7 Essential Agatha Christie Books You Must Read at Least Once

Image via Pocket Books Published Aug 25, 2026, 8:11 PM EDT Andrea M. Ciriaco is a long-time script reader and former entertainment editor who specializes in classic movies and Hollywood history. She was a student film critic at Kent State University for three years and worked at Warner Bros Studio in Burbank and The Safran Company for several years. Based on her vast taste and range of knowledge, many consider Andrea to be a walking IMDb who knows dozens of underrated movies and is a vital assesst to any trivia night. While movies are her expertise, Andrea is also a diehard fan of iconic shows including The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone, Will & Grace and South Park. Some of her favorite filmmakers are Walt Disney,John Huston, Fritz Lang, Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, Mel Brooks, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese and Howard Hawks. Sign in to your Collider account Agatha Christie was a renowned British author universally known for her infamous detective novels and mysteries such as Murder on the Orient Express, And Then There Were None, and Death on the Nile. Known as the "Queen of Crime," Christie started writing at a young age, but she didn't find success until she published her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, which marked the debut of one of the most famous fictional detectives, Hercule Poirot. She would go on to publish over sixty detective novels and fourteen short stories, making her one of the most prolific and influential authors of all time. Over the years, dozens of Christie's novels and stories have been adapted for both the big and small screen, and while many of the adaptations are notable, none of them can ever truly replace the experience of reading Christie's work firsthand. From her 1949 standalone family drama, Crooked House, to the lesser-known but ingenious crime thriller, Postern of Fate, these are essential Agatha Christie novels that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime! 'Crooked House' (1949) Image via William Morrow Crooked House is an intricate murder mystery that follows a young diplomat, Charles Hayward, as he investigates the recent murder of a wealthy patriarch, Aristide Leonides, who shares his countryside estate with his eccentric and suspicious extended family, who each have their own motive to commit murder. The book is Christie at her most daring, demonstrating her remarkable ability to weave a complex mystery with psychological depth, effortlessly entangling readers in a web of juicy family secrets, greed, and deception that defies the meaning of a page-turner. Crooked House also stands out from many of Christie's other works because it does not rely on one of her famous detectives, which allows the characters to take center stage, creating a mystery that is as much about human nature as it is about solving a murder. For these reasons, plus a signature Christie (and intense) plot twist, Crooked House is undeniably an essential Christie novel and also an excellent example of why she remains one of the greatest writers of all time. 'The A.B.C. Murders' (1936) Image via William Morrow The A.B.C. Murders is a thrilling mystery that follows Christie's famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, as he tries to catch a clever killer who chooses his victims based on the ABC railway guide. Christie flexes one of her greatest strengths by encouraging readers to look beyond the obvious clues in this seemingly simple but cryptic case and forcing them to examine their assumptions in a way that only a writer of her craft and wit could achieve. While The A.B.C. Murders is one of Christie's most fascinating, its unusual structure, which combines first-person narrative with third-person narrative, is another unique element that ultimately sets it apart from other Poirot mysteries. With its unusual structure, memorable characters, and surprising conclusion, The A.B.C. Murders represents many of the qualities that have made the Queen of Crime one of the most celebrated mystery writers in literary history, rightfully earning its place on this exclusive list. 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' (1926) Image via William Collins, Sons The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is regarded as one of Christie's literary masterpieces and the third novel in her Hercule Poirot series, making it a classic detective novel that is perfect from the first page to the last. The story follows Poirot as he investigates the mysterious murder of a wealthy gentleman, Roger Ackroyd, who recently revealed crucial information that could potentially lead Poirot to the man's merciless killer. Christie lays The Murder of Roger Ackroyd out in a way that keeps the reader second-guessing their expectations, while her clever use of clues and misdirection keeps the mystery engaging, solidifying its reputation as one of her greatest mysteries. The novel was a worldwide success and is credited today as one of Christie's most ingenious works, notably due to its innovative twist at the end, which went on to have a significant impact on the mystery genre. Between the impressive combination of suspense and originality and an unforgettable reveal, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a worthwhile whodunit and an essential Christie novel that every bona fide mystery fan should add to their reading list. 'Murder on the Orient Express' (1934) Image via William Morrow Murder on the Orient Express is perhaps one of Christie's most well-known novels that centers around Hercule Poirot as he tries to solve the brutal murder of a notorious criminal on the grand Orient Express. The novel has been adapted several times for the silver screen, with the most recent directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh as the sophisticated Poirot. With a limited group of suspects, each with their own secrets and motives, Christie creates an immersive and suspenseful atmosphere where even the smallest detail should be noted by readers. Like many of Christie's novels, Murder on the Orient Express ends with an unexpected solution that not only leaves the reader jaw-dropped but also boldly challenges the traditional idea of justice and right and wrong, making it a rare, thought-provoking mystery. Through a tedious trail of clues, misdirection, and Poirot’s exceptional reasoning, Christie creates a timeless mystery that stands out for its unexpected finale and has continued to captivate both audiences and readers for decades, which is why it remains one of her most famous and influential works. Collider Exclusive · Horror Survival Quiz Which Horror Villain Do You Have the Best Chance of Surviving? Jason Voorhees · Michael Myers · Freddy Krueger · Pennywise · Chucky Five killers. Five completely different ways to die — if you're not smart enough, fast enough, or self-aware enough to avoid it. Only one of them is the villain your particular set of instincts gives you a fighting chance against. Eight questions will figure out which one. 