Looking for more (and newer/more complete) Christie videos? My latest FAVORITES ranking that includes ALL Agatha Christie works is here: ua-cam.com/video/Dkqxv__te08/v-deo.html My latest BEST ranking of the Top 15 Christie novels is here: ua-cam.com/video/RK2j-ixdghY/v-deo.html My latest collection video on my Agatha Christie books is here: ua-cam.com/video/SAlqEN3rvVQ/v-deo.html Where to Start with Agatha Christie is here: ua-cam.com/video/XtEn9NsSODQ/v-deo.html Where to Start with Miss Marple is here: ua-cam.com/video/mzUXcE7MLp4/v-deo.html Where to Start with Hercule Poirot is here: ua-cam.com/video/Nbyw3aBqEMw/v-deo.html The playlist of all Christie videos is here: ua-cam.com/play/PLgcRd060HFyckFb8lnAME8ZfoTW3zue0G.html The playlist of Mission Marple videos is here: ua-cam.com/play/PLgcRd060HFyciUQfczJqY8-GYL6r6UcMR.html The playlist of Project Poirot videos is here: ua-cam.com/play/PLgcRd060HFydbM0Jom95Dw0QQA8AUde8D.html
And Then There Were None was my first Agatha Christie read and when I finished the book I haven't slept soundly for a few days. I have read 5 books of hers so far and I'm wanting more. Thanks for this ranking
It's good but mainly reliant upon the twist, and is just yet another country house chamber piece without it (imo) of which she did too many. I think Dame Aggie finally got that the combination of a big location or set piece, with hard to guess twist, gave her novels distinction and flavor.
It must have been the most difficult of her novels to write because -- given the limitations she set for herself -- it would be extremely difficult not to give away the game clear until the end.
i recently binged a lot of Christie and I noticed that in the ABC murder Poirot and Hastings are musing about what murder they would like to investigate to indulge themselves. Hastings, of course, wants a big dramatic murder, but Poirot kind of scoffs and says his ideal murder case is just some people playing bridge and one of them dying. I just looked up the publishing dates and ABC mystery was published on the 6th of januari, 1936, and Cards on the table was published on november 2th, 1936. So. I guess that was a wink to the audience of that time, that's so sweet
This bring back the memories of how I found your chanel more than 2 years ago. I remember seeing those deep analysis of individual mysteries. I thought "Damn! that lady found so much in a detective story, God knows what she will find in a Dostoevsky" lol. Subscribed even before the end of the first video. Of course with such a massive body of work, there will be lots of different ranking. I have the same 2 & 3, but my number 1 is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, which you are already aware that it is lots of people favourite. Mild surprises are : A Murder is Announced, and Evil Under The Sun. Expected them to be little bit higher. My biggest surprise is probably how high is Pale Horse.
Recently read Endless Night and even though it's insanely over the top, I did enjoy the twist but had suspected it. Had I not read other Christie's that utilised the same plot twists, I would have loved it.
Death on the Nile is my favorite for setting and I think it has the best characterization. Jacqueline and Linette dynamic is amazing, sun and moon imagery and then it's set in Egypt with all it's related sun imagery.... just on pure writing technique I think its the best.
I'd say for the puzzle mysteries, I would agree. I think And Then There Were None and it are about on par for the writing quality, but just in slightly different genres (detective mystery vs. existential serial killer thriller)
Fantastic ranking, loved hearing your thoughts! MY FAVORITE IS ALSO 'CARDS ON THE TABLE'!!! I keep getting more excited when you didn't bring it up, and whooped when you put it at #1! Such a good book...
The very first Christie book I read was The Murder of Roger Ackroyd when I was about 13 or 14 years old. I was completely hooked on everything Christie after that.
This was amazing! I haven't read a single Christie novel ever before and I'm so inspired to start now. I'm going to start from your least faves and work my way to the best ones. I just know I'm going to love her. Thank you!!!!
This video just left a big smile on my face. I'm making my way through Christie canon too and have a few objectively not-so-good blind spots (I know a number of the Tommy&Tuppence stories are not really that great but I have a huge weakness for crime-solving couples), and it's always so much fun to compare notes with someone who read them all.
I remember reading a lot of Christie books in my middle school / highschool years. The ones that kept with me over the years were The Sercret of Chimneys, which I think is the first one I read and made me fall in love with murder myster as a genre, and Crooked House, which I found very disturbing. I also still remember the deciding piece of evidence that lead to the discovery of the murderer in Evil under the Sun. I think the description of the house and seaside sorroundings in that book helped me make up a very detailed picture in my mind, which I can still see flashes of.
I love your rankings. I am a big fan of Poirot and Miss Marple and I am so glad that someone, other than me, enjoys Sleeping Murder. I have had a hard time reading The Secret of Chimneys, but I may try again. Thanks, Lovely.
Loved this video. When I was a tween ages ago, my grandmother (RIP) let me read one of her Agatha Christie books. When others were reading Judy Blume, I was reading about Miss Marple and Hercule. I was then wrapped up in reading her books, watching movie adaptions, etc. I even started writing my own "Agatha Christie inspired" murder mystery....though I didn't get very far. Throughout my adulthood, me and my grandmother would sit and watch the movies together when I would visit (or we'd watch Snapped...LOL). This video has inspired me to go back and re-read some books I haven't picked up in years and years. So thanks!
What an amazing accomplishment reading all Agatha Christie books! I have only read a few so far, my favourite so far is Murder on the Orient Express. What a great video, now I have more of an idea of which ones to read next and which ones to maybe leave until later on.
Very happy to see Sparkling Cyanide so far up the list! It was my first Christie novel and I have vivid memories of sitting in my high school library over multiple lunchtimes unable to put it down!
You re-ignited my middle school love of Christie for me, and my thirties have been oh so cozy ever since! Can’t wait to enjoy this while doing dishes 😜
I know this a two year old post-but--here is my take: Since so many of us were introduced to Christie at a young age, we think we should leave her behind when we get older. However, when we’re older we have better skills of picking apart and if we give her a go, the books get better.
I have the same top three, have always loved cards on the table. And Death on Nile is one of those books that makes me fall in love with reading all over again!
