The best Agatha Christie books

The author behind famous characters Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Superintendent Battle, and Tommy and Tuppence, Agatha Christie, is synonymous with detective stories. Christie’s novels might not be as deep as some other writers’ work, but they have a unique style and are always fun.

Arguably, she is still one of the most popular English mystery writers of all time. Her detective novels are never out of print, they are constantly adapted into films and TV shows, and they have their audiobook versions, some of which are available right here on Speechify.

Who is Agatha Christie, and what were her meaningful contributions to mystery novels?

Dame Agatha Christie was an English author best known for writing detective novels in which Hercule Poirot, Ariadne Oliver, and Jane Marple appear. Namely, she wrote 66 novels and 14 short story collections as well as theater plays, of which The Mousetrap is the most famous and is still playing in London. During her career, she also wrote under a pen name, Mary Westmacott.

Christie was born in Devon to a wealthy family. During the First and Second World Wars, she volunteered as a nurse. She married twice, first to Archibald Christie, with whom she had a son, and then later to Max Mallowan. When it comes to awards, Agatha Christie received many of them, including the first Mystery Writers of America Award in 1955.

Most popular Agatha Christie books

As mentioned, Agatha Christie wrote 66 novels and 14 other story collections. We can’t go through each of them, even though all deserve praise. However, we can pick some of our favorites and briefly summarize what they are about in the hope of sparking some interest in you. So, let’s check our top Agatha Christie novels, shall we?

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is Christie’s third novel, in which Hercule Poirot is the main detective. It came back in 1926, and it tells a story about James Sheppard. Sheppard is a physician in a small town near London. However, when a suicide and murder investigation begins, he ends up intertwined with the case and is confronted by none other than Poirot. You can listen to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd on Speechify in four different versions.

And Then There Were None

Adapted numerous times into TV show episodes and full feature films, And Then There Were None is another top-notch Agatha Christie mystery novel. The story follows ten strangers as they arrive at an island, all invited by the same couple—Mr. and Mrs. U.N. However, once there, they are all accused of different crimes. And Then There Were None is one of the best-selling books of all time, with 100+ million copies sold since 1939.

Murder on the Orient Express

Alongside Death on the Nile, Murder on the Orient Express is probably Christie’s most famous title. The mystery takes place on the famous Orient Express—the train riding across Europe to Istanbul. While traveling, Poirot investigates who killed his fellow passenger, Edward Ratchett. You can listen to Murder on the Orient Express right here on Speechify. It’s available in four different versions, with one of them being a tie-in with the 2017 movie adaptation.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles

The Mysterious Affair at Styles is the first novel in which Hercule Poirot appears. In fact, it’s Christie’s first successful work after a series of badly received novels. Either way, the plot revolves around Poirot, who came to England as a Belgian refugee and is helped by Mrs. Inglethorp to settle. However, once she is murdered, Poirot must use his detective skills to solve the mystery. You can listen to it in audiobook format in several versions right here on Speechify.

Death on the Nile

As mentioned, Death on the Nile is alongside Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie’s most famous mystery novel. Nevertheless, unlike in the Orient Express, the mystery now occurs while Poirot is on a boat cruise in Egypt. He is tasked with investigating who cut short a newly-wed couple’s honeymoon. You can listen to Death on the Nile on Speechify in two different versions, one of them again being a tie-in with the 2022 movie adaptation.

The characteristics of Agatha Christie’s writing

Be it in The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side, Nemesis, The Man in the Brown Suit, 4:50 from Paddington, or any other novel or short story that we’ve mentioned above, Agatha Christie’s writing has a unique style that sets her apart from other authors.

She was a master of suspense and thriller, as she would pace her stories slowly so that the revelations at the end truly feel like a climax. Her works are also heavy on dialogue, which is, in this case, a good thing as it allows us, as the audience, to feel like we’re part of the scene.

Listen to other mystery audiobooks with Speechify Audiobooks

Not only is Speechify a great place to listen to your audiobooks, as it’s available on all popular platforms and devices, but it’s also home to a vast collection of books. Sure enough, we only mentioned our top Agatha Christie picks, but that’s pretty subjective. You might enjoy some of her other mystery novels or short stories more. If so, do know that the following novels are all available right here on Speechify Audiobooks:

• Hallowe’en Party
• Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
• The Murder At The Vicarage
• Endless Night
• The ABC Murders
• Crooked House
• Five Little Pigs
• The Body In The Library
• The Mysterious Mr. Quin
• The Big Four
• Sleeping Murder
• Peril at End House
• Destination Unknown
• They Came to Baghdad
• The Moving Finger
• The Murder On The Links
• The Pale Horse
• They Do It With Mirrors
• The Witness For The Prosecution

If that isn’t enough for you, check out some of the other mysteries on the platform, such as the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries series, beginning with A Bone to Pick.

FAQ

What is the best Agatha Christie book to start with?

Although it might be best to start with her most famous book, And Then There Were None, you won’t make a mistake by listening or reading to, let’s say, Death Comes As The End or A Caribbean Mystery. They are all worth it.

What is Agatha Christie’s best-selling novel?

And Then There Were None has sold over 100 million copies since 1939, and it is one of her most famous mystery novels.

What is the name of Agatha Christie’s detective?

Which one? There are a few. Joking aside, Hercule Poirot is Christie’s most popular character, even though she disliked him.

Which Agatha Christie novel was made into a movie?

From At Bertram’s Hotel and A Murder Is Announced to The Secret of Chimneys and The Secret Adversary, most of Agatha Christie’s novels and short stories have their film and TV adaptations.

What is the name of the main character in And Then There Were None?

And Then There Were None doesn’t have one main character. In fact, it has ten of them—all the invitees to the island.