Agatha Christie was the most notable practitioner of traditional detective fiction. Her exceptional writing abilities have transcended all barriers related to age, color, class, location, and education. The reading of her works became a global pleasure as she perfected the model for a fictitious form. These are some of the best works of Agatha Christie:
The Roger Ackroyd Murder (1926)
Hercule Poirot has taken up residence in the community of King’s Abbot to raise marrows. But he agrees to look into the stabbing death of affluent Roger Ackroyd, who was discovered in his study. It appears to be a standard Hamlet murder mystery until the last chapter’s startling reveal. Even if Christie had never written another novel, this one would still be spoken about today. Unmissable and yet contentious, this detective novel is classic.
Peril at End House (1932)
The party that End House’s poor owner throws conceals the gunfire that kills her cousin with pyrotechnics. Which other visitors are murderers? Perfectly timed, with clever and subtle clueing and a surprising but completely logical answer. The perfect example of its kind; this is how a good detective narrative ought to be written.
Murder on the Orient Express (1934)
Snowdrifts stop the opulent Orient Express in the middle of the night. The next morning, the enigmatic Mr. Ratchett is discovered stabbed in his cabin, and fresh snow indicates the murderer is still aboard. Poirot faces one of his toughest problems during this opulent period of rail travel, which has a worldwide cast of suspects. This is one of the best surprise endings in the genre, built around a clever premise.
The ABC Murders (1935)
Poirot is powerless to stop the killings of Alice Ascher, Betty Barnard, and Carmichael Clarke despite warnings. Before the ABC Killer reaches D, can he be stopped? This classic Christie novel is one of the earliest instances of the “serial killer” genre and has a stunningly straightforward concept. How many readers, though, are as witty as Poirot?
And Then There Were None (1939)
Ten individuals are invited to spend the weekend on an island. Although they all have secrets, they all stay unaware until they start to perish one by one, until soon… there are none. When the dwindling gang understands that one of their own is the murderer, panic sets in. This widely imitated storyline, which successfully combines a thriller with a detective story, is Christie’s finest technical accomplishment.
Five Little Pigs (1943)
Caroline Crale, who was given a life sentence for poisoning her husband, passed away in jail sixteen years ago. When her daughter begs Poirot to look into a potential injustice, he goes up to the other five suspects. This magnificent book uses five different perspectives of the same tragic incident to convey a delicate and clever detective narrative, an elegiac love story, and a superb storytelling exercise. Christie’s top accomplishment.
Crooked House (1949)
Living together in a not-so-little crooked home is the whole Leonides family. But which among them poisoned Aristides, the patriarch? Christie usually found inspiration from murder in large families, and she particularly liked this one. Another instance of a creepy twist on a children’s song with an outcome that her publishers at first thought were too upsetting, even for Agatha Christie.
A Murder is Announced (1950)
The little advertising in the neighborhood newspaper reports a murder in the community of Chipping Cleghorn. A complex murder plot is in action when Miss Blacklock’s companions assemble for what they naively hope will be a parlor game. This novel, Christie’s 50th, is still considered Miss Marple’s best work. This is likely the final in a line of brilliantly clued and flawlessly timed Christie’s, notable, particularly for its post-war British setting (a feature crucial to the narrative).
Also read: Best books by Edgar Allen Poe
Endless Night (1967)
Working-class Michael Rogers describes how he met and wed Ellie, an incredibly wealthy American heiress. It soon becomes apparent that not everyone is pleased with them as they settle into their ideal home in the country. This novel by extremely untypical Christie is a terrifying suspense story that builds to a horrifying conclusion and demonstrates that even after 45 years, she still could astound her readers. the 20 years finest book.