I’ve been eagerly anticipating this update! I am a lifelong reader of Agatha Christie and have your previous ranking video saved for reference. So happy to have an update. There are still some books I have yet to read. I think your Agatha Christie videos are how I found you a couple years ago and have enjoyed your channel ever since. Thanks. Edited to add that I admire your ability to rank these. So many great ones that I would probably not be able to order them. Love hearing other people’s opinions on these wonderful books.
This stage of the global pandemic finds me on a Christie audiobook jag. I was pleased to realize that I have heard or read most of hers. Cards on the Table was a pleasant surprise this summer on a three day 1600 mile drive and launched the audio craze. As a schoolgirl in the ‘50s I ordered many Christie paperbacks books for 35 cents and I still have them, yellowed and fragile. I love all the Poirot in Arabia books especially. And I find it interesting that while the curtain falls on Hercule Poirot, Miss Jane Marple is immortal.
I love hearing you talk christie. Maybe one day you'll do a deep-dive into your favourite adaptations or what you think is necessary for a good christie adaptation
Great summaries of all the books! My personal top five are And Then There Were None, 4:50 from Paddington, The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, The Body in the Library, and Death on the Nile. Top ten would also include Three Act Tragedy, The Pale Horse, After the Funeral, By the Pricking of My Thumbs, and of course Murder on the Orient Express
My top two are Death on the Nile and Then There None. I go back and forth on which is my favorite. I do love Miss Marple and has a special place in my heart for A Murder is Announced,
Gosh...love ur videos! I am currently reading Mystery of the Blue Train. 60 pages in, not her best work indeed, but still nice so far. I would listen to you NON STOP! You are amazing!
I’ve only read two Christie (and then there were none and murder on the orient express) so I super appreciate your full ranking and the “three thoughts” for each book. Definitely still some gems for me to pick up I think!
This is a brilliant list, and I love the way you summarize the books and highlight the closed-circle and 'twisted family dynamics' elements in several of the books! And I completely agree with all of your rankings, especially in placing Cards on the Table first on the list. I was so happy to find the book, with the same cover you incorporated here, in London, and I wish the novel had a better adaptation than the one they did for the Suchet series, which altered too much of the plot and added a really homophobic edge. Christie never receives enough credit for the psychological depth of her characters (Poirot's experiment proving that Anne Meredith is a thief in COTT is a great example, as well as the brother in Sleeping Murder), and even her seemingly light-hearted productions, like The Mousetrap, build on dark, complex traumas. As a history professor, I'm also struck by how effectively one could use her novels, read chronologically, to chart English social history in the century, especially the effects of WWII on neighborhood relationships and of decolonization on the British homeland. If you've not been to Torquay and her home at Greenway in Devon, I would strongly recommend them for a future trip--together with an excellent cream tea!
Hi Mara, I have to re-read a few of these to make up my mind. I know I love Caribbean mystery because it was different in the way that Miss Marple had to be so active instead of using her village gossip etc. you made me want to read a few I’m pretty sure I never read. Aloha
Obsessed with your content! I am rereading all the Christie novels right now to make my own definitive list. I love how high Lord Edgware Dies is for you, as its own of my absolute faves and find that it’s usually super under-rated. It holds a special place in my heart as it was one of the first David Suchet adaptations I ever watched.
I love when you talk about Christie 😍 always so excited to see a video from you about her. Especially because I can tell we don’t always agree and I like seeing other peoples opinions. I have only read 27 so far but my least favorite has been Sittaford Mystery (painfully predictable) and my favorite is Crooked House (that ending KILLS me)
I don’t know how I missed Crooked House 30+ years ago, but I just listened to it recently. Wow! Then I watched a late 2010s adaptation. Thanks for your older list @bookslikewhoa that turned me on to it. ☺️Loved this list too. 👍🏼
The plot twist on Roger Ackroyd was the best for me and IT WAS THE BEST BOOK FOR MEEE LOLL SPOIL BELOW-- Dr. Sheppard as the murderer? Woah ... He was acting way too innocent
Loved the ranking! Can't wait to read more Christie. I loved And Then There Were None and the Pale Horse got a little lower of a rating from me, because I didn't love the way supernatural elements were added in, but I agree that the twist did surprise me!
As much as I adore the best of the best Christie mysteries like The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, And Then There Were None, The ABC Murders I must say That DEATH ON THE NILE IS PERFECTION AND IS SO DAMN UNDERRATED AND I LOVE YOU FOR LOVING IT TOO
This is great! I even disagree with you on a lot of the ones I've read (and agree on others), but with Christie it just feels like it's hard to really go wrong so there's a big matter of personal preference. And great to hear I still have a lot of good not-yet-read ones to look forward to.
A very good review of Christie's books indeed. It matches my rating of her books. The worst of Christie's books that you mentioned in the beginning were those that she had written in the last years of her life. She had become scatty, her text meandering , and her memory unreliable , she would write that a murder happened twenty years ago and in the next chapter she would say it happened twelve years back , also she had become endlessly repetitive . Her best works were those that she'd written in th 1940's and 50's when she was in her element. "Sleeping Murder " is my favorite Miss Marple book too.
My first Christie read was 'elephants can remember' and I found that it had many criticisms regarding its execution...but I find that from the novels I've read of hers this novel tried to convey a more emotional side of the mysterious event and to not necessarily point out the dark shade of the culprit...like it seemed fresh coming from a detective fiction...
So pleased to come across this. I have been binge-reading (actually re-reading) Agatha Christie recently. In my opinion the later books (late 60's onwards) were nowhere near as good as her earlier work. Both the plots and the writing. People have asked in the comments about adaptations. I say that if you are going to take a perfectly good Christie and mess around with it (including adding Miss Marple where she doesn't belong) don't bother! Write your own story!
I'll have to read Sparkling Cyanide as I love a cold case nearly as much as a locked room (my favorite) or isolated closed circle (close 2nd) mystery. Cards on the Table is still my absolute favorite by Christie, but The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is truly excellent also. I'm not a Tommy and Tuppence fan. It's just a personal taste thing as I don't like the whole spy subgenre at All. Plus the war backdrop is also Not a setting/trope I enjoy. For me, there is but One Poirot and that is David Suchet. His performance was perfection. 😘
I felt Passenger to Frankfort was unfinished and my least favorite of all her works. When I finished reading it I made a mental note. It appeared to me that all her books are about the same size and could it be when she got to that point in her writing she just felt "I'm done". My other next to least favorite was her play Akhnaton, the lines didn't feel ancient Egyptian but somewhere in 1920's. I did read all of her work and her auto biography.. She was an amazing woman and writer. At a used book sale I found a copy of The New Bedside, Bathtub & Armchair Companion to Agatha Christie Edited by Dick Riley and Pam McAllister which for me is a must have.
