During her lifetime Agatha Christie wrote 66 full length detective novels, so it can be hard to choose which of her books to read first! To help you out, I’ve made a list of my top ten favorites (as of right now anyway) and which ones I’d skip (unless you’re really invested in reading her full collection).
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My Top 10 Favorite Agatha Christie Books In Order(ish)
1. And Then There Were None (1939)
A masterpiece of suspense, this novel brings ten strangers to a remote island, only to be systematically killed off one by one according to a rather disturbing nursery rhyme. Its clever closed circle plot, full of surprising twists and eerie atmosphere make it one of the most gripping and innovative mysteries ever written.
If you can only read one book on this list, start here. It’s the perfect stand alone mystery to curl up with on a stormy night.
2. Murder on the Orient Express (1934)
Christie’s iconic detective Hercule Poirot faces one of his most complex cases when a murder occurs on a luxury train trapped in a snowdrift. The ingenious solution challenged notions of justice and cemented this novel as a classic in detective fiction.
Even if you’ve seen one of the movie adaptation (of which there are many) I still think this book is worth reading!
3. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926)
Famous for its groundbreaking twist, this novel redefined the detective genre by cleverly manipulating narrative perspective. Poirot’s sharp intellect shines as he unravels the secrets of a small English village.
This is one of those books you wish you could go back and read again for the first time. Christie herself even ranked this as one of her favorite novels she wrote.
4. Death on the Nile (1937)
Set against the exotic backdrop of Egypt, this intricate tale of jealousy and betrayal on a river cruise showcases Christie’s ability to weave complex character relationships with a shocking murder mystery that teaches readers to never make assumptions and to questions everything they think they know.
I love how Christie drew upon her own travels to Egypt when writing this book, with many of the locations mentioned being real places she visited during her coming out tour and then later with her husband archaeologist Max Mallowan.
I love this book so much that my husband and I took an entire trip to Egypt based on it and I have fond memories of reading this story while sitting out on the veranda of The Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan as the sun set over the Nile.
5. Endless Night (1967)
One of Agatha Christie’s darker and more psychologically driven novels, you won’t find Poirot or Marple here. Instead this is the story of a young couple building their dream home when life takes a sinister turn as secrets, jealousy, and a foreboding curse unravel their idyllic life. With its unexpected twists and chilling atmosphere, this book showcases Christie’s ability to craft a deeply unsettling tale that lingers long after the final page.
This is one of the only Christie books I reread almost every year. Christie herself even said it was one of her favorite novels she wrote. But heads up: This book is a definite departure from her usual detective format and reads more as a suspense thriller with elements of gothic horror.
6. A Murder is Announced (1950)
A seemingly innocent newspaper advertisement announcing a murder to take place later that day draws a cast of quirky characters to a village gathering, where mayhem ensues. Christie’s elderly spinster detective, Miss Marple’s sharp observational skills shine in this brilliantly plotted tale.
The characters in this novel are all just so well crafted and the mystery so well plotted that it is truly a joy to read. And clearly I loved it enough to name this entire website after it.
7. Crooked House (1949)
This standalone masterpiece dives into a web of family secrets and deceit as the death of a wealthy patriarch exposes the dark undercurrents within his seemingly loving household. With its jaw-dropping conclusion, this novel showcases Christie’s unmatched talent for crafting shocking and unforgettable twists
While I love Poirot and Marple and Christie’s other detectives, I really adore her stand alone books like this one. Christie just seems to have more space to delve deeper into the character studies she is so well known for and to explore the complexities of human relationships. This is an excellent example of both of those aspects of her writing.
8. Five Little Pigs / Remembered Death (1942)
Poirot reopens a 16-year-old murder case, piecing together the truth from five conflicting eyewitness accounts. The focus is not just on solving a murder, but also on the lasting emotional impact of the crime on the lives of those involved. Delving into the past through multiple perspectives, the book creates a compelling narrative that demands the reader pay close attention.
Christie wrote this book at the height of her success, after she had already utilized almost every trick in the book for writing a compelling mystery. Which is why I think this novel reads as almost a personal dare to herself to see what she could do without all the trappings most mystery stories rely on. Could one write a mystery that wasn’t told in chronological order? Can you write a compelling story where the two main characters are both long dead? You can if you’re Agatha Christie.
9. Cards on the Table (1936)
Poirot is invited to a rather unusual dinner party, where he is greeted by three other professional detectives and four individuals who may all be murderers. After retiring to seperate rooms for games of bridge after dinner, their enigmatic host is found dead and there are only four people that could have commited the crime. Christie cleverly challenges the reader by focusing on psychology and behavior rather than physical clues, crafting an intricate puzzle that showcases her unparalleled skill in character-driven mysteries.
This book is such a great example of how Christie used human psychology and character studies to craft an engaging mystery and is a pure masterclass in minimalism.
10. The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920)
Christie’s debut novel introduced the world to Hercule Poirot and established her knack for ingenious puzzles. Its intricate plot (often credited as the book that would forever popularize the “closed circle mystery” trend), remote, picturesque country home setting and surprising conclusion remain as captivating now as they were over a century ago and are a great place to start if you’ve never picked up an Agatha Christie novel before.
Fun Fact: This book was actually written as the result of a dare Agatha had with her sister Madge, who bet Agatha that she couldn’t write a good detective novel. Christie completed the book in 1916 and it was eventually published (after first being rejected by a number of publishers) in 1920.
My 4 Least Favorite Agatha Christie Books
Here’s the thing, I love all of Christie’s books. But if you write 66 full length detective stories, chances are not all of them are going to be AMAZING. Below are the books that I read once and then immediately set on my “that was nice, but once was enough” pile:
- The Big Four – This book feels more like a clunky spy thriller than a clever whodunit. The plot is absurdly over-the-top, (with Hercule Poirot battling an international crime syndicate that feels more cartoonish than menacing) and lacks Christie’s usual sharp plotting and nuanced character writing. The fact that Christie herself even called it “that rotten book” tells you all you need to know.
- The Mystery Of The Blue Train – This novel desperately struggles with pacing and feels wholey flat and uninspired. Which isn’t surprising considering Christie wrote it during one of the lowest points in her life and while in desperate need of funds. In her autobiography she referred back to the work stating that “she always hated it.” In fact, she was so desperate to never be in the position of having to publish a book she didn’t like simply for money that she wrote Sleeping Murder and locked it securely in a bank vault for years as a fallback “just in case” publication.
- Postern of Fate – This story is a slog even for the most devoted Agatha Christie fans. Tommy and Tuppence’s final outing is bogged down by a meandering plot, repetitive dialogue, and a mystery that feels like an afterthought. What could have been a nostalgic farewell instead felt like a confusing, slow-paced chore to finish.
- Passenger to Frankfurt – Another attempt at international intrigue, this book suffers from an overly complicated plot about political conspiracies and secret societies that just don’t land. The story feels scattered, with flat characters and twists that stretch believability to the breaking point. Lacking the charm and coherence of her other work, this one is best left on the shelf.
If you found this article interesting, you may also love THIS BLOG POST from the official Agatha Christie website that proposes an in depth ranking of all Christie’s detective fiction from best to worst! You might also enjoy this one that lists Agatha Christie’s personal top 10 favorites too!
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