10 Finest Agatha Christie Books Ranked

Agatha Christie is the second best-selling creator of all time, behind solely William Shakespeare. Upon studying simply one in all her books, it is easy to see why her mysteries have continued entertaining audiences lengthy after her demise. She crafted compelling twists and interesting protagonists, with Hercule Poirot being her most sensible creation, however she additionally wrote adventures starring Miss Marple and Parker Pyne in case anybody needed a break for Hercule once in a while. 

Christie’s novels have been tailored many occasions over into films, stage performs, and tv exhibits, and he or she’s impressed generations of thriller writers. Author/director Rian Johnson even mentioned he seemed towards Christie for inspiration when determining tips on how to take “Glass Onion” in a brand new path after “Knives Out.” It is simple to see why, as she was susceptible to enjoying with genres. Although her books might have largely been mysteries, there have been additionally components of comedy and horror thrown in for good measure. From Raymond Chandler to Dashiell Hammett, there are definitely loads of different nice thriller writers, however nobody ever did it fairly like Christie. 

Anybody on the lookout for a superb place to begin with Christie’s bibliography ought to peruse this listing of the most effective Agatha Christie books of all time, assembled by yours actually, a UCLA English grad. Don’t be concerned about having any surprises spoiled for you: Whereas I am going to go over the essential set-up of every e-book, there will not be any revelations so far as who the killer is. You may uncover that by yourself.

It is a disgrace that “Loss of life on the Nile” is now related to Gal Gadot’s odd line studying of, “With sufficient champagne … to fill the Nile” within the 2022 movie adaptation (seen above). Luckily, this stays one in all Agatha Christie’s hottest works with a number of diversifications to its identify, and it is easy to see why. It has a positively pleasant assortment of characters and pertinent themes that stay related to at the present time. 

Her hottest detective, Hercule Poirot, is definitely simply on vacation when he will get wrapped up in a homicide plot. The immensely rich Linnet Ridgeway winds up murdered with a single gunshot wound to the pinnacle, and as is so typically the case, everyone seems to be a suspect. Linnet’s wealth means many individuals had purpose to do away with her to attempt to take a few of her cash and valuables for themselves. The ending to “Loss of life on the Nile” proves simply how far individuals will go for the sake of cash and love. 

However Christie is not content material with weaving yet one more thriller for readers. There are additionally wealthy, lush descriptions of Egyptian surroundings, because the characters’ river boat sails down the Nile, retaining everybody aboard whereas Hercule will get to work determining who could be mad sufficient to kill Linnet. 

“The Seven Dials Thriller” is an underrated Agatha Christie gem that appears much more frivolous than a few of her different mysteries however has an actual ingenuity to it. The story begins with a home of noblemen desirous to play a prank on one visitor who’s a heavy sleeper. They arrange eight alarm clocks to scare and wake him up, however on the morning of the prank, one of many clocks is lacking and the visitor is useless. 

There is not any Hercule Poirot this time; as a substitute, the thriller is dealt with by the younger sleuth, Girl Eileen “Bundle” Brent, who might definitely be seen as a catalyst for future teen woman detectives like Nancy Drew and Enola Holmes. She represents the “flapper woman” sensibilities of the Twenties, and regardless that she wasn’t in lots of Christie novels, it is value studying not less than one in all her tales. 

Finally, “The Seven Dials Thriller” is one in all Christie’s most enjoyable works. Certain, there’s nonetheless a homicide on the coronary heart of it, however the characters are so entertaining it is easy to neglect concerning the extra morbid facets lurking within the corners. It is also one in all Christie’s most re-readable novels, as there’s at all times one thing new to understand or snort it when giving it one other spin.

For these , Netflix is popping the e-book right into a collection starring Mia McKenna-Bruce (seen above in a publicity photograph saying the undertaking).

When /Movie interviewed Rian Johnson for “Glass Onion,” he really name-dropped “The A.B.C. Murders” as an excellent instance of a typical whodunit that comes with the subgenre of serial killer fiction. Lots of Christie’s works contain one homicide, possibly two if she’s feeling frisky. Nonetheless, “The A.B.C. Murders” flips the script by having a serial killer run free, that means Hercule Poirot is operating in opposition to a ticking clock to catch the assassin earlier than they strike once more. 

Hercule receives phrase that somebody goes round killing individuals alphabetically primarily based on their alliterative names, so the primary particular person killed is Alice Ascher whereas the second is Elizabeth “Betty” Barnard and so forth. It is one in all her most nail-biting mysteries as a result of, whereas in different tales the reader’s merely attempting to determine who did it, extra individuals die the longer Hercule takes the resolve the case. 