Faves- roger ackroyd, a murder is announced, crooked house, ordeal by innocence, orient express. Did not enjoy- passenger to Frankfurt (she’s leaving frankfurt!!), death comes as the end (no Christie personality), Seven dials and destination unknown.
Great list! Just reread Halloween Party for the season, and discovered I enjoyed it much more this time despite it not quite. Ring a mystery this time around.
Hi Mara, I just read the moving finger I loved it. It had everything, including Miss Marple at the end which I wasn't expecting. And a romance I wasn't expecting, and one I was. I was sure I knew the murderer. Wrong again. Happy New Year
i haven't read much christie, but death on the nile is definitely my favourite so far, especially because i listened to the david suchet narration of the audiobook!! i'm super looking forward to reading more of her stuff, she always fools me!
Death on the Nile getting the love it deserves! I'm so in agreement that it belongs in the Top 3 and I'm always confused why others don't rank it there also. The purist in me does feel the need to also have Orient Express in the Top 3. This video also serves as a very nice, succinct, catalog of her work for new readers or for those of us that have read all of them. Sometimes when seeing just the title of the book I'm like "what was that one about again?" i.e. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, and now I revisit this video when having such a moment. Thank you for making this :)
Agreed. Death on The Nile is also my number 3. I think the who/why is not super hard to guess if you have read enough books by her, but the plot of how it was done and putting everything neatly in order is amazing.
I agree with the Hallowe’en Party ranking. I listened to that recently after having just finished The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and it was just no where near as interesting.
The best Agatha Christie book is the Sittaford mystery because at the end i cried when Emily rejected Charles after he did everything she asked him to do. I felt the emotion and i really thought that they would end up together. I know the murderer was a plot twist but i really didn't care because i wanted to see what will happen between Emily and Charles. Pleese tell me your opinion about them,do you think they had to end up together?and let's be honest Jim was for sure not the man that Emily deserved
My fav Agatha Christie is a tie between A Murder Is Announced,Dead Man's Folly and And then there were none. However my least favs is between The clocks,Nemesis,Elephants can remeber (Very anticlimatic for a final Poriot in my opinion
I just read Cards on the Table because you said it was your favorite! Definitely liked it, would probably put it in my top ten Christie books. But I just love Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and And Then There Were None. I don't have a single complaint about any of those books. Also really love Sparking Cyanide, Seven Dials Mystery, Endless Night, and the Murder of Roger Ackroyd. I was only so-so with The Man in the Brown Suit. And I agree that The Clocks was boring and an annoying waste of potential.
Very interesting review! I have not read Christie almost at all, but getting to it. Five little pigs has been one of my favourite books EVER! I also liked death on the nile, however i didn't really like the book "The hollow", so i took a break. This video has been kind of a "what you should read video" for me. One thing that slightly dissapointed me, was that the cold case books aren't so great, because usually I LOVE COLD CASES. Will a 100% be checking out Cards on the table tho!!
As a middle aged man I feel confident to tell you that you undervalued "The mirror cracked from edge to edge" and "Curtain" - but hey I can't be bothered to keep that charade up longer than 1 sentence. Fun list, hopefully the algorithm will tell me when you make another updated list in a couple of years!
watched. liked. saved. 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻 of those i’ve read i agree for the most part. which is neither here nor there, really, because… personal opinions are personal opinions, imho. my all-time favorites (so far, though can hardly imagine that to change) are 1. “and then there were none” 2. “the murder of roger ackroyd” 3. “crooked house” / “endless night” i thought the audiobook of “and then there were none” was especially fabulous. though generally anything read by hugh fraser is on point. loved your three words/phrases-characterizations and reasons as to “why” what was ranked how! lots of love from tiny-town austria, monica 📚🐾🐾
Brilliant video! Three Act Tragedy didn't really work for me either, and I can't quite put my finger on why. It was written in the middle of her Golden Age period, it's Poirot... but yeah. Not a fave. I love that you stand by your The Big Four love. I've never had as much of a dislike of it as some people do, either. I also agree that The Seven Dials Mystery and The Man in the Brown Suit are the best of the Bright Young Things thrillers.
Right?? I'm not sure why I don't like Three Act Tragedy more, since it's such a cool premise. I think it comes down to not connecting with the characters enough but I may be wrong there
Strange how opinion over her books differ. The Pale Horse is one of my least favorite books, while Peril at the End House is one of my top 3 (among "And then there was none" and the Murder of Roger Ackroyd).
Oh, it is a great idea to be doing the rankings of Christie books every year or two. It is very interesting to see how your taste changes with time. Please do it again in a year!
Loved your ranking. I finished my last Christie earlier in the year and honestly do not think I could manage to rank them all- I found it hard enough to choose a top 10. Lots of your top 10 are in my top 10 too but in different places. I think Christie has so many different books there’s something for everyone to love! 😊
I ranked Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, Then There Were None, Evil Under the Sun, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side and Five Little Pigs 5 stars. My least favourites were Passenger to Frankfurt, Endless Night and The Big Four. We have some overlap but I think I liked the Tommy & Tuppence books more than you do. Love the video and thanks for sharing your opinions.
Okay, what do I do if I really REALLY enjoyed The Clocks? It was my first Poirot. Do they really just get better from here? I really did enjoy the element of romance and the mystery wrapped up very nicely. Which one should I read next? I'm rotating out authors with large amounts of books so it'll be at least three more books by three different authors before I get to anything Agatha Christie, but I've got a few of her books at home and I'm always willing and able to get more books for cheap.
I am surprised I have found you so late because Cards on the table is my fav too. Do you have any other recommendations like that by any other author??
Overall I would have a similar ranking to you, my one big divergence is I LOVE The Clocks. It would be in top 5 most relistened to of Christie's books. The secondary cast are fantastic, and the cat Shasha Mimi, brilliant!
