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The Best Agatha Christie Books (And Why You Should Read Them)

The 22 Best Agatha Christie Books, According to Goodreads Members

Eight disparate individuals receive invitations to make their way to a secluded island off the English coast. Among them are Vera Claythorne, a previous governess who believes she's been employed as a secretary, along with Philip Lombard, an explorer, and William Blore, a former detective, both of whom assume they've been recruited to provide security. Dr. Armstrong anticipates catering to the health needs of the island owner’s wife. The remaining invitees, Emily Brent, General Macarthur, Tony Marston, and Judge Wargrave are under the impression that they are set to reconnect with old acquaintances. 

Upon their arrival, the guests are met by the Rogers, a butler and housekeeper duo, who share that the host, an individual known only as Mr. Owen, won't be present until the following day. A dinner is held, after which a recorded voice accuses each guest of a specific past murder that was never solved. The guests quickly realize that they have all been assembled as part of an odd scheme. The plot thickens as Tony Marston dies due to poisoned whiskey, which bears resemblance to a verse from a nursery rhyme "Ten Little Indians," that is found in every bedroom. As the days pass, more guests die mysteriously. 

The plot reaches its climax as the remaining guests, Vera, Lombard, and Blore, decide to stay outdoors to avoid the unknown killer. Blore is killed by a falling statue, and they find Armstrong's body washed ashore. Vera, believing Lombard to be the murderer, shoots him and proceeds to hang herself in her room. The perplexing mystery is finally solved when a message in a bottle reveals that the late Judge Wargrave was the orchestrator of this macabre sequence of events, in an attempt to punish those guilty of past crimes. With a terminal illness looming, Wargrave chose to go out with a bang and met his end through a self-inflicted gunshot wound, leaving the island strewn with ten lifeless bodies.

And Then There Were None

Diez negritos

Hercule Poirot, Book 11

Hercules Poirot, Libro 11

The renowned retired detective, Hercule Poirot, embarks on a train journey to Istanbul, sharing his ride with Mary Debenham and Colonel Arbuthnot, who seem intimately acquainted despite pretending to be strangers. Upon reaching Istanbul, Poirot is summoned back to London, and while waiting for his return journey, he encounters his old acquaintance, M. Bouc, who arranges for his accommodation on the Orient Express. In the interim, Poirot crosses paths with Ratchett and Hector McQueen, who arouse his suspicion, particularly Ratchett, who approaches him for protection against death threats, but is rebuffed by Poirot. Despite the train being unusually crowded, Poirot manages to secure a first-class cabin where he experiences a series of peculiar incidents, including a cry from Ratchett's compartment indicating possible danger.

The following morning, Poirot is informed by M. Bouc that Ratchett has been brutally murdered, prompting Poirot to launch an investigation. A detailed examination of Ratchett's compartment reveals multiple clues such as twelve stab wounds on Ratchett's body, an open window, and a handful of miscellaneous items that include a handkerchief with an initial "H", a peculiar match, and a burnt piece of paper with the name "Armstrong" on it. This leads to Poirot deducing that Ratchett was actually Cassetti, the infamous kidnapper and murderer of the toddler, Daisy Armstrong, whose crime had shocked the nation. 

Poirot proceeds with interviewing the passengers, starting with Hector McQueen, who was startled that Poirot had discovered the Armstrong note, believed to have been destroyed. Several interviews subsequently provide Poirot with potential alibis, but also raise doubts about the identity of an unseen woman in a red kimono and the presence of an unfamiliar man in a Wagon Lit uniform. A thorough examination of the passengers' belongings brings forth more suspicious findings, leading Poirot to unveil the true identities of several passengers who were closely connected with the Armstrong case. Finally, Poirot presents two possible explanations for the murder and reveals the collective guilt of twelve passengers, all of whom were connected to Daisy Armstrong. To protect the involved parties, Poirot proposes that the authorities be informed of the less plausible theory, which is ultimately agreed upon by M. Bouc and Dr. Constantine.

