Looking for the best books and novels by Agatha Christie? I have shortlisted her 15 best writeups that you will surely love.
Recently I watched a movie called “Murder on the Nile” starring Gal Gadot and Kenneth Branagh. The movie mentioned that it was an adaptation based on the novels of Agatha Christie.
Out of curiosity, I put the name on the internet and what I came across was mind-boggling. Not only Agatha Christie is considered the best crime fiction writer, but she also has a vast world of crime fiction around many iconic characters like Hercule Poirot, and Jane Marple.
Her world is spread over 60 novels and over dozen short stories. After reading many of her books, I thought to share and write about some of her best books. In this article, I have brought you 10 of Agatha Christie’s best books.
- About the Author
- Best Books By Agatha Christie
- 1. Murder on the Orient Express
- 2. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
- 3. Peril At End House
- 4. And Then There Were None
- 5. The ABC Murders
- 6. Five Little Pigs
- 7. A Murder is Announced
- 8. Crooked House
- 9. Endless Night
- 10. Murder is Easy
- 11. The Mystery of The Blue Train
- 12. After the Funeral
- 13. Dumb Witness
- 14. Three Act Tragedy
- 15. The body in the library
- Final Words: Agatha Christie’s Best Books and Novels Ever!
About the Author
Agatha Christie was born on 15 September 1890 in the seaside town of Torquay, England. She was born to Frederick Miller and Clara Miller in a wealthy upper-middle-class family.
In Crime Fiction Genre, Agatha Christie is known as the most prolific writer of all time. Over two billion copies of her fiction novels have been sold, which is also a Guinness record in itself. Agatha Christie’s books have been translated into over 100 languages, which is enough to speak for the popularity of the writer.
Full Name | Dame Agatha Mary Clarrisa Christie |
Genre | Crime, Detective Fiction |
Number of Novels & Short Stories | 66 novels and 14 Short stories |
Best Known For | Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile |
Many of you must have seen your favorite actors in movies based on the novels of Agatha Christie, like Johnny Depp in Murder on the Orient Express, Gal Galot and Emma Mackey in Death on the Nile along with the infamous Detective Hercule Poirot played by Kenneth Branagh.
Best Books By Agatha Christie
Here is a list of 15 of my favorite books written by Agatha Christie and all the information you need about those books:
1. Murder on the Orient Express
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 336 |
Price of the Book | $6.99 |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.6/5 |
Key Records | Best Selling Book of Agatha Christie to date, Top 100 Mystery Novels of All Time |
Murder on the Orient Express Summary: The murder of Mr. Ratchett occurs on a running train and Hercule Poirot tries to find the killer with all his wit and experience. With the murderer being onboard, the train goes into complete chaos. Eventually, Poirot figures out who is the killer.
Murder on the Orient Express Review: The book is a thriller for crime fiction readers as it challenges you to guess the killer till the end of the book. Agatha wrote the book in the present and the question of who is the killer hangs on till the last moment.
Favorite quotes: “All these here are linked together – By Death”.
Why you should read the novel:
- Other than the reason that Agatha Christie wrote it, one should read it for its tease of telling you that this is very much possible in the real world.
- The novel takes you into the world of Hercule Poirot where people’s secrets are being revealed every second and you are on the edge to find out “Who is the Killer?”.
- Hercule Poirot is no James Bond, but he has his own of being the smartest person in the room. Which surely is one reason to give it a go.
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2. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 288 |
Price of the Book | $8.95 |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.6/5 |
Key Records | NA |
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Summary: Poirot’s friend Roger Ackroyd is murdered while Poirot has retired to the village of Roger Ackroyd. Hercule Poirot comes out of retirement to solve the mystery of his friend’s murder.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Review: Most intriguing and mind-boggling work of Agatha Christie. Throughout the novel, Agatha keeps us wondering who might be the killer. The novel ends with an innovative twist which makes it worth giving time to all the suspense in the novel.
Favorite quotes: “All the troubles in the world can be put down to money – or the lack of it.”
Why you should read it:
- This novel is often called the best work of Agatha Christie.
- Its unique and innovative ending is compelling for me to tell you to read it once.
3. Peril At End House
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 219 |
Price of the Book | $13.69 |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.5/5 |
Key Records | NA |
Peril At End House Summary: A murder takes place on a cornish resort where Hercule Poirot is staying. The story revolves around the intent of killing a young lad Nick for some reason. Where her friend Maggie gets killed wearing Nick’s shawl. Poirot uses his wit and humor in the novel to solve the mystery of the murder.
Peril at End House Review: Agatha Christie has written Hercule Poirot in many shades over the course of 30+ novels but this novel is unique as Poirot is never wittier and humourous in any other book. Agatha had the art of writing the story around many characters and still binding it well, which is what you experience while reading.
Favorite quotes: “Luck, they say, goes in Cycles.”
Why you should read it:
- The arc of characters and newfound humor of Hercule Poirot is one reason why you shouldn’t miss this classic piece of literature.
- The novel unfolds many secrets about people in the resort in a way of telling about them to reveal who is the killer, yet it is only Poirot who finds the killer eventually.