It's definitely a cool idea - I think I just resent that it is a Poirot with so little of him and when he is there, I feel like he is out of character. But honestly, even a "bad" Christie is still way more fun to read than most other things!
I like The Clocks quite a bit more than a lot of readers seem to. The victim's identity being less important was an interesting idea, and some of the characters were memorable.
Great video! My list so far: 1. And Then There Were None 2. Death on the Nile 3. Murder on the Orient Express 4. Sparkling Cyanide 5. Hercule Poirot's Christmas 6. Lord Edgware Dies 7. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd 8. A Murder is Announced 9. Peril at End House 10. The Seven Dials Mystery 11. Towards Zero 12. The Mysterious Affair at Styles 13. Murder in Mesopotamia 14. A Pocket Full of Rye 15. The Hollow 16. Crooked House 17. Hickory Dickory Dock 18. Dumb Witness 19. N or M? 20. Death in the Clouds 21. The Murder at the Vicarage 22. Murder on the Links 23. Hallowe’en Party 24. 4.50 from Paddington 25. Five Little Pigs 26. The ABC Murders 27. A Caribbean Mystery 28. Three Blind Mice and Other Stories 29. Elephants Can Remember 30. The Body in the Library 31. The Mirror Crack'd 32. Nemesis 33. The Secret Adversary 34. The Labors of Hercules 35. The Mystery of the Blue Train
I also really love The Big Four even though it's incredibly dated! Thanks for this! I'm slowly making my way through Poirot and enjoyed hearing your thoughts.
Oh man! This was great. I’ve read a little more than half of her books at this point, and you’re making me want to read more! Lol I’m too tired right now to post my full list, but I’ll mention my favorite, APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH. I’m glad to see you have it ranked pretty high! My least favorite are honestly here short story collections, they just don’t do it for me, with the exception of Partners in Crime, that one was fun. But probably my least favorite was Parker Pyne, I couldn’t tell you a thing about it, it was incredibly forgettable haha. My favorite miss Marple is Body in the Library, my favorite stand-alone is Crooked House. Great video!
Fair enough! I love short stories, so I like hers a lot, but I totally see why they aren't everyone's cup of tea - they are very low on characterization
Genuinely surprised at the ranking of Endless Night, I thought the suspense of knowing someone was going to die but not knowing who or when (barring the fact that I successfully guessed the killer and the victim) worked very well for what was otherwise a fairly chill, almost wish-fulfilment feeling story. Also surprised at Sparkling Cyanide; now maybe I didn’t enjoy this one that much because school got in the way and it took me longer to read it, but I really didn’t like the almost jarring style change and the slightly lame (to me) conclusion.
I should note I have *not* read nearly every Christie, just 11 of them, and also that I do agree with your ranking and reasoning of The Clocks; I bought it because the premise (and the aesthetic of time has always been fun to me) and it was fairly disappointing in the end, though there are still elements I enjoy.
i stopped reading for no reason a few years ago. i loved christie and everything i read from her (except elephants can remember that was dreadfully long and boring) and i planned on reading them all but i lost interest. now im ready to try again because shes the queen of crime after all. if i dont give her a chance, who should i give it to? my favourite books from her are cat among the pigeons, death comes as the end and SPECIALLY crooked house. i had read at least 20 christies when i read crooked house and still didnt expect the twist. a masterpiece.
I have a fondness for "Passenger to Frankfurt" because it was one of the first, if not possibly the first Christie that I ever read. I just finished listening to an audio book of "Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life" by Laura Thompson. She gives her interpretation of what prompted the "Disappearance" and it is an interesting take. The book is very much based on Christie's texts.
Do you play bridge? That was why a friend loaned me Cards on the Table when I was eleven or twelve. So many top-three worthy titles; I doubt many who'd read them all would have anything in the top three I couldn't defend.
Looking for more (and newer/more complete) Christie videos?
My latest FAVORITES ranking that includes ALL Agatha Christie works is here: ua-cam.com/video/Dkqxv__te08/v-deo.html
My latest BEST ranking of the Top 15 Christie novels is here: ua-cam.com/video/RK2j-ixdghY/v-deo.html
My latest collection video on my Agatha Christie books is here: ua-cam.com/video/SAlqEN3rvVQ/v-deo.html
Where to Start with Agatha Christie is here: ua-cam.com/video/XtEn9NsSODQ/v-deo.html
Where to Start with Miss Marple is here: ua-cam.com/video/mzUXcE7MLp4/v-deo.html
Where to Start with Hercule Poirot is here: ua-cam.com/video/Nbyw3aBqEMw/v-deo.html
The playlist of all Christie videos is here: ua-cam.com/play/PLgcRd060HFyckFb8lnAME8ZfoTW3zue0G.html
The playlist of Mission Marple videos is here: ua-cam.com/play/PLgcRd060HFyciUQfczJqY8-GYL6r6UcMR.html
The playlist of Project Poirot videos is here: ua-cam.com/play/PLgcRd060HFydbM0Jom95Dw0QQA8AUde8D.html
Watching this brings home to me just how many wonderful books Christie wrote. She's truly peerless.
💯
And Then There Were None was my first Agatha Christie read and when I finished the book I haven't slept soundly for a few days. I have read 5 books of hers so far and I'm wanting more. Thanks for this ranking
I'm glad someone else likes Cards on the table so much, it's such an underrated novel, one of my favourites!
I so love Cards on the Table. The plot twist, it has a lot of red herrings and Poirot plus Madame Oliver.
Agree
I knew the killer
Yesss
‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ is a master class.
True one of my favorites 🤩
It's good but mainly reliant upon the twist, and is just yet another country house chamber piece without it (imo) of which she did too many. I think Dame Aggie finally got that the combination of a big location or set piece, with hard to guess twist, gave her novels distinction and flavor.
Guys ., five little pigs is the best for me😅
It must have been the most difficult of her novels to write because -- given the limitations she set for herself -- it would be extremely difficult not to give away the game clear until the end.
Well... Do you think that one has a twist that's a little unfair?
i recently binged a lot of Christie and I noticed that in the ABC murder Poirot and Hastings are musing about what murder they would like to investigate to indulge themselves. Hastings, of course, wants a big dramatic murder, but Poirot kind of scoffs and says his ideal murder case is just some people playing bridge and one of them dying.
