If you are a lover of mystery and intrigue books, surely you have heard of the legend Agatha Christie. This British author has left an indelible mark on the mystery and suspense novel genre. Born in 1890 in Devon, England, Christie published her first novel in 1920 and since then, no one has compared her in her ability to keep the reader guessing until the final denouement.
The author wrote more than 60 novels and numerous short stories, which has ensured her a place in the history of literature. But what makes Christie's works so popular? The answer is simple: the woman herself knew how to create witty plots and memorable characters! With her unique style, Christie weaves plots full of twists and surprises that leave you in a constant state of tension. It is impossible to guess the ending!
In addition, Agatha Christie also pioneered the use of unexpected plot twists, earning her the nickname "the queen of crime". In her works, there is always a twist that makes the reader question everything she has read up to that point. It is that ability that has maintained the popularity of her books, even decades after their original publication.
Of course, some Christie's books are more popular than others. But which are the best? There are so many to choose from, but today we are going to show you a list of some of the most prominent ones that should be on your bookshelf.
What has been the impact of Agatha Christie on popular culture?
Agatha Christie has left an indelible mark on popular culture, both in literature and in film and television. Her work has been translated into more than 50 languages and has sold more than 2 billion copies worldwide, making her one of the best-selling authors of all time.
Many of her novels of hers have been adapted to film and television, which has further increased her popularity. Some of the best-known films and series based on his work are "Murder on the Orient Express", "Death on the Nile", "Ten Little Blacks", "A Murder Is Announced", "The Crooked House" and "The Mysterious Case of Styles".
Agatha Christie's characters have also made their mark on popular culture. The Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, is one of the most well-known and beloved characters in mystery literature. His flamboyant personality and his brilliance at solving cases have captivated millions of readers around the world.
On the other hand, Miss Marple, the old single and observant, has also earned a place in the hearts of fans of the genre. Christie has also created other interesting characters such as the married couple Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, and Parker Pyne, the private detective.
What are the books that I should not stop reading by Agatha Christie?
Murder is Easy
The plot revolves around a famous novelist named Mrs. Ariadne Oliver, who visits her old friend, Mrs. Burton-Cox, in the quiet town of Woodleigh Common.
During her visit, Mrs. Oliver learns that Mrs. Burton-Cox fears that her husband, who has been receiving threatening anonymous letters, is in danger. Concerned, Mrs. Oliver suggests that she hire a detective to look into the matter, and that is how detective Hercule Poirot enters the picture.
Poirot soon discovers that the situation is much more complex than it seems. A murder occurs at the Burton-Cox home, and Poirot finds himself drawn into a complex web of lies and deceit as he tries to discover who the murderer is and what his motive is.
The Big Four
This novel tells the story of actress Jane Wilkinson, also known as Lady Edgware, who wishes to divorce her husband, the noble Lord Edgware. To her surprise, she discovers that he agrees with her idea and has granted him a divorce from her, allowing him to marry her lover.
However, shortly after the divorce is granted, Lord Edgware is murdered in his home, and Jane is the prime suspect. The actress had spoken openly of her desire to kill her husband, and several witnesses claim to have seen her at the crime scene that night. But when Poirot begins to investigate, he discovers that the situation is much more complex than it seems.
With the help of the Inspector Japp, Poirot begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding the case, including a strange and enigmatic relationship between Lord Edgware and the famous film actress Carlotta Adams. As the plot unfolds, Poirot must navigate a series of deceptions and red herrings as he works to uncover the truth behind the murder.
Murder in Retrospect
The novel tells the story of Carla Lemarchant, a young woman desperately seeking to clear the name of her mother, Caroline Crale, who was convicted of the murder of her husband, the famous painter Amyas Crale, 16 years ago.
Carla hires Hercule Poirot to investigate the case and prove her mother's innocence. Poirot begins his investigation by interviewing the five key witnesses in the case: Philip Blake, Caroline's sister Meredith Blake, Amyas's mistress Elsa Greer, family friend Angela Warren, and the young artist Edmund Swettenham.
Each of the five witnesses tells their version of the events leading up to Amyas Crale's murder, and as Poirot gathers more information, he begins to question the version of events presented at the original trial. Could someone else have been the real killer?
Evil under the sun
This novel stars the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, who is on vacation on the island of Leathercombe when the body of a famous actress, Arlena Stuart, is found lifeless on the beach.
Suspicion falls on her husband, Kenneth Marshall, who had been seen arguing with her shortly before her death. But as Poirot begins to investigate, he discovers that there are several other suspects with motives for killing Arlena, including her stepson, her lover, her former rival in the theater and a writer of whodunits.
The plot unfolds with surprising twists and a growing list of suspects as Poirot works to uncover the truth behind the murder. Will Poirot be able to find out who the real murderer is before he strikes again?
The Murder at the Vicarage
The novel features the famous amateur detective, Colonel Protheroe, who is found dead in the vicar's library. It is soon revealed that many people in the small English town where Protheroe lives had reasons to kill him, from his wife to his stepdaughter, his vicar and his secretary.
The story is narrated by the character of Leonard Clement, the vicar's new secretary, who becomes involved in the case as it unfolds. Although he initially believes the killer is obvious, he soon discovers that there is more to him than meets the eye and that there are seemingly insignificant clues that could be key to solving the case.