🏕️Jason 🔪Michael 💤Freddy 🎈Pennywise 🪆Chucky TEST YOUR SURVIVAL → 01 Something feels wrong. You can't explain it — you just know. What do you do? First instincts are the difference between the survivor and the first act casualty. ALeave immediately. I don't need to understand a threat to respect it. BStay quiet and observe. If I can see it, I can understand it. If I can understand it, I can avoid it. CStay awake. Whatever this is, I am not going to sleep until I feel safe again. DConfront it directly. Fear grows in the dark — I'd rather know what I'm dealing with. ECheck everything, trust nothing. The threat might be closer than I think — and smaller. NEXT QUESTION → 02 Where are you most likely to find yourself when things go wrong? Setting is everything in horror. Where you are determines which rules apply. ASomewhere remote — a cabin, a campsite, off the grid and away from people. BA quiet suburban neighbourhood where nothing ever happens. Except tonight. CIn my own head — the most dangerous place of all, depending on what's already in there. DWherever children are — because something about this place attracts the worst things. ESomewhere ordinary — a house, a toy store, a place where the last thing you'd expect is a threat. NEXT QUESTION → 03 What is your most reliable survival asset? Every survivor has a quality the villain didn't account for. What's yours? APhysical fitness — I can run, I can swim, I can outlast something that relies on brute persistence. BSpatial awareness — I always know the exits, the hiding spots, the fastest route out. CPsychological resilience — I've faced my worst fears before. They don't have the same power over me. DEmotional steadiness — I don't panic. Panic is what gets you caught. EScepticism — I don't underestimate threats because of how they look. Size is irrelevant. NEXT QUESTION → 04 What kind of fear is hardest for you to fight through? Knowing your weakness is the first step to not dying because of it. AThe unstoppable — something that will not stop, cannot be reasoned with, and is always getting closer. BThe invisible — a threat I can feel but can't locate, watching from somewhere I can't see. CThe psychological — something that uses my own mind and memories against me. DThe unknowable — something ancient, shapeless, that feeds on the fear itself. EThe mundane — a threat so ordinary-looking that no one will believe me until it's too late. NEXT QUESTION → 05 You're with a group when things start going wrong. What's your role? Horror movies are brutally clear about who survives group situations and who doesn't. AThe one who says "we need to leave" first — and means it, even when no one listens. BThe one who stays quiet, watches the others, and figures out the pattern before anyone else does. CThe one who holds the group together when panic sets in — because someone has to. DThe one who asks the questions nobody wants to ask — because ignoring them gets people killed. EThe one who takes the threat seriously when everyone else is laughing it off. NEXT QUESTION → 06 What's the horror movie mistake you're most likely to make? Honest self-assessment is a survival skill. Denial is not. AGoing back for someone — I know I shouldn't, but I can't leave them behind. BAssuming I'm safe once I've found a hiding spot. That's when it finds me. CFalling asleep when I absolutely cannot afford to. Exhaustion is its own enemy. DLetting my curiosity override my instincts — I always need to understand what I'm dealing with. EDismissing the threat because of how it looks. That's exactly what it wants. NEXT QUESTION → 07 What's your best weapon against something that can't be stopped by conventional means? Every horror villain has a weakness. The survivors are always the ones who find it. AThe environment itself — I use the terrain, the water, the geography against it. BPatience — I wait, I watch, and I strike at the one moment it doesn't expect. CLucidity — if I can stay in control of my own mind, it loses its primary weapon. DCourage — facing it directly, refusing to run, taking away the fear it feeds on. EImprovisation — I use whatever's at hand, however unconventional. Creativity over brute force. NEXT QUESTION → 08 It's the final scene. You're the last one standing. How did you make it? The final survivor always has a reason. What's yours? AI kept moving. I never stopped, never hid for too long, never let it corner me. BI figured out the pattern before anyone else did — and I used it against the thing following it. CI stayed awake, stayed lucid, and refused to give it the one thing it needed most. DI stopped being afraid of it. And the moment I did, everything changed. EI took it seriously from the start — and I never once made the mistake of underestimating it. REVEAL MY VILLAIN → Your Survival Odds Have Been Calculated Your Best Chance Is Against…Your instincts, your strengths, and your particular way of thinking under pressure point to one villain you actually have a fighting chance against. Everyone else — good luck. Jason VoorheesJason is relentless, but he is also predictable — and that is the gap you would exploit. He moves in straight lines toward his target. He doesn't strategise, doesn't adapt, doesn't outsmart. He simply pursues. Your ability to keep moving, use the environment, and resist the panic that freezes most victims gives you a genuine edge. The Crystal Lake survivors were always the ones who stopped running in circles and started thinking about terrain, water, and distance. You think like that. Which means Jason, for all his indestructibility, would face someone who simply refused to be where he expected. Michael MyersMichael watches before he moves. He is patient, methodical, and almost impossible to detect — until it's too late for anyone who isn't paying close enough attention. But you are paying attention. You notice the shape