Looking for more (and newer/more complete) Christie videos? My latest FAVORITES ranking that includes ALL Agatha Christie works is here: ruclips.net/video/Dkqxv__te08/видео.html My latest BEST ranking of the Top 15 Christie novels is here: ruclips.net/video/RK2j-ixdghY/видео.html My latest collection video on my Agatha Christie books is here: ruclips.net/video/SAlqEN3rvVQ/видео.html Where to Start with Agatha Christie is here: ruclips.net/video/XtEn9NsSODQ/видео.html Where to Start with Miss Marple is here: ruclips.net/video/mzUXcE7MLp4/видео.html Where to Start with Hercule Poirot is here: ruclips.net/video/Nbyw3aBqEMw/видео.html The playlist of all Christie videos is here: ruclips.net/p/PLgcRd060HFyckFb8lnAME8ZfoTW3zue0G The playlist of Mission Marple videos is here: ruclips.net/p/PLgcRd060HFyciUQfczJqY8-GYL6r6UcMR The playlist of Project Poirot videos is here: ruclips.net/p/PLgcRd060HFydbM0Jom95Dw0QQA8AUde8D
If Agatha Christie weren’t dead I think she would keel over in horror to see what Kenneth Branagh is doing to her books. I refuse to see his latest one! I literally cringed just watching the trailer. My name is Kenneth Branagh and I am the hammiest actor in the world!!
He's actually not that bad and I say that as a huge Poirot fan. People make the mistake of comparing him to David Suchet which is always going to be unfavourable for Brannagh.
I don’t have anything against Branagh but his adaptations look so incredibly unappealing. The 1974 Lumet Murder on the Orient Express is already one of my favorite films (the scene showing the crime is so chilling!!), plus it doesn’t have Johnny Depp in it, so I’m good there.
I will always stand with you and say Cards on the Table is one of the best Christies. It's a mystery where you don't have to choose between fun and plot. It's so underrated.
Yes. Towards Zero is one of my most reread Christies. It’s just got great melodrama. It also gives us more of Superintendent Battle, which is also great.
You are at your best when discussing Christie!! I don’t overlap with your reading tastes very often, but with Christie we are BFFs!! I am going to reread all of these and see what I think! Your attention to the 5 attributes makes this list really fun and I appreciate your attention to each. Great job!!
I love that you did this video. I never get tired of Christie content. I remember watching every single video when you did your Agatha Christie project a few years ago.
Excellent list. Orient Express was too high and justice for Endless Night/Curtain, but thank you for correctly saying Crooked House must be in the top 10. And Then There Were None is my favorite novel of all time.
“If it’s not in your top ten, you’re just wrong” lol I’m so excited to continue my Christie reads. But right now I’m more upset I don’t own these hardcover editions you have - stunning 🤩
Objectively, I can see how And Then There Were None was number 1 on your list; however, my personal favorite will always remain Cards On The Table(my absolute favorite locked room mystery). Death on the Nile is a favorite too. As is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and 5 Little Pigs. 😏I have to say that I wish Kenneth Brannagh would just stop making Poirot movies. He does a crap job of it and it just angers me. 🤬 We Already have a perfect Poirot...his name is David Suchet. 🤨 Sorry, just saw the ad to his most recent atrocity right before your video started. So my sassiness has been Unleashed. 😂
I CANNOT wait to hear your thoughts on A Haunting in Venice! I'm about to make a video comparing it to Agatha's Hallowe'en Party and the Suchet adaptation. Hehe... should be a hoot 😅 But Mara is who the people REALLY wanna hear from let's be real.