I just looked up the publishing dates and ABC mystery was published on the 6th of januari, 1936, and Cards on the table was published on november 2th, 1936. So. I guess that was a wink to the audience of that time, that's so sweet
This bring back the memories of how I found your chanel more than 2 years ago. I remember seeing those deep analysis of individual mysteries. I thought "Damn! that lady found so much in a detective story, God knows what she will find in a Dostoevsky" lol. Subscribed even before the end of the first video.
Of course with such a massive body of work, there will be lots of different ranking. I have the same 2 & 3, but my number 1 is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, which you are already aware that it is lots of people favourite.
Mild surprises are : A Murder is Announced, and Evil Under The Sun. Expected them to be little bit higher. My biggest surprise is probably how high is Pale Horse.
A very solid top 3!!
Recently read Endless Night and even though it's insanely over the top, I did enjoy the twist but had suspected it. Had I not read other Christie's that utilised the same plot twists, I would have loved it.
I’m surprised we didn’t see a version of this before. This is the comprehensive video I need.
Death on the Nile is my favorite for setting and I think it has the best characterization. Jacqueline and Linette dynamic is amazing, sun and moon imagery and then it's set in Egypt with all it's related sun imagery.... just on pure writing technique I think its the best.
I'd say for the puzzle mysteries, I would agree. I think And Then There Were None and it are about on par for the writing quality, but just in slightly different genres (detective mystery vs. existential serial killer thriller)
Yes; that dynamic really stands out. I often refer to Linnet and her sense of guilt over knowing she deliberately set out to take Simon.
and then there were none is my favourite
Fantastic ranking, loved hearing your thoughts! MY FAVORITE IS ALSO 'CARDS ON THE TABLE'!!! I keep getting more excited when you didn't bring it up, and whooped when you put it at #1! Such a good book...
Yay, thank you!
The very first Christie book I read was The Murder of Roger Ackroyd when I was about 13 or 14 years old. I was completely hooked on everything Christie after that.
This was amazing! I haven't read a single Christie novel ever before and I'm so inspired to start now. I'm going to start from your least faves and work my way to the best ones. I just know I'm going to love her. Thank you!!!!
Hope you enjoy it!
This video just left a big smile on my face. I'm making my way through Christie canon too and have a few objectively not-so-good blind spots (I know a number of the Tommy&Tuppence stories are not really that great but I have a huge weakness for crime-solving couples), and it's always so much fun to compare notes with someone who read them all.
I remember reading a lot of Christie books in my middle school / highschool years. The ones that kept with me over the years were The Sercret of Chimneys, which I think is the first one I read and made me fall in love with murder myster as a genre, and Crooked House, which I found very disturbing. I also still remember the deciding piece of evidence that lead to the discovery of the murderer in Evil under the Sun. I think the description of the house and seaside sorroundings in that book helped me make up a very detailed picture in my mind, which I can still see flashes of.
I love your rankings. I am a big fan of Poirot and Miss Marple and I am so glad that someone, other than me, enjoys Sleeping Murder. I have had a hard time reading The Secret of Chimneys, but I may try again. Thanks, Lovely.
I love how you gave three descriptions for each!
Loved this video. When I was a tween ages ago, my grandmother (RIP) let me read one of her Agatha Christie books. When others were reading Judy Blume, I was reading about Miss Marple and Hercule. I was then wrapped up in reading her books, watching movie adaptions, etc. I even started writing my own "Agatha Christie inspired" murder mystery....though I didn't get very far. Throughout my adulthood, me and my grandmother would sit and watch the movies together when I would visit (or we'd watch Snapped...LOL). This video has inspired me to go back and re-read some books I haven't picked up in years and years. So thanks!
What an amazing accomplishment reading all Agatha Christie books! I have only read a few so far, my favourite so far is Murder on the Orient Express. What a great video, now I have more of an idea of which ones to read next and which ones to maybe leave until later on.
Loved this video. I recently read Evil Under the Sun and it skyrocketed up the list to become one of my favorites. Crooked House is up next for me.
Crooked House‼️‼️‼️☺️I know you enjoyed it.
Very happy to see Sparkling Cyanide so far up the list! It was my first Christie novel and I have vivid memories of sitting in my high school library over multiple lunchtimes unable to put it down!
Me too. Unforgettable novel.
The titles are amazing too!
You re-ignited my middle school love of Christie for me, and my thirties have been oh so cozy ever since! Can’t wait to enjoy this while doing dishes 😜
Yaaaasss 🙌
I know this a two year old post-but--here is my take: Since so many of us were introduced to Christie at a young age, we think we should leave her behind when we get older. However, when we’re older we have better skills of picking apart and if we give her a go, the books get better.
I have the same top three, have always loved cards on the table. And Death on Nile is one of those books that makes me fall in love with reading all over again!
I’ve been eagerly anticipating this update! I am a lifelong reader of Agatha Christie and have your previous ranking video saved for reference. So happy to have an update. There are still some books I have yet to read. I think your Agatha Christie videos are how I found you a couple years ago and have enjoyed your channel ever since. Thanks.
Edited to add that I admire your ability to rank these. So many great ones that I would probably not be able to order them. Love hearing other people’s opinions on these wonderful books.
I am a masochist, so I seem to love the pain of forcing myself to rank them :D
@@bookslikewhoa Haha Well done!
This stage of the global pandemic finds me on a Christie audiobook jag. I was pleased to realize that I have heard or read most of hers. Cards on the Table was a pleasant surprise this summer on a three day 1600 mile drive and launched the audio craze. As a schoolgirl in the ‘50s I ordered many Christie paperbacks books for 35 cents and I still have them, yellowed and fragile. I love all the Poirot in Arabia books especially. And I find it interesting that while the curtain falls on Hercule Poirot, Miss Jane Marple is immortal.
Thanks for taking the time to do this one!
Loved this video! Can’t wait to read Cards on the Table later this year!
I love hearing you talk christie. Maybe one day you'll do a deep-dive into your favourite adaptations or what you think is necessary for a good christie adaptation
I actually did a video like that a couple of years ago! It has my favs and my shameful admission that I don't like most Marple adaptations :)
@@bookslikewhoa I must have missed it. I love adaptation talk especially from people so passionate about the source material.
