No clear evidence shows that the passage targets a specific editor. Most scholars see it as self-aware humor and light satire on the mystery genre and publishing expectations, not a personal jab.
In The Listerdale Mystery, “Mr. Eastwood’s Adventure” features Anthony Eastwood, a writer frustrated by editors demanding formulaic detective stories. The exaggerated elements—mysterious women, unlikely suspects, and flimsy clues—parody popular mystery conventions, including those Christie often used. The absurd title “The Mystery of the Second Cucumber” underscores how formulaic these stories can be.
The line about the editor renaming the story “Murder Most Foul” is part of the satire. The phrase predates Christie and comes from Shakespeare’s Hamlet (“murder most foul”), indicating she referenced a familiar dramatic expression, not a specific editorial dispute.
The later film Murder Most Foul, starring Margaret Rutherford, was loosely inspired by Christie’s work and produced decades after the story, making it unlikely to be an inside joke aimed at an editor.
Overall, the passage serves as playful meta-commentary on detective fiction and publishing, reflecting Christie’s awareness of genre clichés rather than personal criticism.