Thoroughly enjoyable video as always, Mara. And I have to say, it really speaks to her talent when you were able to pick a whole FIFTEEN top books for one author. I won't fight you on them, haha, it's an excellent list. Honestly, I don't envy you; I would say it would be hard for me to limit it to fifteen! (I'd make cases for Appointment with Death and A Pocket Full of Rye, which already tips the list over.) I also really liked the criteria you picked to judge the books by, they match the way I tend to rate the stories too. Your point about The Murder at the Vicarage being what people who don't know Christie would expect her to be is exactly why it's one of my recommendations to people new to reading her. Along with the fact the writing is so fun and Len and Griselda are amazing, of course. I saw A Haunting in Venice on Friday night. It, uh... well anyway. Venice is very beautiful. I do hope you report back on your thoughts sometime.😆
I’m just starting on my Agatha Christie reading journey and I started with and then there were none. I’m so glad you made a list she has so many to choose from. Thank you
Thanks for this list--I love hearing you talk about Christie. I got my love for Christie from my mother, who always found Poirot rather annoying and preferred Miss Marple. In that spirit, I would select Sleeping Murder as the best cold case. The atmosphere in that one is so cozy/creepy. Also, I agree with others that 4:50 from Paddington deserves a place on the list. But, you have to look to the short stories for some of the best Miss Marple as brilliant amateur detective.
What? No _Passenger to Frankfurt_ 😂 (just kidding). For me, Agatha Christie's very best writing occurred during the 30's and 40's, BUT she put out amazing stuff in all decades of her long career. She's my favorite writer. No complaints about your top 15, they are all strong. Thanks for the video! Made my Sunday. 🌼
I too think her best works are from 30s and 40s but this year I decided to read alk her Non-Poirot , Non-Marple and she surprised me. 😂😂😂 I never thought I would love books like Chimney as much as I did.
I am brand new to reading Christie only having read one book so far and currently almost done with Endless Nights. I can see why you did not include Endless Nights in this list, lol. I just want to say, I think you have such a talent for putting your thoughts into words and analyzing books in terms of why they are good or not so good. I always enjoy your recommendations and I appreciate having this list to check off as well. I am really looking forward to getting to her good ones! :-)
Excellent ranking! I totally agree with you: “And Then There Were None” is Agatha’s ultimate masterpiece. It ticks all the criteria boxes with top marks. Let alone the fact that it was a trend-setter, many times imitated but never surpassed👏👏👏
My personal top is a bit different. I would have included somewhere A murder is announced (that I believe to be the best Marple novel), Pale Horse and Death Comes as the End. This last one in particular might not be among the better plotted but it shines due to its originality: a murder puzzle set in ancient Egypt. The Moving Finger is also a great Marple story.
I can't wait to hear when Miss Mara BooksLikeWhoa (this is what I've decided your last name is) has seen A Haunting In Venice. I can't believe it but I'm hearing positive reviews!
I have been following you for several years now. I have your previous Christie rankings videos saved and have referred to them multiple times. Can’t wait to watch a new ranking video. I’m a long time Agatha Christie fan. I’ve read all of these except Cards on the Table and Towards Zero, both of which I have on my TBR.
Aw, I love your Christie lists. A few of my favorites that didn't make your top 15: Curtain, The Hollow, and, yes, Endless Night. ;) I'm glad you put And Then There Were None at the top (also my favorite Christie and my favorite mystery, period) and that Death on the Nile was above Murder on the Orient Express.
I love your takes on Christie. I'm not sure I fully agree with your list, but I think the Top 5, at least, are solid picks. I think that And Then There Were None may be the best mystery novel ever written and I am willing to die on that hill. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd would probably be my second choice, but Death on the Nile is stellar. I just recently listened to Towards Zero on Audible and that's probably the sleeper on your list. It should get way more attention than it does. The one that might not make my list is the ABC Murders. I have only read that one once, though, so I might like it more on a reread. We are in complete agreement on Cards on the Table. I love that one, too. With Christie being as prolific as she was, it's really hard to narrow down her best, but you've done a great job with it.
The only place I don't agree is putting body in the library over murder is announced. Though both are good, the character work in the latter upstages the former, and on re-reading body in the library, u do start feeling like the plot is far fetched
I'm reading sparkling cyanide ,it's the first book that I read of her, I choosed it because it's not so difficult related to the language(I'm learning english,I'm a B1 probably, so I can't read so difficult things yet). The book is really good and addictive, I love it
It's hard ard for me not to want Mysterious Affair at Styles in there! It was my first Christie read and I can't distinguish between me falling for her style so hard and an objective placing of the book in a ranking. Thanks for this list!