Wow thank you so much for this !!
Great summaries of all the books! My personal top five are And Then There Were None, 4:50 from Paddington, The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, The Body in the Library, and Death on the Nile. Top ten would also include Three Act Tragedy, The Pale Horse, After the Funeral, By the Pricking of My Thumbs, and of course Murder on the Orient Express
Thanks for your update! Another video idea: ranking your favorites among the TV/movie adaptations. Would love to see!
I actually did that a couple of years ago, so check it out! I controversially don't love most of the Marple adaptations
My top two are Death on the Nile and Then There None. I go back and forth on which is my favorite. I do love Miss Marple and has a special place in my heart for A Murder is Announced,
A Murder is Announced was my first Marple, so I can totally see nostalgia there!
this is how i found you!! can’t wait to see the updated version ❤️
Gosh...love ur videos! I am currently reading Mystery of the Blue Train. 60 pages in, not her best work indeed, but still nice so far. I would listen to you NON STOP! You are amazing!
Oh thank you!
@@bookslikewhoa Thank YOU! 🤗🤗
I’ve only read two Christie (and then there were none and murder on the orient express) so I super appreciate your full ranking and the “three thoughts” for each book. Definitely still some gems for me to pick up I think!
Certainly there are lots of treats ahead!
This is a brilliant list, and I love the way you summarize the books and highlight the closed-circle and 'twisted family dynamics' elements in several of the books! And I completely agree with all of your rankings, especially in placing Cards on the Table first on the list. I was so happy to find the book, with the same cover you incorporated here, in London, and I wish the novel had a better adaptation than the one they did for the Suchet series, which altered too much of the plot and added a really homophobic edge. Christie never receives enough credit for the psychological depth of her characters (Poirot's experiment proving that Anne Meredith is a thief in COTT is a great example, as well as the brother in Sleeping Murder), and even her seemingly light-hearted productions, like The Mousetrap, build on dark, complex traumas. As a history professor, I'm also struck by how effectively one could use her novels, read chronologically, to chart English social history in the century, especially the effects of WWII on neighborhood relationships and of decolonization on the British homeland. If you've not been to Torquay and her home at Greenway in Devon, I would strongly recommend them for a future trip--together with an excellent cream tea!
Hi Mara, I have to re-read a few of these to make up my mind. I know I love Caribbean mystery because it was different in the way that Miss Marple had to be so active instead of using her village gossip etc. you made me want to read a few I’m pretty sure I never read. Aloha
My favorite Poirot is Five Little Pigs, favorite Marple is Sleeping Murder, I guess I’m a fan of cold case mysteries.
Really fun listening to your rankings. I especially liked that you offered a few sentences, and didn’t belabor your reasons. I too am a fan of Bundle.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one with love for Bundle!
Thanks a lot for this video!
I've been waiting for this video! I'm going to have to re-watch it with my list in front of me!
Hope you enjoy it!
Obsessed with your content! I am rereading all the Christie novels right now to make my own definitive list. I love how high Lord Edgware Dies is for you, as its own of my absolute faves and find that it’s usually super under-rated. It holds a special place in my heart as it was one of the first David Suchet adaptations I ever watched.
One of the best Suchet adaptations IMO!
I love when you talk about Christie 😍 always so excited to see a video from you about her. Especially because I can tell we don’t always agree and I like seeing other peoples opinions. I have only read 27 so far but my least favorite has been Sittaford Mystery (painfully predictable) and my favorite is Crooked House (that ending KILLS me)
It is truly an amazing ending!
I don’t know how I missed Crooked House 30+ years ago, but I just listened to it recently. Wow! Then I watched a late 2010s adaptation. Thanks for your older list @bookslikewhoa that turned me on to it. ☺️Loved this list too. 👍🏼
The plot twist on Roger Ackroyd was the best for me and IT WAS THE BEST BOOK FOR MEEE LOLL
SPOIL BELOW--
Dr. Sheppard as the murderer? Woah
...
He was acting way too innocent
It was the winner as the best crime novel voted by famous authors.
You are the reason I have read any Agatha Christie. My fave so far is Death on the Nile. Looking forward to reading more 🕵🏻♀️
Yay, hope you enjoy the journey!
Loved the ranking! Can't wait to read more Christie. I loved And Then There Were None and the Pale Horse got a little lower of a rating from me, because I didn't love the way supernatural elements were added in, but I agree that the twist did surprise me!
Yeah those supernatural elements can definitely be hit or miss!
As much as I adore the best of the best Christie mysteries like The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, And Then There Were None, The ABC Murders
I must say
That
DEATH ON THE NILE IS PERFECTION AND IS SO DAMN UNDERRATED AND I LOVE YOU FOR LOVING IT TOO
This is great! I even disagree with you on a lot of the ones I've read (and agree on others), but with Christie it just feels like it's hard to really go wrong so there's a big matter of personal preference. And great to hear I still have a lot of good not-yet-read ones to look forward to.
Agree, it is very hard to go wrong with Christie!
I didn’t realize I needed this so badly!!!!
A very good review of Christie's books indeed. It matches my rating of her books. The worst of Christie's books that you mentioned in the beginning were those that she had written in the last years of her life. She had become scatty, her text meandering , and her memory unreliable , she would write that a murder happened twenty years ago and in the next chapter she would say it happened twelve years back , also she had become endlessly repetitive . Her best works were those that she'd written in th 1940's and 50's when she was in her element. "Sleeping Murder " is my favorite Miss Marple book too.
Yass ! This is exactly the kind of video I need right now . Love a good Agatha Christie
Glad you enjoyed!!
My first Christie read was 'elephants can remember' and I found that it had many criticisms regarding its execution...but I find that from the novels I've read of hers this novel tried to convey a more emotional side of the mysterious event and to not necessarily point out the dark shade of the culprit...like it seemed fresh coming from a detective fiction...
So pleased to come across this. I have been binge-reading (actually re-reading) Agatha Christie recently. In my opinion the later books (late 60's onwards) were nowhere near as good as her earlier work. Both the plots and the writing.
People have asked in the comments about adaptations. I say that if you are going to take a perfectly good Christie and mess around with it (including adding Miss Marple where she doesn't belong) don't bother! Write your own story!
