'It is the brain, the little grey cells on which one must rely. One must seek the truth within - not without' - Hercule Poirot
The Queen of Crime! As already mentioned, Agatha Christie was the author who kicked off my love for reading again. Her writing style is fast-paced, easy to follow and friendly for every kind of reader.
If you want to find out more amazing facts and information about the life of Agatha Christie, I recommend checking out the official website.
Christie has written so many brilliant stories. Sometimes, it can be a little bit overwhelming to know where to start. Thankfully, you don't necessarily need to read her books in a particular order. I thought I would make a little list of my absolute favourites that are certainly worth a read!
Let's Go!
Christie Book Recs
And Then There Were None
(Standalone)
Eight strangers are invited to visit a "U N Owens" on an isolated island in Devon. The guests soon realise that no one knows the mysterious host.
As they attempt to settle, a startling announcement is made. Each guest is accused of murder.
One by one, a guest is confronted with their gruesome end...
The reason why I love this book so much is because of how fast-paced and intriguing I found the story. If I am being honest, I don't usually have the best attention span. However, with this book, I was hooked from the first few pages. That is what I have always loved about Christie's work. She knows how to keep the reader's interest. When people ask me which Christie book they should try out, this one is high on the list. You're actively trying to solve the mysteries alongside the characters.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
(A Hercule Poirot Mystery)
Are you ready to introduce yourself to the beloved Belgian detective? I picked this one because its phenomenal twist proves why Christie is one of the most renowned authors of all time.
Hercule Poirot is forced out of retirement when his friend, Roger Ackroyd, is mysteriously murdered - stabbed to death with a weapon from his collection.
The reader is very much pulled into this mystery. Christie lays out all of the tools for you to try to solve this murder. If you were able to solve this mystery on your first read, do let me know. Sometimes, it's really fun to re-read Christie mysteries to try to find potential clues that you missed.
This book is a firm favourite. You can always trust a Christie book that features Hercule Poirot.
The Murder on the Orient Express
(A Hercule Poirot Mystery)
This was the first Agatha Christie book I ever read. I'm sure that everyone has heard of this gem. There was even a recent film adaptation in 2017.
Requested to return to London, Poirot can secure a seat on the Orient Express where he meets an odd mixture of folk. One passenger, Samuel Ratchett, attempts to "hire" Poirot to investigate the threats against his life. Poirot refuses to involve himself.
In the night, a passenger is violently murdered. Poirot now has no choice but to involve himself. A train is full of passengers. One murderer.
I have two different editions of this book as I simply loved it so much! It's one of her most renowned pieces for a reason.
Five Little Pigs
(A Hercule Poirot Mystery)
I guess you can probably tell who my favourite Christie protagonist is. I do have a soft spot for Poirot mysteries.
Carla Lemarchant is convinced of one thing. Her mother was wrongfully convicted of murder. But...it's been seventeen years since her conviction. Poirot is given the task of uncovering the true murderer of Amyas Crale. However, the evidence against Carla's mother is overwhelming. Can Poirot solve this old mystery?
I'm sure this book has also been adapted into a TV show featuring David Suchet. However, I would strongly recommend reading the book before you watch any adaptations. I thought the particular challenges of this mystery were unique as it was being solved many years later.
The Murder at the Vicarage
(A Miss Marple Mystery)
I couldn't make a Christie post without mentioning Miss Marple. What I love about Marple is how everyone always underestimates her, yet, she's always the one to solve the case. She's the perfect example of not judging someone's intuition simply because of their age.
This book is the first novel to feature Marple in her little village of St Mary Mead. It's hard not to love her.
The vicar, Clement, is scheduled to meet Protheroe, a wealthy member of the village. On the day previously, Clement discovered Protheroe's wife having an affair. He decides to keep this information to himself. It turns out he needn't have worried about talking to Protheroe about it. As Protheroe was discovered murdered the following day.
There are so many brilliant books by Agatha Christie. This shortlist is just a few key titles that I think novices to her work would enjoy. I always feel like with Christie books, once you start, you can't stop.
I hope this list has been relatively useful!
For my fellow Christie fans, there is more Christie content from my blog that you can find below:
Happy Reading!
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Other Christie Gems!