I had no idea that A Haunting in Venice is based on Halloween Party! (I googled it because I couldn't figure out what movie you meant, lol) It doesn't look like the movie has much in common with the book...? I DNF'd that book at the 60% mark, so maybe I missed something. My favorite Christies so far have been Murder on the Orient Express and The Sittaford Mystery, but I've barely scratched the surface of her oeuvre. Having a ton more to read is a good problem to have. 😄
I am doing the ultimate reader crime and just watching the adaptations instead of reading the books. 😭 But I do really enjoy your Christie content and consider you to be an authority on the matter. ♥️♥️♥️
It's a crime because it spoils the fun of the actual book. 😂😂😂 I have read almost 40 books by Christe but I skipped 'Murder in Orient Express' & 'Death on the Nile' because I had the audacity to watch the Poirot TV adaptation of these books and now I feel like 'How could I enjoy it if I already know the whodunit. 😂😂😂
I somewhat agree with this list. I don't remember toward zero's plot and I don't like cards on the table. I love endless night and ordeal by innocence, so I'd swap those.
Your list is very solid, as is your reasoning. I would probably rate "Five Little Pigs " as her best because there is no perfunctory character. It's her most balanced novel.
Unbelievable, My top 15 is the same. 😮, just change the order of the top 5, and we agree 100%. My top 5: * Five little pigs. * The murder of RA. * Murder in the OE. * Death on the Nile. * And then there were none. From 6 to 15....the same.
I enjoy your perspective. I'm in the process of reading all of the Christie output according to the official Agatha Christie Reading List. While I've read many, I've got many to go as there are more than 100 items if you count plays and novelized plays. I have even read two of her novels written under the name Mary Westmacott, marketed as romances but I wouldn't call them romances. I was really surprised at how much I liked Absent in the Spring and I also enjoyed A Daughter's a Daughter and watched the play version on RUclips. I don't see how anyone can narrow it down to 10 or 15. I've recently read a few that I enjoyed immensely that don't get mentioned. I did enjoy Endless Night, the Mirror Crack'd, The Pale Horse. Dead Man's Folly stunned me in a good way. I just finished Murder in Three Acts (A Three-Act Tragedy) and thought that was real fun. It might be easier to put together a shortlist of stinkers which I don't really want to do. I also enjoyed Cards on the Table. I'm reading a book about her plays and I'm reminded when I'm enjoying on of her novels that the dialogs are very awesome and I'm also checking out the various screen adaptations. Thanks again.
Great video on Quality Christie. I have so enjoyed all your Christie vids, some more than once, or more than twice! I must say , bc i just finished Endless Night, how shocked i am that it was so disliked by me ( 1 star, sheesh) --and one of her favored?? ! On other side, one of my Favorite ones is Sleeping Murder: loved it! Can you think of another Christie topic for a video?? 😊❤
And Then There Were None is, no joke, a top three novel of all time for me. Christie has said it was her hardest book to write and you can tell because there’s so much care in every single word. I have written very long essays about how there are no good adaptations of this and why (the 1987 Russian one is imo the best, it comes really close; I had such high hopes for the 2015 BBC version but I HATED IT!!). Sorry, I just have a lot of feelings on this subject. Also, Murder of Roger Ackroyd haunts me to this day because I ALMOST CALLED IT and then went no, surely not. She got me!!
I think we overlap on about 12 or 13 of these. The ones you called "controversial" weren't really so for me. Didn't really like Towards Zero, I would have gone with Murder is Easy instead. No quibbles with the rest. Obviously And Then There Were None and Orient Express were shoo-ins, but weirdly I've never been compelled to go back to them now that I know the endings. I guess I probably should though.