I am putting Cards on The Table onto my April TBR (I read Sparkling Cyanide and Death on the Nile, this month for March Mystery Madness).
My fav is Cards on the Table as well. I especially like Ariadne Oliver in this one.
I'll have to read Sparkling Cyanide as I love a cold case nearly as much as a locked room (my favorite) or isolated closed circle (close 2nd) mystery. Cards on the Table is still my absolute favorite by Christie, but The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is truly excellent also. I'm not a Tommy and Tuppence fan. It's just a personal taste thing as I don't like the whole spy subgenre at All. Plus the war backdrop is also Not a setting/trope I enjoy. For me, there is but One Poirot and that is David Suchet. His performance was perfection. 😘
Your channel is what made me decide to pick up the Poirot series recently and I am so glad I did!
I felt Passenger to Frankfort was unfinished and my least favorite of all her works. When I finished reading it I made a mental note. It appeared to me that all her books are about the same size and could it be when she got to that point in her writing she just felt "I'm done". My other next to least favorite was her play Akhnaton, the lines didn't feel ancient Egyptian but somewhere in 1920's. I did read all of her work and her auto biography.. She was an amazing woman and writer. At a used book sale I found a copy of The New Bedside, Bathtub & Armchair Companion to Agatha Christie Edited by Dick Riley and Pam McAllister which for me is a must have.
Faves- roger ackroyd, a murder is announced, crooked house, ordeal by innocence, orient express.
Did not enjoy- passenger to Frankfurt (she’s leaving frankfurt!!), death comes as the end (no Christie personality), Seven dials and destination unknown.
Great video, very informative and well structured
Glad you liked it!
Great list! Just reread Halloween Party for the season, and discovered I enjoyed it much more this time despite it not quite. Ring a mystery this time around.
The Bengali film adaptation of ‘The Mirror Crack’d From Side To Side’ is great fun! It’s called ‘Shubho Mahurat’.
I will look for that adaptation on YT. 🙂
Unfortunately, I haven’t found an English subtitled version. 😕
This was lovely to watch and makes me want to read a mystery immediately
DO IT ;)
Hi Mara, I just read the moving finger I loved it. It had everything, including Miss Marple at the end which I wasn't expecting. And a romance I wasn't expecting, and one I was. I was sure I knew the murderer. Wrong again. Happy New Year
i haven't read much christie, but death on the nile is definitely my favourite so far, especially because i listened to the david suchet narration of the audiobook!! i'm super looking forward to reading more of her stuff, she always fools me!
That audiobook is excellent! 🙂
Death on the Nile getting the love it deserves! I'm so in agreement that it belongs in the Top 3 and I'm always confused why others don't rank it there also. The purist in me does feel the need to also have Orient Express in the Top 3. This video also serves as a very nice, succinct, catalog of her work for new readers or for those of us that have read all of them. Sometimes when seeing just the title of the book I'm like "what was that one about again?" i.e. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, and now I revisit this video when having such a moment. Thank you for making this :)
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Yes, that top 3 is so hard to settle on... so many possible options that are worthy
Agreed. Death on The Nile is also my number 3. I think the who/why is not super hard to guess if you have read enough books by her, but the plot of how it was done and putting everything neatly in order is amazing.
This was fun! I've only read a few of Christie's books. You've inspired me to try more now!
I agree with the Hallowe’en Party ranking. I listened to that recently after having just finished The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and it was just no where near as interesting.
Yeah, nostalgia wise it is one I enjoy, but not the best quality in her oeuvre
The best Agatha Christie book is the Sittaford mystery because at the end i cried when Emily rejected Charles after he did everything she asked him to do. I felt the emotion and i really thought that they would end up together. I know the murderer was a plot twist but i really didn't care because i wanted to see what will happen between Emily and Charles. Pleese tell me your opinion about them,do you think they had to end up together?and let's be honest Jim was for sure not the man that Emily deserved
My fav Agatha Christie is a tie between A Murder Is Announced,Dead Man's Folly and And then there were none.
However my least favs is between The clocks,Nemesis,Elephants can remeber (Very anticlimatic for a final Poriot in my opinion
I love Elephants Do Remember and Mrs McGinty’s Dead, but I have to agree that Cards On The Table is my favorite! Murder On The Orient Express 2nd.
Thanks for the ranking. Hope you can review John Dickson Carr and Ellery Queen also, as they are similar to Christie
U should read her Autobiography it is an absolutely fantastic read.
Death Comes as the End will forever be one of my favourite books.
I just read Cards on the Table because you said it was your favorite! Definitely liked it, would probably put it in my top ten Christie books. But I just love Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and And Then There Were None. I don't have a single complaint about any of those books. Also really love Sparking Cyanide, Seven Dials Mystery, Endless Night, and the Murder of Roger Ackroyd. I was only so-so with The Man in the Brown Suit. And I agree that The Clocks was boring and an annoying waste of potential.
Very interesting review!
I have not read Christie almost at all, but getting to it. Five little pigs has been one of my favourite books EVER! I also liked death on the nile, however i didn't really like the book "The hollow", so i took a break. This video has been kind of a "what you should read video" for me. One thing that slightly dissapointed me, was that the cold case books aren't so great, because usually I LOVE COLD CASES. Will a 100% be checking out Cards on the table tho!!
As a middle aged man I feel confident to tell you that you undervalued "The mirror cracked from edge to edge" and "Curtain" - but hey I can't be bothered to keep that charade up longer than 1 sentence. Fun list, hopefully the algorithm will tell me when you make another updated list in a couple of years!
watched. liked. saved. 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
of those i’ve read i agree for the most part. which is neither here nor there, really, because… personal opinions are personal opinions, imho.
my all-time favorites (so far, though can hardly imagine that to change) are
1. “and then there were none”
2. “the murder of roger ackroyd”
3. “crooked house” / “endless night”
i thought the audiobook of “and then there were none” was especially fabulous. though generally anything read by hugh fraser is on point.
loved your three words/phrases-characterizations and reasons as to “why” what was ranked how!
lots of love from tiny-town austria, monica 📚🐾🐾
Brilliant video!
Three Act Tragedy didn't really work for me either, and I can't quite put my finger on why. It was written in the middle of her Golden Age period, it's Poirot... but yeah. Not a fave.
