After Arthur Conan Doyle, if any author has gained recognition for her detective story, it is Agatha Christie. Agatha is renowned as one of the best author throughout the world for her finest works of mystery and crime investigation. Her excellency is best portrayed through the character of Hercules Poirot, the detective who solves all her mysterious plots of crimes and deaths through his thorough introspection and wit.
For people who love to read detective stories or stories of mystery, suspense and thrill, reading a classic of Agatha Christie is a common name of interest to them. Many of Agatha’s novels have also been later adapted into movies that are amazing to watch. In this article we are going to discuss the best books of Agatha Christie that you should definitely read once in your lifetime:
1. Murder on the Orient Express
A book later adapted into a movie for its extreme popularity, Murder On The Orient Express is probably the best masterpiece created by Agatha Christie. Published in the year 1934, the plot revolves around the Orient Express where Hercules Poirot, the private detective and retired Belgian Police officer, is on a trip to his home in London. The elite Orient Express is suddenly stopped by an avalanche and the passengers on the train discover there has been a murder inside a cabin, a man named Rachett who informed Poirot the previous night about receiving threatening letters. This intriguing murder mystery is complicated and has many twists and knots until Poirot entangles them all to discover the truth.
2. And Then There Were None
And Then There Were None has a unique plot revolving around many characters who receive a mysterious invitation from the same person. Published in the year of 1939, the novel opens with a mysterious invitation by Mr and Mrs Owen to visit the Indian Island, and all the characters invited set on their journey to respond to the invitation. Mysteriously, all the characters share a collective memory and relation with a past death case that they recall during their journey. All the characters have separate reasons to visit the island, and when the story begins to unfold, and the characters come to a realisation that they are not familiar with Mr and Mrs Owen, everything begins to turn mysteriously dangerous.
3. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Agatha Christie’s most daring crime mystery, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd revolves around Mrs Ferrars, the rich widow, the murder of her husband and her romantic involvement with the widower of Fernly Park estate, Roger Ackroyd. When both Mrs Ferrars and Roger Ackroyd are dead or more accurately, mysteriously murdered, Hercules Poirot the detective, comes out of his retirement to investigate this mysterious and complicated murder case.
4. The ABC Murders
Another fine example of crime mystery, The ABC Murders features the characters of Hercules Poirot the detective, his partner Arthur Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp who together try to resolve the case of murders, where the victims are killed in alphabetical order by a serial killer named ABC. Also, it is noted that a travelling salesman by the name Alexander Bonaparte Cust had travelled to all the locations on the day of the murder, is he the serial killer or is someone else is left for you to discover.
5. Death on the Nile
Death on the Nile is another murder mystery investigated by Hercules Poirot when he was on his holiday to Egypt. Poirot is assigned to solve the mystery of a serial murder that took place at a luxurious cruiseship on the river Nile. Poirot believes everyone is hiding something, and he goes on to introspect for clues until he has found the real culprit. Who could it be? Get your copy today and find out.
6. The Mysterious Affair at Style
Another Hercules Poirot mystery, The Mysterious Affair at Styles set in the year 1916 during the ‘First World War’, and set in Styles Court, Essex, England. Detective Poirot is summoned to Styles Court to investigate the mysterious death of the rich, elderly owner Emily Inglethorp. Emily’s mysterious death is of great importance because of her huge inheritance and a will that will decide who is to receive how much of the share. With twists and turns, this plot will keep the reader glued to the text unless Poirot has discovered the original will and the culprit behind Emily’s murder.
7. Five Little Pigs
Though the title may suggest something innocent, a story related to “five little pigs”, but the novel has something deeper to reveal, a murder mystery assigned to Hercules Poirot by a daughter whose mother was convicted and killed years before for having poisoned her father, the famous artist Amyas Crale.
Caroline’s daughter finds a letter after coming into age and discovers the truth of her mother’s innocence. It is then she seeks Poirot’s help to find the real culprit. Will Poirot be able to unfold an age-old murder mystery and prove Caroline’s innocence? The answer lies on the text.
8. A Murder is Announced
The novel opens with a mysterious announcement on the newspaper, a murder has been announced mysteriously and is yet to take place at Miss Blacklock’s home known as Little Paddocks at half past six o’clock. Things begin to change when a man is actually shot dead at the exact location on exact time. Was it a murder or accident is left for the reader to discover through the engaging plot.
This novel by Christie is one of those that does not include Poirot as the investigating Officer. However, it does not effect the essence of the plot a wee bit since the story features mysterious events and plot twists.
9. Peril At The End
Number 9 on our list is another Hercules Poirot mystery, the plot takes place when Poirot is on a vacation to St. Loo, and a young, beautiful owner named Nick Buckley of the mansion End House feels threatened of being murdered comes to the detective for help. During the investigation, Nick’s cousin Maggie Buckley is murdered, it is assumed that she has been killed mistakenly in the place of Nick, but as the plot unfolds, Poirot discovers some dark truths that are impossible to believe.
10. Curtain
Curtain is the last solved case of the exceptional detective Poirot. The novel is heart-breaking for Poirot fans since this case leads to the shocking death of the detective. The plot begins with Poirot inviting his friend Hastings to Styles which has now turned into a guest house. Hastings discovers that Poirot is crippled and sits on a wheelchair hence he has called Hastings to help him on a case, a series of 5 murders and the killer resides at Styles.
The case is equally mysterious, intriguing and heart-breaking, but it is worth a read. This novel will leave an impression on reader forever.
Agatha Christie is surely one of those finest author who will be remembered for centuriesfor her excellent crime fictions and her celebrated, intellectual detective the Belgian version of Sherlock Holmes, Hercules Poirot.