Solid list. Nothing really to argue, really, from me! Having reread several of these just in the last few months, I particularly am with you with regards to And Then There Were None and Cards on the Table as being especially brilliant. There's a reason And Then There Were None is kind of the cliche answer to "best Christie?" and the one that gets assigned to kids in school (at least around here): because it IS the best. Just the existential dread of it all is amazing. My only complaint at all about it is that she for some reason did a lot of dialogue in a play/screenplay style ("She said: [paragraph] next line") which I found weird and off-putting, but that didn't spoil the whole achievement of it for me. Cards on the Table is really the perfect Poirot novel, because it is a mystery that only HE can solve because it can ONLY be solved the way Poirot approaches them: through examining the psychology of the suspects. There really aren't a lot of "clues," if any, to go on. It all comes down to who these people ARE and how they play cards reveals that, but who else but Poirot and his little gray cells could to tease that out? One slight caveat for anyone who has never read Lord Edgware Dies: you get hit with racism, misogyny, homophobia, and anti-Semitism all within about the first ten pages. I don't think that makes it unreadable, but it is just so dramatic so quickly it sort of stunned me for a second. Just a heads up.
I’m actually glad that they chose to adapt Hallowe’en Party. Since I was disappointed by the first two adaptations, at least now my expectations won’t be as high.
Kinda disappointed not to see Death comes as the end on your list. I read it as a child and it made me fall in love with detective genre. I love both the mystery part and the ancient Egypt setting. This book and ‘and there were none’ are my top favourites.
And Then There Were None, I agree, has to be her best book. For two and three, I could go either way between Nile and Orient Express but agree they both should be there! I'll have to re-read Towards Zero because I don't recall it. I was not a fan of Edgware because there was a 1980's movie with Faye Dunaway that was so poor quality it completely put me off to that story. I hadn't read the book before it though so maybe I should. Love the Christie content as per usual!
Have you done any videos discussing Christie-related nonfiction, such as A is for Arsenic or The Science of Murder? I think a video from you discussing those in relation to her books would be fascinating since you know her work so well! A new one just came out, The Science of Agatha Christie, that I'd like to pick up soon.
I've read - The murder on the Orient express - The body in the library - The ABC Murders - The 13 Problems (short stories) - Cards on the Table - The mystery of the blue train - A pocket full of rye I liked all of them except for the 13 Problems although I have to say that I'm more of a Poirot girl in general. I just think he's way more involved in actually finding out stuff whereas Marple just arrives, talks with a few people and suddenly knows everything while simultaneously being a pick me with all that "oh no I'm just an old woman who knows about people, I'm not actually a detective" stuff. I grew up reading/listening to Sherlock Holmes so I'm probably biased in that sense.
If you are interested in a well clued Miss Marple, try "A Murder is Announced". She used the same tactics as in the other books, but how she arrives at the solution is well traceable and logical.
Thanks so much! I read Death on the Nile in junior high and just on a whim picked it up again last year (I’m now 36), still loved it, and am now picking up more and loving them so this is very helpful!
My husband and I just saw A Murder in Venice (Halloween Party) this past Friday night and we LOVED it. It may not be her best book but the movie was great for the fall. Creepy, rainy, spooky, autumnal. Just fun. I was entertained and that's all I needed. Much better than Death On The Nile.
100% agree that jacqueline is christie's best characterisation, it's so impressive - not only did the book really stick with me, but jacqueline as a character just wouldn't leave my mind for weeks after i finished it.
See, I was happy to hear that Tina Fey was playing Ariadne Oliver AND that a legend like Michelle Yeoh was in it. Apart from that, I’m not happy about the adaptations.
I agree with your list overall, but as much as I like Body in the library, I think the best Marples are 450 from Paddington, and A Murder is Announced.
Oh!! This is what I wanted to say too.😂😂 4:50 from Paddington and a Murder is announced are awesome books and I was surprised because I usually I am not a Marple fan.
