Top 10 Best Agatha Christie Books
Agatha Christie, the renowned Queen of Crime, made an undeniable impact on the world of literature through her captivating stories and unforgettable characters. Her works continue to fascinate readers around the globe, and we are thrilled to present to you a list of her most exceptional novels.Agatha Christie's novels are beloved for their intricate webs of clues, red herrings, and unexpected twists. Her characters are multi-dimensional, flawed yet relatable, and the settings in which her stories take place are often as much a character as any of the people. From the glamour of the Orient Express to the desolate moors of Devon, her settings are vividly described and transport the reader into the heart of the story.
Christie's works are as relevant today as they were when they were first published, a testament to the timeless appeal of her writing. Her influence on the mystery genre cannot be overstated, and her legacy continues to inspire new generations of writers.
Whether you are a long-time fan of Christie's work or a newcomer to the genre, we invite you to explore the best of her novels. Delve into the intricacies of her plots, immerse yourself in the richly drawn characters, and lose yourself in the world of her stories. The best Agatha Christie books are not just mysteries – they are windows into the human condition, tales of love and loss, and enduring testaments to the power of storytelling.
Ten little Soldier boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were nine.
Nine little Soldier boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were eight.
Eight little Soldier Boys travelling in Devon;
One said he'd stay there and then there were seven.
Seven little Soldier Boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
Six little Soldier Boys playing with a hive;
A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Five little Soldier Boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery and then there were four.
Four little Soldier Boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
Three little Soldier Boys walking in the zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were two.
Two Little Soldier Boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was one.
One little Soldier Boy left all alone;
He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.
Simply the best murder mystery ever written.
It is flawlessly written--I have read it probably 20 times. Ten people invited to an island where they are murdered one by one. What could be more intriguing and mysterious? The attention to detail--the nursery rhyme posted in each of their rooms, the back stories for each of their characters, the red herrings, and the stormy atmosphere of the island is superb. It makes a great movie too--and could be re-done magnificently by one of our current great filmmakers. Steven Spielberg or Kenneth Branagh --are you reading this?
With this book, Agatha Christie showed us how to create the ultimate suspense. 10 People are invited to an island by the mysterious Mr. Owen. Then Owen is revealed to be fraud and we ask "Why? ". Then we find they will be trapped there for nearly 3 days. "What will happen? " Then there's the nursery rhyme and we know more people are going to die. And this is also the best Christie novel because it created characters that were interesting and I cared about. I kept reading to know who was going to die next, hoping that my favourite character (Judge Wargrave... Yep) wouldn't die. I cared about the others too of course. The more deaths, the closer we were to the solution and it was a great one.
Probably the best murder mystery ever.
This is the best murder mystery ever written! Only Agatha could pull it off. Ten people called to an island die one by one in accordance to an age old nursery rhyme. As the number lowers paranoid sets in when they realize the murderer is among them. Each character is unique and the plot is BRILLIANT! The people die, and then there were none, still you have no clue who the murderer is until the last page and suprise ending. A must read for any Agatha Christie fan, or otherwise. The attention to detail is fantastic, and unlike anything ever written.
Unquestionably one of the most ingenious detective stories ever penned. There is only one tiny 'flaw' which involves the killer knowing his technical trick will be witnessed when that couldn't possibly be predicted with certainty. Otherwise a beautifully simple, straight forward and very plausibly motivated murder with the solution hidden in plain sight as it were!
To start with the first page, Mrs ferrars committed suicide. Dr James Sheppard is in his home with his sister who is a part time detective who finds out that a new man is in town who is a retired detective Hercule poirot. Roger ackroyd, a friend of James Sheppard is murdered and the detective is hired to investigate the murder with the help of the doctor.
I bet you wont get bored. This book will definitely shock you with the revelation.
Addictive. Murderer can never be guessed even if you suspect everyone! Agatha christie has proved that she is 'the crime queen'. No one can beat poirot. He finds out the truth. Absolutely amazing! Can't stop thinking about it! You'll laugh out of amazement when you find out the murderer! Purely decent piece of crime and narration.
! I am a young crime-fic author myself and I simply love crime fictions... Read almost all of them... From Nancy Drew to Arthur Doyle and obviously Edgar Allan Poe but one has to agree that no one can beat Agatha Christie, each of her books is better than the other. So far my favourites are Murder of Roger Ackroyd and of course And Then There Were None. She is my role model. Some day I want to be as good an author as her and yeah we have the same zodiac sign #Virgo
My favourite Agatha Christie book! I was clueless for most of the book, off and on just guessing at who it was. Now that I know who it was and all of that I just think "How could anyone in they're right mind think of something so ingenious! " It's absolutely amazing, I highly recommend it! It's a great read that has you guessing until the final pages!