I love that you stand by your The Big Four love. I've never had as much of a dislike of it as some people do, either. I also agree that The Seven Dials Mystery and The Man in the Brown Suit are the best of the Bright Young Things thrillers.
Right?? I'm not sure why I don't like Three Act Tragedy more, since it's such a cool premise. I think it comes down to not connecting with the characters enough but I may be wrong there
Strange how opinion over her books differ. The Pale Horse is one of my least favorite books, while Peril at the End House is one of my top 3 (among "And then there was none" and the Murder of Roger Ackroyd).
Oh, it is a great idea to be doing the rankings of Christie books every year or two. It is very interesting to see how your taste changes with time. Please do it again in a year!
Loved your ranking. I finished my last Christie earlier in the year and honestly do not think I could manage to rank them all- I found it hard enough to choose a top 10. Lots of your top 10 are in my top 10 too but in different places. I think Christie has so many different books there’s something for everyone to love! 😊
I agree!
Hardest who-is-the-murderer is cat among the pigeons, before Poirot arrives.
I love After The Funeral. It was the third Christie I ever read and it was so enjoyable and innovative. But And then there were none is my number 1.
I ranked Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, Then There Were None, Evil Under the Sun, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side and Five Little Pigs 5 stars. My least favourites were Passenger to Frankfurt, Endless Night and The Big Four. We have some overlap but I think I liked the Tommy & Tuppence books more than you do. Love the video and thanks for sharing your opinions.
Cards on the table is my favourite too :D I love it soo much!
Okay, what do I do if I really REALLY enjoyed The Clocks? It was my first Poirot. Do they really just get better from here? I really did enjoy the element of romance and the mystery wrapped up very nicely. Which one should I read next? I'm rotating out authors with large amounts of books so it'll be at least three more books by three different authors before I get to anything Agatha Christie, but I've got a few of her books at home and I'm always willing and able to get more books for cheap.
I am surprised I have found you so late because Cards on the table is my fav too. Do you have any other recommendations like that by any other author??
Overall I would have a similar ranking to you, my one big divergence is I LOVE The Clocks. It would be in top 5 most relistened to of Christie's books. The secondary cast are fantastic, and the cat Shasha Mimi, brilliant!
It's definitely a cool idea - I think I just resent that it is a Poirot with so little of him and when he is there, I feel like he is out of character. But honestly, even a "bad" Christie is still way more fun to read than most other things!
I like The Clocks quite a bit more than a lot of readers seem to. The victim's identity being less important was an interesting idea, and some of the characters were memorable.
Great video!
My list so far:
1. And Then There Were None
2. Death on the Nile
3. Murder on the Orient Express
4. Sparkling Cyanide
5. Hercule Poirot's Christmas
6. Lord Edgware Dies
7. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
8. A Murder is Announced
9. Peril at End House
10. The Seven Dials Mystery
11. Towards Zero
12. The Mysterious Affair at Styles
13. Murder in Mesopotamia
14. A Pocket Full of Rye
15. The Hollow
16. Crooked House
17. Hickory Dickory Dock
18. Dumb Witness
19. N or M?
20. Death in the Clouds
21. The Murder at the Vicarage
22. Murder on the Links
23. Hallowe’en Party
24. 4.50 from Paddington
25. Five Little Pigs
26. The ABC Murders
27. A Caribbean Mystery
28. Three Blind Mice and Other Stories
29. Elephants Can Remember
30. The Body in the Library
31. The Mirror Crack'd
32. Nemesis
33. The Secret Adversary
34. The Labors of Hercules
35. The Mystery of the Blue Train
Omg, your top 16 is almost identical to mine (i haven't read seven dials mystery though)
I also really love The Big Four even though it's incredibly dated! Thanks for this! I'm slowly making my way through Poirot and enjoyed hearing your thoughts.
Oh man! This was great. I’ve read a little more than half of her books at this point, and you’re making me want to read more! Lol I’m too tired right now to post my full list, but I’ll mention my favorite, APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH. I’m glad to see you have it ranked pretty high! My least favorite are honestly here short story collections, they just don’t do it for me, with the exception of Partners in Crime, that one was fun. But probably my least favorite was Parker Pyne, I couldn’t tell you a thing about it, it was incredibly forgettable haha. My favorite miss Marple is Body in the Library, my favorite stand-alone is Crooked House. Great video!
Fair enough! I love short stories, so I like hers a lot, but I totally see why they aren't everyone's cup of tea - they are very low on characterization
By The Pricking of My Thumbs is higher on my personal list but what an entertaining video. "Great Job."
Genuinely surprised at the ranking of Endless Night, I thought the suspense of knowing someone was going to die but not knowing who or when (barring the fact that I successfully guessed the killer and the victim) worked very well for what was otherwise a fairly chill, almost wish-fulfilment feeling story.
Also surprised at Sparkling Cyanide; now maybe I didn’t enjoy this one that much because school got in the way and it took me longer to read it, but I really didn’t like the almost jarring style change and the slightly lame (to me) conclusion.
I should note I have *not* read nearly every Christie, just 11 of them, and also that I do agree with your ranking and reasoning of The Clocks; I bought it because the premise (and the aesthetic of time has always been fun to me) and it was fairly disappointing in the end, though there are still elements I enjoy.
i stopped reading for no reason a few years ago. i loved christie and everything i read from her (except elephants can remember that was dreadfully long and boring) and i planned on reading them all but i lost interest. now im ready to try again because shes the queen of crime after all. if i dont give her a chance, who should i give it to?
my favourite books from her are cat among the pigeons, death comes as the end and SPECIALLY crooked house. i had read at least 20 christies when i read crooked house and still didnt expect the twist. a masterpiece.
So happy to see Seven Dials rank so high, it is my favourite and I don’t think it gets enough love.
Agreed!!
I must reread/listen to it soon. 🙂Thanks!
I have a fondness for "Passenger to Frankfurt" because it was one of the first, if not possibly the first Christie that I ever read. I just finished listening to an audio book of "Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life" by Laura Thompson. She gives her interpretation of what prompted the "Disappearance" and it is an interesting take. The book is very much based on Christie's texts.
Do you play bridge? That was why a friend loaned me Cards on the Table when I was eleven or twelve.
So many top-three worthy titles; I doubt many who'd read them all would have anything in the top three I couldn't defend.