I wake up and see Mara posted AC related video. Made my day! I agree for almost anything you said, but I really could never liked Towards Zero and Poirot's Christmas. I've always had a soft spot for Endless Night. If I read this book now I wouldn't be that impressed because I would guess what's going on very early on, but 15 years old me was jaw-dropped. Cards on the table is in my top 10, so I am right 😂😂 Books that I consider best and always recommend for starters are ABC Murders, After the Funeral, Crooked House, Death on the Nile, Evil Under the Sun or Man in the Brown Suit/Seven dials Mystery for her spy/thrillery/adventure books
Super weird but I absolutely hate when a detective is a main character in a story. I *loved* And Then There Were None. Are there any other great Christies that don't feature a detective?
I feel like Murder on the Orient Express just doesn't have the same spark for me as it did the first time I read it. It isn't the most riveting read to begin with, as genius and iconic as it is. I think there is an element of overdoing it. Murder on the Orient Express is the go-to book for films, video games and anytime the Christie estate does something new. I wouldn't say I'm sick of it but I'm almost tired of it being so ubiquitous.
Murder on the Orient Express is, so far, the only Agatha Christie book I can say I hated. I respect everybody's opinion, but I don't understand why it gets so much praise
I was pretty surprised when you put Five little pigs on number 4. I did enjoy this book, but it was too long, lacked the action to me. Too much interviewing. But I agree it had some great characters and it's fullfield with emotions too. My ranking would be slightly different, but maybe even more controversial. 1. The murder of Rodger Ackroyd 2. And Then there were none 3. Death on the Nile 4. Murder on the orient express But here it becomes controversial : 5. The ABC murders 6. They do it with mirrors 7. The Hound of Death and other stories. (if short stories count, if they don't maybe The Body in the Library? Tbh the mystery was pretty easily solvable, but for some strange reason I really liked it)
Halloween Party?!?! I was shocked when I heard that book was getting an adaptation. That being said, my personal fav is At Bertram’s Hotel, which would make a truly fun adaptation, but I think we can all be agreed it’s not top tier Christie. (And I know you hate that book. LOL!)
Nice job! I've read all of Agatha Christie's books at least twice and have a hard time thinking of which are the best and which are my favorites, beyond a few. Death on the Nile is my favorite Poirot and Murder is Announced is my favorite Marple. And Then There Were None is up there, too. Five Little Pigs is probably my favorite David Suchet adaptation.
Murder is Easy is delightfully camp, and I'm glad it got an honorable mention. Also appreciate the love for Towards Zero--it's a book that speaks much more to women and queer readers, and thus rarely gets the respect it deserves from male reviewers. Shout out to Dead Man's Folly. There's something so elegant about the way the main themes, characters, tone, and setting (both time and place) align; I just wish the prose was as neat.
Thanks to my mom, who loves mysteries TV in general, I've seen a lot of adaptations and I've been spoiled most of Christie's plots. Except, somehow, for And Then There Were None. I really want to read it before I get spoiled but I don't know if I should do it physically or on audio. What would you recommend? (I wish I bought the edition you're holding before it went out of print, I picked a few like this but ironically not the best covers 😭)
I really enjoyed this video and can’t wait to check out your other videos. I’m wanting to start reading some AC books and this was very helpful. What would you recommend me read if I’m wanting more of a cozy mystery vibe from her?
I agree with most of your choices but will just mention, why I would put A Murder is Announced definitely in the top 15 or even Top 10. The character work is well done, and the post war setting is even better. Because not only does it gives us a big glimpse into Britain post Second World war, with black Market, war widows and refugees, all of this stuff is woven into the plot and it's solution elegantly. And also, and the biggest reason why I would rank it high: It has maybe the best clueing in all of Christie. I won't go into more detail, because I don't want to spoil, but it unites several of Christie's most famous and best clues.
I’m down with Towards Zero being in. I think you’re right there. I would have included N or M on the list though. Tommy & Tuppence are just fun and I think Christie’s love for them shines through. Snoring SOS! Come on, what could be better?