“The A.B.C. Murders” additionally simply so occurs to be one in all Christie’s trickiest mysteries to unravel, for those who’re studying it for the primary time. Nonetheless, as soon as you understand how all of it performs out, it is essentially the most rewarding to return and re-read to see all the clues Christie left for you (and there are ample clues to unravel it). An excellent three-part miniseries primarily based on “The A.B.C. Murders” got here out on BBC in 2018 with John Malkovich enjoying a grizzled, extra forlorn Hercule for anybody on the lookout for a drastic departure seen from Kenneth Branagh in his varied Christie diversifications like “Homicide on the Orient Categorical” and “Loss of life on the Nile.”

Maybe you get pleasure from your whodunnits with a superb measure of gothic romance thrown in. If that is the case, then Agatha Christie’s “Countless Night time” is for you. There is not any Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple right here, because the story begins with younger Michael Rogers believing he is hit the jackpot when he acquires a stunning piece of land the place he plans on constructing a home and beginning a household. Nonetheless, issues shortly go awry as accidents start taking place throughout, giving the sense that this idyllic land is tragically cursed. 

“Countless Night time” was tailored right into a 1972 movie starring Hywel Bennett as Michael Rogers (seen above). This assessment from Time Out sums up simply how totally different this story feels from the remainder of Christie’s bibliography: “An instance of the kind of factor Christie was writing in her later years: moody psychological research very totally different from, and never a lot enjoyable as, her early thrillers.”

“Countless Night time” is not as plot-driven as a few of Christie’s different works. As a substitute, she develops a haunting, foreboding ambiance, and the precise homicide would not happen till pretty late into the story. Whereas loads of different odd and ominous issues occur to Michael all through the e-book, he stays steadfast in beginning a brand new life right here. “Countless Night time” nearly performs like a horror novel the place you your self may begin believing there’s one thing supernatural right here. After all, Christie’s at all times extra within the human psyche than making ghosts a actuality in her works. Very similar to “Hallowe’en Get together,” which dabbles within the thought of the supernatural, there’s one thing much more sinister right here than mere demons.

“5 Little Pigs” is basically Agatha Christie doing “Rashomon,” an excellent movie from Akira Kurosawa. Nonetheless, to be truthful, “5 Little Pigs” got here out first. Christie’s story opens with a case that is already seemingly been solved. A person was murdered 16 years prior, and his spouse was convicted of the crime as a result of litany of proof suggesting she did it. The spouse has already died in jail, however the couple’s daughter, Carla, needs Hercule Poirot to take one other have a look at the case, as a result of she’s satisfied another person killed her father, and there are 5 suspects who might’ve performed it. 

From there, Hercule speaks with the 5 suspects, every one providing their very own account of what occurred 16 years in the past. “5 Little Pigs” gives a large amount of psychological depth for the central forged, and the e-book dives deeply into how dependable individuals’s recollections are, particularly contemplating the crime occurred so way back. It is all of the extra fascinating when not one of the suspects have as apparent of a motive as killing the person as his spouse did, but there’s one thing telling Hercule and Carla there’s extra to this story. 

“5 Little Pigs” is a superb encapsulation of what makes Christie such a implausible thriller author: She’s at all times discovering methods to make a reveal stunning but apparent all alongside. It is no marvel it has been tailored a number of occasions throughout tv, together with an episode for the ITV collection, “Agatha Christie’s Poirot,” seen above with the Crale household earlier than tragedy tore them aside.  

Idyllic resorts and delightful areas have typically been the supply of nice homicide mysteries. Simply have a look at one thing like “The White Lotus” that makes use of lovely surroundings as an ideal juxtaposition between the grisly impulses of the friends. Agatha Christie understood this enchantment all too properly, as seen in “Evil Beneath the Solar” the place Hercule Poirot as soon as once more tries to go on trip however will get wrapped up in a homicide plot. The man simply cannot catch a break. 

“Evil Beneath the Solar,” and its 1982 film starring Maggie Smith (seen above), is a must-read and must-watch for anybody who enjoys “Knives Out,” because it additionally explores how wealth corrodes the soul. It is not simply that there is a assassin in Hercule’s midst; the novel tackles an array of sore factors from marital troubles in outright infidelity. Given how well-written such passages are, one can solely think about Christie drew from her personal private expertise. 

Christie’s first marriage to Archibald Christie ended when she uncovered his infidelity, resulting in an notorious second the place she went lacking for 11 days, turning up later in a lodge. It is by no means been totally confirmed what occurred to Christie, though the most probably rationalization is that she entered a fugue state and easily forgot the place to go or the place she lived. “Evil Beneath the Solar” would not merely supply yet one more implausible Hercule Poirot thriller, it could additionally present a glimpse into the creator’s personal psyche. 

Hercule Poirot typically will get the lion’s share of consideration on the subject of all-time nice fictional detectives, however Miss Marple deserves her flowers, too. As a kindly previous lady, suspects typically let their guard round her, and he or she has a wealth of human expertise to attract from to determine the psychological reasoning behind sure instances. 

