A selection of the best books by Agatha Christie for 2022

Agatha Christie is the most famous writer in the detective genre. It is her creations that are the most published in the history of mankind, second only to the works of Shakespeare and the Bible. The author's books have been published in a huge circulation - over 4 billion copies and translated into more than 100 languages. Christie's work "The Mousetrap" holds the record for the number of theatrical productions. The ranking presents the best books by Agatha Christie for 202, selected based on positive feedback from readers.

A list of the best books of Agatha Christie from the "early work"

Murders in alphabetical order

The main literary feature of "Murder by Alphabet" is the method of narration.Initially, the story is told in the first person, and then in the third person, which, according to readers, adds a special flavor to this story. The protagonists of the detective are Captain Hastings, Chief Inspector Japp, and reader favorite Hercule Poirot. The book was first published by the British publisher Collins Crime Club in 1936. Television adaptations were released in 1965, 1992, 2009 and 2018.

A serial killer takes the lives of unrelated people in alphabetical order. Before each crime, he sends Poirot a letter informing him of the place and time of the planned atrocity. But, despite the detailed information, the police and the detective do not have time to prevent the murder and discover another lifeless body and the ABC directory. The evidence leads to a traveling hosiery broker, Alexandre Bonaparte Caste, who turns himself in to the police after the last murder.

It would seem that the case can be closed, but it turns out that Alexander has no idea who Poirot is and is unable to explain where the letters came from. He also confesses that he suffers from epilepsy and suffers from memory lapses, because of which, in his opinion, he does not remember a single murder committed. But, due to the fact that Cast was constantly near the crime scene, he considers himself guilty.

A police investigation proves that the salesman was not involved in the second murder, as he was playing dominoes with a hotel guest at the time. But an alibi can be fake... Will Poirot be able to prevent 26 planned crimes?

• The book can be purchased at an affordable price - from 127 to 400 rubles;
• Unusual storytelling.

• Not found.

Death on the Nile

The novel "Death on the Nile" with the participation of Hercule Poirot and Colonel Reis was first published in the UK (release date: November 1, 1937). In the Russian Federation, the book had a different title - "Murder on the Karnak steamer". Based on the book, 2 films of the same name were made: directed by John Guillermin (1978) and Kenneth Bran (2020). In 2004, the story was included in the 3rd episode of the 9th season of the British TV series Agatha Christie's Poirot.

The action takes place on the cruise ship "Karnak", sailing along the Nile. The detective will have to find the culprit in the death of a young socialite and millionaire - Lynette Ridgeway-Doyle, who the day before turned to Poirot with a request to sort out the case involving Jacqueline de Belfort. Linnet stole her fiancé from Jacqueline, and the girl pursued her and her new husband, Simon Doyle.

Having secretly gone on a cruise, the married couple wanted to take a break from Jackie's annoying pursuits, but this desire could not come true, as the girl was interestingly among the passengers. Who is responsible for the death, Jacqueline? Or one of the other passengers, among whom, as it turned out, there are many enemies of the murdered woman, who are also direct suspects in this case?

• The budget cost of the book is from 161 to 294 rubles;
• Easy to read.

• Not detected.

Murder on the Orient Express

The work was written during the archaeological expedition of Agatha Christie in 1933. It is based on the writer's memorable travels on the Orient Express train. In 1931, the trip was difficult due to difficult weather conditions, and in 1929, traffic was completely stopped for 6 days due to a snow storm.The plot was based on a tragic story related to the abduction of the son of an American pilot and other real events heard from the media.

The book, published in 1934, is one of the 100 best detective novels of all time. It was filmed 5 times: directed by Sidney Lumet in 1974, in 2001 - at the request of the American television channel CBS. In 2010, a series was released, in 2015 - a 2-episode Japanese film. The story was last filmed by director Kenneth Bran in 2017.

The protagonist of the detective story is the famous Belgian private detective Hercule Poirot. Departing from Istanbul to England on the Orient Express train, he meets the strange American Samuel Ratchett, as well as his secretary and translator Hector McQueen.