In the top 7-15 We see some really surprising takes. A few where I think you really go for iconic or best vs. ones you liked most in the other ranking! This part also brings up like 4 or 5 I haven't read yet...and I've read about 40! I think Murder is announced is my favorite, but you're right that body in the library is used waaaayy more in pop culture. Although MIA does a lot of things I think are brilliant! The characters are amazing, we get a gay couple in anything except saying the words. The mystery is complex and involves a lot of human nature, which are my favourite and she gives a very clear image of day to day life after the war.
ngl, part of me is kinda glad that the movies are going through the best known Poirot stories and then one of the weaker ones. It means if people want to check out the other better ones, they can watch the David Suchet versions, like they should =) Personal favourites are Cards On The Table, After The Funeral and Death In The Clouds or Dumb Witness.
I've never read Agatha Christie. Now I'm trying to decide whether to start with the best of the best, or with number 15. I guess I should start with 15.
There's always a chance you don't like a book. There are different opinions on the different books. Me as huge fan of Agatha Christie for more than 25 years never liked Towards Zero or Pale Horse, and to some people that's there favourite books. I couldn't like Body in the Library which is maybe fan's favourite Miss Marple book, but on the other hand I like Nemesis, which usually people don't like. I recommend you to start with well received books, as there's a better chance for you to get hooked. Maybe you can start with ABC Murder, Death on the Nile or Five Little Pigs
The timing of it all...💯 I'm just about starting my mission on reading all of Agatha Christie...also, a very great list and have read 5 of these and am reading And Then There Were None just now, kinda halfway through, loving the plot and characters are quite memorable, more than the ones from those other 5 for sure but I did read those in 2020! Anyways, thanks for the video, it helps a lot...ALSO, Where did u get those hardback editions from, they be sooo coool to collect, the paperback ones are weird and not Cuutte!!! Lolz also, I wish Hastings and Marple had a cameo in this one...💙🐱🤗🐈💙
I've read 10/15 of these books because I used your previous video as a guide, so thanks for that! Poirot's Christmas is definitely one of my all time favourites so I agree with you there, and I recently read Endless Night so I also agree that it isn't as good as other people say (I wish it actually had been supernatural). Personally Murder on the Orient Express is my favourite and I prefer it to Death on the Nile, but it's arguably a less complex murder than some others. Crooked House to me is actually her creepiest/eeriest book to me, more so than And Then There Were None, so I enjoyed it quite a lot. Now to read the last five.
Thank you for this list. I have read all of her books and can't argue with the top 10 especially putting Death on the Nile (It is my personal favorite of all her books) above Murder on the Orient Express. Because A Murder is Announced is my favorite Marple book I would have put it there instead of Body in the Library.
I've been reading and rereading these books since middle school. My favorite is Roger Ackroyd, but second to that is The Hollow, for the cast of characters and the psychology of that love triangle.
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Looking for more (and newer/more complete) Christie videos?
My latest FAVORITES ranking that includes ALL Agatha Christie works is here: ruclips.net/video/Dkqxv__te08/видео.html
My latest BEST ranking of the Top 15 Christie novels is here: ruclips.net/video/RK2j-ixdghY/видео.html
My latest collection video on my Agatha Christie books is here: ruclips.net/video/SAlqEN3rvVQ/видео.html
Where to Start with Agatha Christie is here: ruclips.net/video/XtEn9NsSODQ/видео.html
Where to Start with Miss Marple is here: ruclips.net/video/mzUXcE7MLp4/видео.html
Where to Start with Hercule Poirot is here: ruclips.net/video/Nbyw3aBqEMw/видео.html
The playlist of all Christie videos is here: ruclips.net/p/PLgcRd060HFyckFb8lnAME8ZfoTW3zue0G
The playlist of Mission Marple videos is here: ruclips.net/p/PLgcRd060HFyciUQfczJqY8-GYL6r6UcMR
The playlist of Project Poirot videos is here: ruclips.net/p/PLgcRd060HFydbM0Jom95Dw0QQA8AUde8D
‘And Then There Were None’ was genius. I mean, the mind you need to come up with that and still be so relevant.