Agatha Christie’s fiftieth novel, “A Homicide Is Introduced,” exhibits Miss Marple at her finest. The story begins with an announcement in a newspaper {that a} homicide goes to happen Friday night. As a substitute of deterring individuals from gathering collectively, extra individuals present up, anticipating the entire thing to be a joke. This can be a prime instance of the sort of social commentary Christie infuses into lots of her works. Printed in 1950, “A Homicide Is Introduced” offers with post-war sensibilities and the way there have been altering societal attitudes about what work was applicable for what individuals and the way anybody might be drawn to commit a horrific crime underneath the best circumstances. 

“A Homicide Is Introduced” can also be an excellent instance of how Christie’s tales may typically happen in quaint European villages, however there are common themes. This specific story has been tailored into British, French, Japanese, and Korean TV episodes. ITV notably tailored it for his or her different Christie-centric collection — “Agatha Chrisie’s Marple,” which sees Geraldine McEwan play the crafty detective (seen above). 

There is a purpose why “Homicide on the Orient Categorical” is one in all Agatha Christie’s most beloved and most frequently tailored tales, most not too long ago coming to theaters with Kenneth Branagh’s 2017 movie that includes an all-star forged together with the likes of Daisy Ridley, Josh Gad, Penélope Cruz, Michelle Pfeiffer, Olivia Colman, and lots of others. It represents the platonic best of what a superb homicide thriller could be. You’ve got Hercule Poirot on a prepare journey, and whereas he is there, a homicide takes place with everybody onboard having a fairly good purpose why they’d kill the sufferer. It is a distinctive, remoted setting, because the prepare will get caught in a snowstorm, so nobody can get on or off the vessel. At this level, individuals ought to actually be taught to save lots of their murdering for when a world-famous detective is not round. 

“Homicide on the Orient Categorical” has some of the ingenious endings out of all of Christie’s works. It is the sort of finale you will not see coming whenever you’re studying the e-book for the primary time, however as soon as all the things’s laid out for you, it looks like the one attainable rationalization. However what’s much more astonishing is what occurs after, blurring the strains between what actually qualifies as justice. It is a morally grey whodunnit that sticks with you lengthy after you set the e-book down. 

It is actually astonishing {that a} listing of the most effective Agatha Christie books spans all a long time of her profession. She wasn’t an creator that peaked early after which cranked out inferior works in a while in her profession. She at all times had a deft contact, and he or she proved early on that she wasn’t one to play by the foundations in “The Homicide of Roger Ackroyd.”

It goes with out saying that the detective and thriller genres had been well-established by the point Christie got here round within the early twentieth century. With that in thoughts, there have been sure guidelines in place that authors adopted so {that a} reader might moderately work out a given thriller on their very own. “The Homicide of Roger Ackroyd” is such an excellent Christie novel as a result of it flies within the face of earlier conventions. She broke the foundations, and whereas that will have been met with controversy on the time, studying the novel as we speak in all probability would not elicit one thing as robust. 

In spite of everything, we reside in a postmodern (or perhaps a post-postmodern) literary world, so the ultimate twist could also be seen as previous hat. However even when it would not shock you because it did readers within the Twenties, it is nonetheless a fantastically crafted thriller that is ripe for a big-screen adaptation. It technically served as the idea for 1931’s “Alibi,” which is a misplaced movie, however the most effective adaptation we now have up to now in all probability belongs to an episode of ITV’s “Agatha Christie’s Poirot” (seen above). 

Not like the most effective Agatha Christie books, there isn’t any shock twist ending right here. The selection for her finest novel ever might be the obvious, nevertheless it’s typically considered her finest for a purpose. “And Then There Had been None” is Christie’s most astounding feat, as she herself admitted in “Agatha Christie: An Autobiography.” She wrote, “I do not say [‘And Then There Were None’] is the play or e-book of mine that I like finest, and even that I believe it’s my finest, however I do assume in some ways in which it’s a higher piece of craftsmanship than the rest I’ve written.”

Within the e-book, 10 strangers get invited to an island the place they’re every accused of getting away with homicide themselves, comparable to one particular person killing two youngsters whereas dashing of their automotive. Over the course of the night, they’re killed off one after the other as their paranoia will increase alongside the physique depend. With such a compelling thriller and a component of horror thrown in, it is easy to see why “And Then There Had been None” has been tailored quite a few occasions. The 1945 movie (seen above) is without doubt one of the three Christie films that has an ideal 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and there are many different movies, performs, and even an episode of “Household Man” drawing from this spectacular thriller. 

It is a excellent work of fiction, and it is bought over 100 million copies over time, turning it into the most effective promoting thriller novel ever. Even for those who do not think about your self a large Agatha Christie fan, the e-book’s a must-read for anybody who needs to higher perceive the thriller style.