Ratchett turns to Poirot with a strange request - to become his bodyguard for a substantial amount, since he is in mortal danger. But the detective refuses, and in the morning they find the corpse of an American: at the same time, the door to his compartment is closed from the inside, and the window is open. At the request of Monsieur Bouc, a friend of Hercule and part-time director of the company that owns the train, Poirot takes on the investigation.

It turns out that the real name of the murdered Ratchett is Cassette. The same organizer of the sensational kidnapping and murder of Colonel Armstrong's 3-year-old daughter, who managed to escape justice. On the body of the deceased, 12 stab wounds of varying severity were found, inflicted by both left-handed and right-handed people.

The case is taking an interesting turn. All 12 passengers of the trip have motives for committing a crime, since each of them is involved in one way or another in the Armstrong family. Hercule Poirot has a few days to find the killer, while the express was stuck in a deserted place due to a snow storm.

• An exciting description of the famous express;
• Based on the work, a computer game was created in 2006;
• The book can be purchased at an affordable price of 140 rubles.

• Not detected.

Ten blacks

Agatha Christie admitted that "Ten Little Indians" is one of her most difficult works. One of the writer's most popular books was published in 1939, and in 1943 Christie wrote a play based on the novel. Despite the altered ending, it was a big success in New York on Broadway and in London at the New Wimblond Theatre. For reasons of political correctness in the United States, the detective is released under the title "And there were none", in France - "There were ten."

The first TV adaptation of the novel came out in 1945 with a different ending from the original. Subsequent film adaptations (in 1959, 1965, 1974 and 1989) used the same ending or took the play staged in 1943 as a basis.

Fully consistent with the original storyline and title of the two-part film in 1987, directed by Stanislav Govorukhin. The first adaptation in English was released as a mini-series in 2015 called And Then There Were None. New is the 2022 mini-series “There Were Ten.”

The action takes place on the Negro Island, where Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Owen were invited by 8 completely unfamiliar people. Guests are greeted by servants - a married couple who, like other visitors, do not know anything about the owner of the house.After everyone has gathered in the common room, the butler, by order of Owen (in writing), turns on the gramophone with a strange record - an unfamiliar voice reveals the atrocities of each of the audience.

The guests are about to leave the house, but the boat that delivered them has not returned, and besides, a storm has begun. The "hostages" of the island begin to die one by one in accordance with the children's rhyme about the Indians, which hangs on the wall of every visitor. After each death, the figurines of 10 Negro children, located on a tray in the living room, disappear without a trace. The only chance to survive is to figure out the killer and stop him. But can it be done? Will anyone survive?

• In 2005, a game based on the work was released;
• It is an example for many psychological and detective films;
• #5 on the Fiction Bestseller List;
• Affordable cost (average 360 ​​rubles).

• Not found.

Murder of Roger Ackroyd

The sixth published work of Agatha Christie is the detective story "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd", which was published in 1926. This creation had a special influence on the detective genre. After the book was published, the writer was accused of foul play and cunning towards the reader, as well as violating the established laws of the classic detective story. Ambiguous, even negative perception not only increased interest in the work, but even instilled in the renewal of the laws of the genre.

The novel has been repeatedly adapted for film, theatre, radio and television. The first stage adaptation took place on May 15, 1928 at the Alibi Theater in London under the direction of Michael Morton.The viewer saw the television version in 1931. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is on the list of the best detective stories of the 20th century, and since 2013 has been one of the best detective stories of all time.

The reader is introduced to Dr. James Sheppard (the story is told on his behalf), who is also Hercule Poirot's assistant. In King's Abbot, Mrs. Ferrar dies, who is rumored to have poisoned her husband. The inhabitants of a provincial village are sure that a rich widow committed suicide. But the found body of Roger Ackroyd, who was about to marry Mrs. Ferrar, suggests premeditated murder. Ackroyd was stabbed to death in his own home.

At the beginning of the investigation, 8 people were identified with an interest in Ackroyd's death. The main suspect is his stepson and direct heir - Ralph Paton, who mysteriously disappears after the murder. The abundance of simultaneously occurring events that had nothing to do with the killer significantly distract the reader's attention and confuse him. Which of the 8 suspects is the perpetrator? Or is it not on this list?