in the window, the car parked slightly wrong, the silence where there should be sound. Michael's power lies in the invisibility of ordinary suburbia — the fact that nothing ever looks wrong until it already is. Your spatial awareness and instinct to map every room, every exit, and every shadow before you need them is precisely the quality Laurie Strode had. You are not a victim waiting to happen. You are someone who already suspects something is wrong — and acts on it. Freddy KruegerFreddy wins by getting inside your head — using your own fears, your own memories, your own subconscious as weapons against you. That strategy requires a target who can be destabilised. You are harder to destabilise than most. You've faced uncomfortable truths about yourself and you haven't looked away. The survivors on Elm Street were always the ones who understood what was happening and chose to face it rather than flee from it. Freddy's greatest weakness is that his power evaporates in the presence of someone who refuses to give him the fear he feeds on. Your psychological resilience — the ability to stay grounded when reality itself becomes unreliable — is exactly the quality that keeps you alive here. PennywisePennywise is ancient, shapeshifting, and feeds on terror — but it has one critical vulnerability: it cannot function against someone who genuinely stops being afraid of it. The Losers Club didn't survive because they were braver than everyone else. They survived because they faced their fears together, and faced them honestly. You ask the questions others avoid. You look directly at what frightens you rather than turning away. That directness — the refusal to let fear fester in the dark — is Pennywise's worst nightmare. It chose the wrong target when it chose you. You are exactly the kind of person whose fear tastes like nothing at all. ChuckyChucky's greatest advantage is that nobody takes him seriously until it's already too late. He exploits the gap between how something looks and what it actually is. You don't have that gap. You take threats seriously regardless of how they present — and you never make the mistake of underestimating something because of its size or appearance. Chucky relies on surprise, on the delay between recognition and response. You close that delay faster than almost anyone. Your instinct to treat every unfamiliar thing with appropriate scepticism — rather than dismissing it because it seems absurd — is the exact quality that keeps you breathing. Against Chucky, not laughing is already winning. You are very good at not laughing. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ 'And Then There Were None' (1939) Image via Collins Crime Club And Then There Were None is another popular Christie mystery that has been adapted for radio, film, television, and the stage more than any of Christie's other works, and went on to have a profound impact on the modern mystery genre. The novel follows ten strangers who are invited to a large estate on a remote island off the coast of Devon, England, by a mysterious host known as U.N. Owen, where they are killed off one by one for individual crimes based on a children's nursery rhyme. And Then There Were None is the world's best-selling mystery novel as well as one of the best-selling novels of all time, with more than one hundred million copies sold worldwide. Christie keeps readers on edge by giving each character a possible motive while slowly revealing their secrets that leave readers with more questions than answers. Another genius quality of the novel is that the isolation of the island incites a constant feeling of danger, making it difficult for readers to ever put it down. While someone could easily watch or listen to one of the many adaptations of the novel, And Then There Were None is the kind of Christie mystery that deserves to be read in all its glory, as no one can ever fully capture the brilliance of this mystery like the Queen of Crime herself. 'Cards on the Table' (1936) Image via HarperCollins Cards on the Table is an essential Christie novel that features four of her recurring characters — Hercule Poirot, Colonel Race, Superintendent Battle, and Aridance Oliver — together to solve the murder of the mysterious Mr. Shaitana during a bridge party. Instead of relying only on physical clues, Christie focuses on the personalities and behavior of the suspects, who each have their own connection to the murder, making the investigation feel like a game of psychological warfare where all bets are on the table. Cards on the Table was well received by both readers and critics, with many praising Christie for its subtle humor, imaginative story structure, and sharp writing, but despite its positive reception, Cards on the Table is often overshadowed by Christie's more mainstream novels and definitely deserves more recognition than it generally receives. The novel's originality, suspense, and emphasis on its characters make it a strong example of Christie's skill as a mystery writer and should be the next novel for Netflix to adapt for the small screen. 'Postern of Fate' (1973) Image via William Morrow Christie's final novel, Postern of Fate, is a gripping murder mystery featuring her lesser-known detectives, Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, a retired elderly couple and amateur sleuths who, after discovering a hidden message in an old book, decide to investigate a decades-old cold case involving the murder of a female spy, Mary Jordan, who was killed during World War I. Tommy and Tuppence Beresford made their debut in Christie's 1922 novel The Secret Adversary, appearing in a total of five Christie novels, with Postern of Fate marking their final appearance. The novel is notable for its focus on the couple themselves, who use curiosity and determination rather than traditional detective methods to solve the case, effectively keeping readers fully engaged until the last page. Unlike the majority of Christie's other mysteries, the case in Postern of Fate isn't a recent crime and is more of a challenge for Christie's detectives, as it deals with a decades-old cold case that's surrounded by political espionage, ultimately raising the stakes of a traditional whodunit to unprecedented heights. The novel's nostalgic atmosphere, complex clues, and connection to her earlier works are just a few qualities that make Postern of Fate an essential example of Christie's later work as well as a unique addition to her collection of mysteries.