The award honours the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television. 

On his nomination, Dr Aldridge said: “I'm honoured to be nominated for this Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America, one of the world's most prestigious organisations relating to crime fiction.

"It's thrilling to see my book alongside so many great works by excellent authors. Agatha Christie herself was nominated for this same award, which makes this news all the more special.”

Dr Aldridge's nominated book gives new insight into the world’s best-selling novelist, whose popularity has had a resurgence, thanks to recent adaptations, such as Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile.

He has also been commissioned by Harper-Collins to write a subsequent book on Agatha Christie’s Marple.

The Edgar Awards will be hosted in New York next month, and the winners will be announced on the Edgar Awards website.