This was definitely the most suspenseful of all time. I was so sure I knew who did it, and then I was so sure again, and I was so sure again, and then I read the end and sat there, stunned, for something like five minutes! Incredible read!
A murder on a train stranded in the middle of nowhere? Finding the killer seems obvious, doesn't it? No. Every single suspect has a rock-solid alibi.
One of the most gripping books ever, with the best ending one could possibly imagine. You'll be thinking about it for days after you finish.
Of all the murder mysteries I have read by Agatha Christie, this has been by far the best. It keeps you guessing repeatedly on the murder, who still lurks on the train. You will be surely in for a shock as the book nears its end...
Agatha Christie if often praised for her clever plots but criticized for shallow characterization. The character of Jackie de Bellefort is one of her best. There a several long conversations between Jackie and Poirot where the detective warns her not not let evil make a home in her heart. Jackie has not let love blind her to Simon Doyle's many faults and her opinion of him is quite accurate. The ending was perfect.
This is one of the best novels I've ever read in my life. So far I have 25 Agatha Christie novels and death on the Nile is my favorite. The ending to this story made me cry from sadness and utter amazement. It is so beautifully written and I think one of the greatest achievements in literature in the past century. Sherlock Holmes take it cause Poirots on the case. It is a must read and I just simply loved it!
I loved this story and its economically produced exotic atmosphere. However there were some weaknesses where timing is everything and was dependent over much on unpredictable circumstances that removed potential witnesses from public spaces. Otherwise, top notch!
An atmospheric mystery. The characters are colourful and often flawed, adding to the sense of fun and intriguing twists and turns. Christie always brought her Middle East locations to life so evocatively.
Certainly worthy of a better ranking than #15... more like top 3... in history! A great plot and twists.. before Seven and other serial killer movies became fashionable... Amazing read!
The most mesmerizing mystery I've ever heard. 100% satisfying from beginning to end. One of my all-time favorite books!
This book is amazing! Should be number #1! No way Agatha Christie can make a better book then this! Read it!
Beautifully Written, and Great plot Design. Christie at her best. Delves into slef delusion doubt and cunning. When do you notice a pin least?
Perfectly pasced. Hercule Poirot doesn't even appear until well into the story but it's such a well written novel, it only makes it better when he does. Along with "Death on the Nile, " her best "Middle East" set novels.
I'm surprised to see this so low on the list. A top ten for me.
The best book from Agatha Christie! Suprising, original and marvellous!
It is a very thrilling and awesome.
Four people are suspects and four people are detectives.
The first Poirot book I read, which got me hooked. I have now read all the Poirot books due to this captivating story of Mr Shaitana
Should be in Top 5. My God, the layers of twists.
Wait, are there four murderers?
The very first Christie I ever read, leading to a lifetime of Christie fandom and love of the old whodunit genre as a whole! The psychological make-up of the murderer is beautifully convincing. My only reservations were the rather silly trap for the killer at the end and the maze of false identities! Still, it all makes for great red herring bafflement and the set up is one wonderful trick!
Mystery everywhere in this! So suspenseful and I Couldn't put it down. I remember I had a huge SAT test in the early morning for school and my mom told me to go to bed early, but I stayed up until 2:00 AM and finished it and I was blown away by the ending!
This was just magical. The way miss marble unravelled the plot in the end makes this my favorite
This is my favorite Novel ever, I keep reading it again and again, maybe this is the best novel I've ever read in my life
My personal favourite of the author. A shocking tragedy has happened in the past had the wrong person being punished for the murder... Poirot is trying to go back in time, trying to resolve this old case, only by talking to the other suspects of the incident.. Each one has a piece of puzzle on his hand (or almost everyone), and that helps Poirot to find the real solution of the case (with an interesting twist in the end).
Really good... I was surprised when I found out who the murderer/murderess is... I always thought it was someone completely different and I carried this wrong theory until the end when I was gob smacked! Really good!
Arguably one of her strongest novels. The narrative technique is brilliant, plausibility rating as high as one could wish and I can't recall any reliance on unpredictable events/scenarios. Simply superb!
Possibly Christie's best. She weaves an incredible tale of tragedy and mistaken guilt that ultimately feels almost heart-breakingly inevitable. Poirot does it like no one else.
Crooked House is without a doubt the most shocking of Chrstie's book. And Then There Were None is the most creepy and frightening but Crooked House has the most psychologically unnerving, disturbed and perhaps unintentionally tragic murderer that Christie has written. I can only imagine the reaction it must have got in Christie's time. Also the way it's constructed and the journey it takes to get to the expolsive, disturbing climax not only cements Christie as a great murder mystery writer but also as a master at understanding psychology and questioning what what develps human nature into "good" and "evil". Also Agataha Chrsite wrote in the preface that this was one of her favourite stories to write. You can see why.
