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.
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?
My favorite 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 their 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. Then, I read the end and sat there, stunned, for something like five minutes! Incredible read!
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, it is a beautifully simple, straightforward, and very plausibly motivated murder with the solution hidden in plain sight, as it were!
To start with, on the first page, Mrs. Ferrars commits suicide. Dr. James Sheppard is in his home with his sister, who is a part-time detective. They find out that a new man in town 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 won't get bored. This book will definitely shock you with the revelation.
Agatha Christie is often praised for her clever plots but criticized for shallow characterization. The character of Jackie de Bellefort is one of her best. There are several long conversations between Jackie and Poirot where the detective warns her not to 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 read 25 Agatha Christie novels, and Death on the Nile is my favorite. The ending of 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 note because Poirot is on the case. It is a must-read, and I just simply loved it!
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 one! No way Agatha Christie can make a better book than this! Read it!
Crooked House is, without a doubt, the most shocking of Christie's books. And Then There Were None is the creepiest and most 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 received in Christie's time.
Also, the way it's constructed and the journey it takes to get to the explosive, disturbing climax not only cements Christie as a great murder mystery writer but also as a master at understanding psychology and questioning what develops human nature into "good" and "evil." Agatha Christie wrote in the preface that this was one of her favorite stories to write. You can see why.
While this is not as well-known as Orient Express or Roger Ackroyd, it remains high on my list and a favorite of mine! Impossible to guess the murderer... recommended!
Great deception strategy and definitely one of Christie's most satisfying murderers.
Perfectly paced. 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, it's one of 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! Surprising, original, and marvelous!
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 the top five. My God, the layers of twists.
The Newcomers
How is this left unmentioned? Every sentence is written with such excellence. The characters remain most intriguing until the end, when we finally discover the truth.
With Captain Hastings and Poirot working together, this is unpredictable, beautiful, and the best by far. A must-read.
The best one yet! Second perhaps only to And Then There Were None.
In a Glass Darkly was pretty intriguing.
It took me years of being a Christie fan before I finally read Death Comes as the End. The characters are well-drawn, the setting is intriguing, and the suspense builds as the characters are picked off one by one! One of Christie's underrated gems.
I love it. The killer was the only one that I didn't suspect.
Interesting family dynamic, setting, description of the beautiful landscape, and many different possible suspects. On my top 5 list with unusual characters.
The very first Christie I ever read, leading to a lifetime of Christie fandom and a love of the old whodunit genre as a whole! The psychological makeup 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 setup 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. I was blown away by the ending!
My personal favorite of the author. A shocking tragedy has happened in the past, and the wrong person has been 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 the puzzle in their hands (or almost everyone), and that helps Poirot to find the real solution to the case, with an interesting twist at the end.
Really good. I was surprised when I found out who the murderer/murderess was. I always thought it was someone completely different and carried this wrong theory until the end when I was gobsmacked! Really good!
Wow. The complexity of this book. The workings of the minds of Christie and Poirot all in one. Great book. Top 5 Christie's for me!
It's the legendary end for the 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. The ending is sort of sad.
It is a disgrace that this book is down the list. It is one of the most gripping and frightening novels by Christie. Just because The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was released before this, it is more famous. If it were the other way around...
When I read this book, I had no clue about the murderer until the last chapter revealed it. Many people could have easily guessed The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, but this will be difficult. So much emotion and love are involved. It is too good to be true. In the history of detective novels, no one could have come this close to witnessing the mind of the insane. Truly brilliant.
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 is the cherry on top! Wonderful Poirot novel!
Another Agatha Christie classic with a wide range of suspects. Set in Christie's mind at the Burgh Island Hotel, Devon.
The best lesser-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 the good old Dame of Mystery can be.
Really liked this one when I read it the first time nearly 40 years ago. Currently re-reading.
Superb! Confuses you at every corner! I could not put the book down. I've read it five times!
My favorite Poirot and second favorite Agatha Christie book behind And Then There Were None. Amazing characters and setup. Great book!
All you focus on are the different circumstances totally not in favor of Elinor Carlisle. You can't suspect anything else.
Despite the intriguing plot, this book is phenomenally written with an exemplary twist and a message of hope. One of my favorites!
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 cigar ash or stuff like that (as Holmes does). He depends on the psychology of his suspects and their nature, which is very evident in this book.
One of Mrs. Christie's most baffling novels. Ensure you have adequate information on science and heredity before you read it. Monsieur Poirot embarrasses Sherlock Holmes.
My favorite of her books. Very intriguing story with 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.
My first impression of the series and a really great beginning to a wonderful adventure for me.
A great start to a masterful series!
The first Hercule Poirot mystery.