Murder on the Orient Express

Asesinato en el Orient Express

Hercule Poirot, Book 4

Hercule Poirot, Libro 4

Dr. James Sheppard, a country doctor residing with his spinster sibling Caroline in a quaint village outside of London, finds himself entangled in a web of enigma, suicide, and murder over the span of nine days. His medical practice leads him to the home of his deceased patient, Mrs. Ferrars, a prosperous widow who had lost her husband a year prior to alcoholism. Dr. Sheppard had overseen Mr. Ferrars's demise as well, determining the cause to be severe gastritis due to excessive drinking. Now, he is charged with identifying Mrs. Ferrars's cause of death. Caroline, a woman of insatiable curiosity and a fertile imagination, speculates that Mrs. Ferrars's demise was not accidental, but a suicide born out of remorse for poisoning her husband.

At the time of her demise, Mrs. Ferrars was courting Roger Ackroyd, a fellow patient of Dr. Sheppard and a wealthy widower whom the town expected her to wed. Ackroyd had lost his wife to alcoholism two decades prior and had since adopted her son from a previous marriage, Ralph Paton. The affluent Ackroyd household includes his late brother's widow and her daughter, along with a staff comprising a secretary, housekeeper, butler, parlormaid, and housemaid. Ackroyd, troubled by an issue, invites Dr. Sheppard to his home for a private discussion. He discloses to the doctor that he had been engaged to Mrs. Ferrars for three months and the day before her death, she confessed to having poisoned her husband and being blackmailed. She intended to disclose the blackmailer’s identity within a day. A letter in Mrs. Ferrars's handwriting arrives, but Ackroyd discontinues reading it aloud before the blackmailer's identity is revealed. Dr. Sheppard leaves, only to rush back later that night upon receiving a call informing him of Ackroyd's murder.

Upon arrival, however, Parker, the butler, denies making the call and knows nothing of a murder. They break down the study door, where Ackroyd is found dead, with a dagger lodged in his throat and Mrs. Ferrars's letter missing. The police discover footprints leading into and out of the room through an open window. All residents of the house are interrogated, but no one saw anything suspicious. Ralph, last seen at a local inn, is nowhere to be found, and a pair of his muddy boots matching the footprints is discovered. The following day, Flora, the daughter of Ackroyd's late brother's widow, requests Dr. Sheppard to solicit their famous detective neighbor's assistance in clearing Ralph's name, to whom she is engaged. The detective agrees and identifies crucial aspects of the crime scene. As he assembles the puzzle and uncovers truths, the killer's identity is revealed to be none other than Dr. Sheppard, who is also the blackmailer. With no way out, Dr. Sheppard concludes his manuscript with a confession and ends his life in the same way as Mrs. Ferrars.

16 Best Agatha Christie Books of All Time

And Then There Were None

Murder on the Orient Express

Hercule Poirot, Book 11

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Hercule Poirot, Book 4

Five Little Pigs

Hercule Poirot, Book 24

A Murder is Announced

Miss Marple, Book 4

Death on the Nile

Hercule Poirot, Book 17

The A.B.C. Murders

Hercule Poirot, Book 13

The Murder at the Vicarage

Miss Marple, Book 1

Peril at End House

Hercule Poirot, Book 8

The Mysterious Affair At Styles

Hercule Poirot, Book 1

Curtain

Hercule Poirot, Book 38

Crooked House

Endless Night

The Man in the Brown Suit

The Moving Finger

Miss Marple, Book 3

Murder in Mesopotamia

Hercule Poirot, Book 14

Sources

What To Read Next

16 Best Agatha Christie Books of All Time

And Then There Were None

Murder on the Orient Express

Hercule Poirot, Book 11

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Hercule Poirot, Book 4

Five Little Pigs

Hercule Poirot, Book 24

A Murder is Announced

Miss Marple, Book 4

Death on the Nile

Hercule Poirot, Book 17

The A.B.C. Murders

Hercule Poirot, Book 13

The Murder at the Vicarage

Miss Marple, Book 1

Peril at End House

Hercule Poirot, Book 8

The Mysterious Affair At Styles

Hercule Poirot, Book 1

Curtain

Hercule Poirot, Book 38

Crooked House

Endless Night

The Man in the Brown Suit

The Moving Finger

Miss Marple, Book 3

Murder in Mesopotamia

Hercule Poirot, Book 14

Sources

What To Read Next

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