That was one scary book
If Agatha Christie weren’t dead I think she would keel over in horror to see what Kenneth Branagh is doing to her books. I refuse to see his latest one! I literally cringed just watching the trailer. My name is Kenneth Branagh and I am the hammiest actor in the world!!
He's actually not that bad and I say that as a huge Poirot fan.
People make the mistake of comparing him to David Suchet which is always going to be unfavourable for Brannagh.
Absolutely. Outrage that he is granted big budgets for these appalling films which make nonsense of the Poirot novels.
Hard agree
Why? I watched two of his adaptations and felt they were good, not great perhaps but good. I cannot understand the outrage.
I don’t have anything against Branagh but his adaptations look so incredibly unappealing. The 1974 Lumet Murder on the Orient Express is already one of my favorite films (the scene showing the crime is so chilling!!), plus it doesn’t have Johnny Depp in it, so I’m good there.
I’m so glad you mentioned Five Little Pigs and Crooked House! They’re so often overlooked. Crooked house had me 🤯
I will always stand with you and say Cards on the Table is one of the best Christies. It's a mystery where you don't have to choose between fun and plot. It's so underrated.
I also just love the cover art on the Cards on the Table book. it made me want to read it!
And suspenseful toward the end
Yeah I didn't find that controversial at all.
Yes. Towards Zero is one of my most reread Christies. It’s just got great melodrama. It also gives us more of Superintendent Battle, which is also great.
Mara back in her Agatha Christie Era? Christmas has arrived early.
🚨new mara christie video!🚨
Yay another book from a racist
Yay!
@@Frank-nd5zvand a coloniser
You have given me so much pleasure reading Christie - thank you!
You are at your best when discussing Christie!! I don’t overlap with your reading tastes very often, but with Christie we are BFFs!! I am going to reread all of these and see what I think! Your attention to the 5 attributes makes this list really fun and I appreciate your attention to each. Great job!!
Always love a video from Mara about Christie!
I love that you did this video. I never get tired of Christie content. I remember watching every single video when you did your Agatha Christie project a few years ago.
I'm so glad!
Excellent list. Orient Express was too high and justice for Endless Night/Curtain, but thank you for correctly saying Crooked House must be in the top 10. And Then There Were None is my favorite novel of all time.
“If it’s not in your top ten, you’re just wrong” lol I’m so excited to continue my Christie reads. But right now I’m more upset I don’t own these hardcover editions you have - stunning 🤩
Objectively, I can see how And Then There Were None was number 1 on your list; however, my personal favorite will always remain Cards On The Table(my absolute favorite locked room mystery). Death on the Nile is a favorite too. As is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and 5 Little Pigs. 😏I have to say that I wish Kenneth Brannagh would just stop making Poirot movies. He does a crap job of it and it just angers me. 🤬 We Already have a perfect Poirot...his name is David Suchet. 🤨 Sorry, just saw the ad to his most recent atrocity right before your video started. So my sassiness has been Unleashed. 😂
I CANNOT wait to hear your thoughts on A Haunting in Venice! I'm about to make a video
comparing it to Agatha's Hallowe'en Party and the Suchet adaptation. Hehe... should be a hoot 😅 But Mara is who the people REALLY wanna hear from let's be real.
Cards on the Table is great! Love that you included it on this list
Thoroughly enjoyable video as always, Mara. And I have to say, it really speaks to her talent when you were able to pick a whole FIFTEEN top books for one author. I won't fight you on them, haha, it's an excellent list. Honestly, I don't envy you; I would say it would be hard for me to limit it to fifteen! (I'd make cases for Appointment with Death and A Pocket Full of Rye, which already tips the list over.) I also really liked the criteria you picked to judge the books by, they match the way I tend to rate the stories too.
Your point about The Murder at the Vicarage being what people who don't know Christie would expect her to be is exactly why it's one of my recommendations to people new to reading her. Along with the fact the writing is so fun and Len and Griselda are amazing, of course.