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4. And Then There Were None
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 258 |
Price of the Book | $9.99 |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.5/5 |
Key Records | Over 100 Million Copies Sold |
And Then There Were None Summary: Some people are hosted by the Owen Family and invited to an island. On the island a recording is played, accusing all 8 guests of murder. A Mr. Rogers and McArthur among the guests are found dead the next day. Guests find a pattern in deaths and suspect Owen of the killings.
And Then There Were None Review: This book was described by Agatha herself as the most difficult book to write. As there is no legendary figure like Poirot in the novel to solve the mystery, the novel reveals the killer to be a judge who punishes the people, he believes have escaped justice.
Favorite quotes: “There was a silence- a comfortable replete silence.”
Why you should read it:
- The novel doesn’t have any heroes to solve mysteries, you will find it intriguing to think who might be the killer among the characters.
- As said before, it is one of the most complex murder mystery novels written by Agatha so you should give it a read.
5. The ABC Murders
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 256 |
Price of the Book | $19.35(Hardcover) |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.6/5 |
Key Records | Over 100 Million Copies Sold |
The ABC Murders Summary: Poirot receives 3 letters signed as A.B.C from an Unknown person. These letters details a crime to be committed by A.B.C. All murders are committed in alphabetical order. Poirot solves these crime mysteries in this novel.
The ABC Murders Review: The duo of hastings and Poirot is together in this novel which makes it more than just a crime novel. The innovative ways of revealing and hiding the killer are what make the novel most interesting.
Favorite quotes: “Our weapon is our knowledge. But remember, it may be a knowledge we may not know that we possess.”
Why you should read it:
- Agatha’s favorite character Hercule Poirot is there so you should give it a read.
- This is the first novel by Agatha Christie where the killer challenges Hercule Poirot by sending him information about the murders that are going to be carried out by A.B.C.
6. Five Little Pigs
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 256 |
Price of the Book | $12.56 |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.5/5 |
Key Records | Over 100 Million Copies Sold |
Five Little Pigs Summary: Poirot investigates the case of a deceased woman who was prisoned for the killing of her husband, after the woman’s daughter approaches Poirot to help her investigate the case. And He finds it true that the imprisoned woman was innocent.
Five Little Pigs Review: Agatha Christie fills this novel with more emotions than usual. Although she keeps the poisonous death and killer in the open attributes intact.
Favorite quotes: “Ah, but my dear sir, the why must never be obvious.”
Why you should read it:
- Poirot solves a murder that happened years ago and solves it successfully.
- You experience a touch of the real world in the novel when you come to know the end of the novel.
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7. A Murder is Announced
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 320 |
Price of the Book | $10.95 |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.4/5 |
A Murder is Announced Summary: Miss Jane Marple is invited by Inspector Craddock to investigate the case when the police drop it. Jane Marple solves the case as a clue falls in place when the vicar’s cat blows out a lamp.
A Murder is Announced Review: This is one of my favorite novels by Agatha Christie. Miss jane Marple’s wit and out-of-the-way thinking outdo everyone in the novel.
Favorite quotes: People with a grudge against the world are always dangerous.
Why you should read it:
- If you want to add a name to your list of best detectives, this novel is a must-read for you.
- Miss Jane Marple’s best detective work can be seen in this novel.
8. Crooked House
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 257 |
Price of the Book | $12.39 |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.6/5 |
Crooked House Summary: The murder occurs in a house called “Three Gabels” referred to as Crooked House in the title. Autopsy reveals that Leonidas was poisoned. Later it is revealed that the grandfather was killed because he did not pay for her granddaughter’s ballet lessons.
Crooked House Review: The novel stretches the scope of who might have killed grandfather and till the end keeps the suspense of who did it.
Favorite quotes: “Curious thing, rooms. Tell you quite a lot about the people who live in them.”
Why you should read it:
- The whole novel is written inside a house. Everything takes place in one house and still, it makes a great novel.
- Agatha has explored the area of killers at this level and that killing can take place for reasons we can not think of.
9. Endless Night
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 256 |
Price of the Book | $11.99 |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.3/5 |
Endless Night Summary: Michael Rogers falls in love with an heiress named Ellie. He is poor though he has dreams and dreams to own a house someday. He plan to buy a house on a gypsy’s acre that he liked.
Endless Night Review: Subtle and unprecedented way of solving the murder is visible in the novel. The story finds it to be more than about crime and love emotions are established.
Favorite quote: “When youth begins to pass, fun isn’t fun any longer.”
Why you should read it:
- One of the most thrilling novels written by Agatha Christie.
- The novel is fast-paced yet descriptive of every little thing you would think of noticing while reading.
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10. Murder is Easy
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 328 |
Price of the Book | $12.55 |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.4/5 |
Murder is Easy Summary: Lady Pinkerton intends to report a serial killer and tells Luke all about it on the train to London. Luke does not believe the lady but talks to her as she reminds him of someone in the family. Later when Luke gets the news of lady Pinkerton’s death, he gets suspicious and tries to find out how she died.