The murder of Roger Ackroyd
The story follows Dr. James Sheppard, a doctor from a small English town who becomes the main narrator of the plot.
The plot begins when wealthy Roger Ackroyd, an acquaintance of Sheppard's, is found dead in his house. Shortly after his death, a letter written by Ackroyd reveals that his fiancée, the widow of his former wife, has been blackmailing him and that she intended to end his engagement. The letter also contains startling information about the death of the widow's first husband.
Dr. Sheppard, who is also the late Ackroyd's doctor, becomes an amateur detective and begins to investigate the case, along with his sister Caroline, who is a close friend of the deceased. The plot thickens further when Ackroyd's stepbrother, a mysterious man named Ralph Paton, becomes the prime suspect in the murder.
Death on the Nile
The story follows the famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, on his vacation trip down the Nile River, where he is confronted with a murder mystery aboard a tourist boat.
The plot begins with the presence nation of the main characters, including the beautiful and wealthy heiress Linnet Ridgeway and her husband Simon Doyle, who have been the object of envy and jealousy by others on board the ship. Soon, Linnet is murdered in her cabin and Poirot's investigations begin.
As Poirot delves deeper into the plot, a series of clues and suspects are revealed, including the crew members as well as the passengers aboard the ship, including Jacqueline de Bellefort, Linnet's former best friend, who is searching for revenge for Simon's marriage to Linnet.
With each new revelation, the plot becomes more and more complex, and Poirot must work diligently to discover the truth behind the murder. As he nears the end of the plot, Poirot is faced with a moral dilemma, which leads him to make a shocking decision.
The Body in the Library
The story follows amateur detective Colonel Bantry and his wife who are shocked to find a dead woman in his library. The woman, an unknown blonde, seems completely out of place in Colonel Bantry's quiet home and no one knows who she is or how she got there.
The local police, led by Inspector Slack, investigate the case, but soon realize that they need the help of a professional detective. It is then that Miss Marple appears, who with her wit and cunning begins to investigate the case. She soon discovers that the dead woman was a dancer and that she had spent the night in a luxurious mansion nearby.
Murder on the Orient Express
The story follows the Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, as he travels on the luxurious Orient Express train from Istanbul to Calais. During the journey, one of the passengers is brutally murdered in his compartment and, since snow has blocked the train, Poirot is forced to investigate the crime among the other passengers on the train.
Poirot meets a number of interesting and suspicious characters, all with motives for murder. As the investigation progresses, Poirot discovers that nothing is as it seems and that there are many dark secrets hidden on the train. With the help of his keen intellect and his ability to deduce and connect seemingly unconnected details, Poirot finally discovers the murderer and solves the case in surprising fashion.
And Then There Were None
The story follows ten strangers who are invited to a remote island called "Isla del Negro" by a mysterious host, who calls himself U.N. owen. However, once they reach the island, they discover that they have been tricked and that there is no one else on the island except them.
After dinner, a recording accuses each of them of having committed a murder in the past and that justice never reached them. The guests begin to die one by one, according to a children's song found in the house that describes the death of ten little blacks. With each murder, the other guests realize that the killer must be one of them, but they can't figure out who he is.
As the guests die, the others realize that they can trust no one and that each one has something to hide.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
It is the first work of the legendary author Agatha Christie, where she introduces the brilliant and peculiar Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. The plot takes place in a luxurious country house in Essex, England, called Styles Court, where the rich and elderly Emily Inglethorp has died suddenly under mysterious circumstances.
All the inhabitants of the house, including her two husbands, one current and one former, become suspects in the murder. Who is responsible for this mysterious crime? Poirot, with his brilliance and cunning, plunges into the investigation and is faced with a myriad of confusing and misleading clues in his search for the truth.
Crooked house
The story follows Charles Hayward, a private detective who is tasked with investigating the murder of the Leonides family patriarch at his country home, known as "The Crooked House." The Leonides family is a wealthy and dysfunctional family, full of secrets and resentments.
Charles Hayward, who had had an affair with one of Leonides' daughters, begins to investigate the life of the deceased and his family to discover the murderer. However, as the investigation progresses, he realizes that nothing is as it seems and that each member of the family has something to hide.
The A.B.C. Murders
The story follows Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, an amateur detective couple, as they investigate the theft of a railway guide containing critical information on the movement of British troops.
Tommy and Tuppence are hired by a young woman to find the railway guide that has been stolen from her house. As they investigate the case, they discover that there is much more at stake than just the stolen railway guide. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they uncover a larger conspiracy that threatens Britain's national security.
The Pale Horse
The story follows detective novel writer, Mark Easterbrook, who becomes involved in a series of mysterious and seemingly related deaths in his small town.
After finding a list of names in the phone book of a dead woman, Easterbrook begins to investigate and discovers that all the names in the list have one thing in common: they have all died under strange circumstances. The clue leads him to the small village of Much Deeping, where he meets a diverse group of characters, including an enigmatic seer.
While investigating the strange occurrences, Easterbrook also grapples with his own personal and romantic life. But the closer he gets to the truth, the more dangerous the situation becomes, and he realizes that he himself may be next on the list.
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