• Depending on the format, the average price of a book is 300 rubles.
• The theme of morality and retribution is well disclosed;
• A plot with an unpredictable ending;
• The characters of each suspect are well written.

• Not detected.

The best selection of books by Agatha Christie from the "late work"

Endless night

One of Christie's later works (published in 1967) proves the versatility of the writer's talent.“Endless Night” (also known as “Night Darkness” in Russia) is not just a detective story, but a gloomy gothic thriller novel, where, unlike other stories of this genre, the murder occurs at the end, not at the beginning of the story. In 1972, EMI Films filmed the gothic detective story. Also on this plot was filmed the television series "Agatha Christie's Miss Marple" with Julia Mackenzie in the title role.

The story is told from the perspective of an ambitious guy from the working classes - Michael Rogers. The story begins with his falling in love with a girl from a wealthy family - Fenella Gutman. The young man met Fenella at the so-called Gypsy Compound - a dilapidated estate, which, according to local residents, was cursed.

The relationship of lovers quickly reaches a new level - they get married and decide to buy the estate they like, despite the warnings of a local gypsy. It seems like there should be a happy ending, but no. The author practically from the first lines prepares the reader for trouble. Each separately dropped phrase of the heroes pumps up the atmosphere and brings it closer to the inevitable. Murder for the sake of inheritance or ancient curses began to come true?

• Special mystical atmosphere;
• It is inexpensive (about 280 rubles).

• Not detected.

4:50 from Paddington station

The novel 4:50 from Paddington Station, part of the Miss Marple series, was released in 1957. It is also known as Right on Schedule. The book was filmed 3 times: in 1961, 1987 and 2004.

While traveling by train, Mrs. McGillicuddy became a bystander of a murder (a woman was strangled by a man) that took place in a compartment of one of the train cars on a parallel branch. Upon arrival, the woman turned to the police, but she did not find any traces of the crime and was distrustful of what she heard.

Mrs. McGillicuddy turned to her good friend Miss Marple for help. After the repeated appeal to the police, the women do not learn anything new: a thorough investigation has not yielded any results. The corpse and other traces of the murder are absent both in the train and in the vicinity of the railway.

To clarify all the circumstances, search for the body and the killer, Miss Marple sends professional housekeeper Lucy Aylesburrow to the Rutherford Hall estate, which is located next to the crime scene. According to the woman, one of the residents of the old estate is the killer, and the body of the poor victim is still there. In the course of the investigation, women will have to face not a single death.

• A book with a twisted plot;
• Affordable price (from 171 to 626 rubles).

• None.

Pocket full of rye (Grains in my pocket)

The rating is closed by another novel from the series of short stories and Miss Marple, released in 1953 by the British publishing house Collins Crime Club. In the Russian translation, the detective came out under different names, the most common was "Grains in the pocket." The book has been adapted for television 3 times: in 1983, 1985 and 2009.

The author introduces the reader to the businessman Rex Fortescue, who died during the morning tea. A medical examination revealed poison in the victim's body in the form of an alkaloid isolated from a yew tree.It is assumed that it was added to marmalade, since only the murdered person ate it in the family. During the examination of the belongings of the deceased, grains of rye are found in his pocket.

The death of the owner of the Yew Cabin is beneficial to all family members who hated Rex. But, the circle of suspects is narrowing - there is a corpse in the house again. The young wife and main heiress of the businessman, Adele, was poisoned with cyanide. Next, Gladys' maid is found strangled.

While investigating, Miss Marple discovers that the murders committed are consistent with the children's rhyme "Sing a song for sixpence". The dark past of the businessman is also revealed. He is implicated in the death of his companion Mackenzie. Under suspicion is his daughter Ruby, who turned out to be Jennifer Fortescue, Rex's daughter-in-law. The story is getting more and more complicated, will Miss Marple be able to figure out this strange case?

• Interesting story;
• Easy to read.

• It is expensive - 334-550 rubles.

Conclusion

The review featured some of the best works of Agatha Christie. Due to the fact that the stories are written without gruesome scenes of violence, they are suitable for teenagers to read. All books described in the rating can be ordered online in the Yandex Market online store. Those who wish to listen to detective stories are advised to download the book in audio format, both in paid and free versions.