Murder is Easy Review: Everyone thinks Hercule Poirot is the life of Agatha Christie’s novels but her works without Poirot and Jane Marple are as good if not more. It is a classic and I absolutely loved it
Favorite quote: “Truth is seldom romantic”
Why you should read it:
- One of the best books by Agatha Christie without Hercule Poirot or Jane Marple.
11. The Mystery of The Blue Train
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 320 |
Price of the Book | $14.49 |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.5/5 |
The Mystery of the Blue Train Summary: An heiress is traveling from London to French Vierra. She is murdered on the train for precious rubies. Hercule Poirot, also traveling the train, solves the murder with the help of the French Police.
The Mystery of Blue Train Review: Hercule Poirot unravels the mystery of a murder of an heiress. It is excellent how Agatha binds such a story together in the small landscape of a train. One of the best novels of Hercule Poirot’s detective work.
Favorite quote: “You’re like me, you can’t bear to let go. But I’ve learnt, and you’ve
got to learn, that there are times when it’s the only way.”
Why you should read it:
- Train mysteries written by Agatha Christie are unique in themselves. She fits this big murder of an heiress on the landscape of a train and everything keeps running on the same train.
- Hercule Poirot creates a re-enactment of the journey till the killing to find out who is the killer of the heiress.
12. After the Funeral
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 256 |
Price of the Book | $12.99 (Paperback) |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.6/5 |
Ather the Funeral Summary: A solicitor of a family turns to Hercule Poirot to solve the mystery of the murder of the master of a mansion. And when Nora is killed with a hatchet. Hercule solves the case with his wit and understanding of the criminal mind.
After the Funeral Review: It was the 29th novel for the character Hercule Poirot. But everything you find in the novel is newfound. Never a dull conversation, never a dull landscape. Something is happening at all times.
Favorite quote: “For in the long run, either through a lie or through truth, people were bound to give themselves away”.
Why you should read it:
- Agatha took Hercule’s character to new heights in the last few novels of the series.
- Innovative ways of killing and reasons, and more innovative ways of Hercule Poirot solving them are just a thing to love in this novel.
13. Dumb Witness
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 272 |
Price of the Book | $13.99 |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.6/5 |
Dumb Witness Summary: Hercule receives a letter from Emily Arundell, who suspects that a murder attempt has been made on her life. By the time Poirot learns of the letter, Emily actually passed away. Poirot decides to investigate the case and finds that Emily was murdered. He interrogates the family and finds out the killer eventually.
Dumb Witness Review: This book is narrated by Hercule’s friend Hastings rather than from Hercule Poirot’s perspective. This book was considered by the New York Times an average work of Agatha Christie, though I felt that Author deserves full marks for her similar yet out-of-the-way approach to her novel stories.
Favorite quote: “There hung about her the restrained energy of a whiplash.”
Why you should read it:
- This is the last time where Hercule’s Friend Poirot appears until the last case.
14. Three Act Tragedy
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 224 |
Price of the Book | $12.99 |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.5/5 |
Three Act Tragedy Summary: A party is hosted by the once famous Charles Cartwright, an stage actor and famous man at the time. 13 people arrive at the party and soon after Stephen Babbington dies. Hercule Poirot being inside the party solves the murder.
Three Act Tragedy Review: This is the 11th book of Hercule Poirot’s mystery cases. Hercule Poirot’s one of the most difficult cases. He finds no motive, no way of killing. An absolute peach of a novel written by Agatha Christie.
Favorite quote: “One knows so little.”
Why you should read it:
- One of the best endings I have read to a mystery novel.
- A mystery novel where no clues are hidden and no clues are in the open, written so well that the thrill of the suspense you can feel at the end of the end.
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15. The body in the library
Genre | Crime/ Detective Fiction |
Total Pages | 224 |
Price of the Book | $10.39 |
Average Amazon Rating | 4.5/5 |
The Body in The Library Summary: The Bantrys find a body of a young woman in their library. Not knowing how she got there or what terrible thing happened to her, The Bantrys invite Miss Marple to solve the mystery of the Body in the Library.
The Body in The Library Review: This novel revolves around the character of Miss Jane Marple. The Hercule Poirot “Counterpart or competitor” in Agatha Christie’s novels. The novel is written brilliantly to keep you on the edge of finding the killer and yet not being able to judge who might have done it.
Favorite quote: “Because when you’re in love, you think you’re invincible. It blinds you. And you don’t seem to care.”
Why you should read it:
- In the Miss Jane Marple novels, Agatha has added a touch of ground to the landscape. The high-profile murder is not the theme of the novel rather focuses on the tricks and loopholes to find out who the killer is.
- One of the best-rated Novels in the Miss Marple series by the New York Times.
Final Words: Agatha Christie’s Best Books and Novels Ever!
Agatha Christie is called “Queen of the Crime/Mystery Fiction” and it is rightly so even this year. In English literature’s history, no author has come close to her work and the sheer volume of this kind of qualitative work.
She had a knack for the suspense you need to write a good mystery novel and in her prolonged career, it stayed with her throughout and right till the end.
If you read proper English Literature, You should definitely read some of these novels, I am pretty sure you will find them better than most of the mystery fiction you ever read.
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