I love this book so much. The first one I read and the one that got me hooked. I now have around 30-40 Christie's, and this one is still one of my favourites. Others being The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, And Then There Were None, Murder On The Orient Express, etc etc. I cannot get enough.
The first Christie I've bought. My book is in Indonesian though, and the title annoys me a lot. Such a tragic story though, you can't believe it will end that way.
Have read the whole book in less than 24 hours... It keeps you hooked to it!
I was a bit disappointed in this - I simply couldn't believe either in the murderer nor their way of achieving potential murders. It just didn't ring true. Still cunning, mind you!
Wow. The complexity of this book. The workings of the mind of Christie and Poirot all in one... Great book. Top 5 Christie's for me!
It's the legendary end for Hercule Poirot legend. agatha christie used all of her tricks in this book, I was confused as hell when reading it!
Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings team up to solve their very last mystery. Ending is sort of sad.
It is a disgrace that this book is down the list. One of the most gripping and frightening novels by Christie. Just because roger ackroyd was released before this it is not famous. If it was the other way around... When I read this book I had no clue about the murder only the last chapter revealed it. Many people could have easily guessed roger ackroyd but this will be difficult. So much emotion and love involved it is too good to be true. In the history of detective novels no one could have got this close to witnessing the mind the insane. Truly brilliant
One of Christie's darkest and most eerie! Her legerdemain in this is again stunning if not entirely original... one of the best of her later period. Will creep the dickens out of you! Undoubtedly I think this is one of her masterpieces though often overlooked.
This book is enough to give even the bravest reader the chills, probably the most dangerous unpredictable and cruel killer in the history of detective novels. you just can't forget the words endless night...
Excuse me? How can this be on no.25? This is a such an awesome book.
This was the first book of Christie that I read. This book is simply amazing.. A beautiful location and an atmosphere of evil...soon there is a murder and the killer needs to be found by Hercule Poirot... A classic ending... Made me a fan of the author
I cannot explain how wonderful this novel is. The exotic location, the baffling mystery, the interesting characters, and of course, the ending was the cherry on top! Wonderful Poirot novel!
Another Agatha Christie classic with a wide range of suspects. Set in Christies mind at the Burgh Island Hotel, Devon.
This has everything! Love, Betrayal, Innocence, A grand house cut off by the tide and secret meetings... EPIC best novel ever
"The Best less-known of agatha christie's books. Every plot point is a big surprise. The clues are pitch perfect. The end is unforgettable. A superb example of how clever can be the good old dame of mystery "
Really liked this one when I read it the first time, nearly 40 years ago. Currently re-reading.
Superb! Confuses you in every corner! I could not put the book down, I've read 5 times!
The best Christie, with the best twist. Period. And I've read them all.
My favorite Poirot and 2nd favorite Agatha Christie book behind And Then There Were None. Amazing characters and setup. Great book!
All you focus on is all the different circumstances totally not in favor of Elinor Carlisle, you can't suspect anything else...
Despite the intriguing plot, this book is a phenomenally written novel with an exemplary twist and a message of hope. One of my favourites!
An exceptional plot with a hint of a love story. Very deceptive and cunning.
My favourite of her books. Very intriguing story, a lot of female characters involved. Love is shown in different aspects. It's one of those murders that are either too simple or too complicated.
The best agatha story
The only Poirot book I didn't like. Maybe because I read it out of order, but the ending was predictable.
My first impression of the series and really great beginning to a wonderful adventure for me.
A great start to a masterful series!
The first Hercule Poirot mystery.
My first Christie novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I bet no one can predict the murderer until The great Poirot himself reveals him. The thing I like about Poirot is that he doesn't need clues like cigars ash or stuffs like that (as Holmes does). He depends on the psychology of his suspects and their nature which is very evident in this book.
One Mrs. Christie most baffling novels ensure you have adequate information on science and heredity before you read it. Monsieur Poirot embarrasses Sherlock Holmes.
Most enjoyable Christie I've ever read. Simple amounts of suspects and backgrounds (not really). You truly can't expect the outcome!
A great Holiday mystery!
My favorite Christie book.
It is the first Agatha Christie novel I've ever read... Which made me love her...
Most surprising and one of my absolute Agatha Christie favorites!
The first book I read... Which made me eager to read more... It was very breathtaking and I was astonished when I found out who the culprit was... And how he/she did it... Great read for anyone, especially Agatha-Christie fans!
Awesome mystery! Step aside Sherlock Holmes, and welcome Hercule Poirot!
Great mystery read many times because one time is not enough it is so awesome
The best Poirot book ever! The first Christie book I read and the best! If you can guess the ending right, you must be the worlds greatest detective!
Another masterpiece by the world's greatest writer! All the Poirot books with Captain Hastings in it is the best!
At the very top of her game with this one.