I saw A Haunting in Venice on Friday night. It, uh... well anyway. Venice is very beautiful. I do hope you report back on your thoughts sometime.😆
I’m just starting on my Agatha Christie reading journey and I started with and then there were none. I’m so glad you made a list she has so many to choose from. Thank you
Thanks for this list--I love hearing you talk about Christie.
I got my love for Christie from my mother, who always found Poirot rather annoying and preferred Miss Marple. In that spirit, I would select Sleeping Murder as the best cold case. The atmosphere in that one is so cozy/creepy. Also, I agree with others that 4:50 from Paddington deserves a place on the list. But, you have to look to the short stories for some of the best Miss Marple as brilliant amateur detective.
What? No _Passenger to Frankfurt_ 😂 (just kidding). For me, Agatha Christie's very best writing occurred during the 30's and 40's, BUT she put out amazing stuff in all decades of her long career. She's my favorite writer. No complaints about your top 15, they are all strong. Thanks for the video! Made my Sunday. 🌼
I too think her best works are from 30s and 40s but this year I decided to read alk her Non-Poirot , Non-Marple and she surprised me. 😂😂😂 I never thought I would love books like Chimney as much as I did.
I am brand new to reading Christie only having read one book so far and currently almost done with Endless Nights. I can see why you did not include Endless Nights in this list, lol. I just want to say, I think you have such a talent for putting your thoughts into words and analyzing books in terms of why they are good or not so good. I always enjoy your recommendations and I appreciate having this list to check off as well. I am really looking forward to getting to her good ones! :-)
Excellent ranking! I totally agree with you: “And Then There Were None” is Agatha’s ultimate masterpiece. It ticks all the criteria boxes with top marks. Let alone the fact that it was a trend-setter, many times imitated but never surpassed👏👏👏
My personal top is a bit different. I would have included somewhere A murder is announced (that I believe to be the best Marple novel), Pale Horse and Death Comes as the End. This last one in particular might not be among the better plotted but it shines due to its originality: a murder puzzle set in ancient Egypt. The Moving Finger is also a great Marple story.
I can't wait to hear when Miss Mara BooksLikeWhoa (this is what I've decided your last name is) has seen A Haunting In Venice. I can't believe it but I'm hearing positive reviews!
I have been following you for several years now. I have your previous Christie rankings videos saved and have referred to them multiple times. Can’t wait to watch a new ranking video. I’m a long time Agatha Christie fan.
I’ve read all of these except Cards on the Table and Towards Zero, both of which I have on my TBR.
You must read Cards on the table...Its one of the best close room mysteries by Christie.
@@Priyanshi-td6sm Thanks, I hope to get to it soon.
Thank you for defending Cards in the Table! Such a perfect book! 💕
Aw, I love your Christie lists. A few of my favorites that didn't make your top 15: Curtain, The Hollow, and, yes, Endless Night. ;) I'm glad you put And Then There Were None at the top (also my favorite Christie and my favorite mystery, period) and that Death on the Nile was above Murder on the Orient Express.
I've read a few of Christie's books and was looking for my next. Looks like I'll be going for Cards on the Table because of your high praise!
i am SO in the mood to read some more Christie now
I love your takes on Christie. I'm not sure I fully agree with your list, but I think the Top 5, at least, are solid picks. I think that And Then There Were None may be the best mystery novel ever written and I am willing to die on that hill. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd would probably be my second choice, but Death on the Nile is stellar. I just recently listened to Towards Zero on Audible and that's probably the sleeper on your list. It should get way more attention than it does. The one that might not make my list is the ABC Murders. I have only read that one once, though, so I might like it more on a reread. We are in complete agreement on Cards on the Table. I love that one, too.
With Christie being as prolific as she was, it's really hard to narrow down her best, but you've done a great job with it.
The only place I don't agree is putting body in the library over murder is announced. Though both are good, the character work in the latter upstages the former, and on re-reading body in the library, u do start feeling like the plot is far fetched
I'm reading sparkling cyanide ,it's the first book that I read of her, I choosed it because it's not so difficult related to the language(I'm learning english,I'm a B1 probably, so I can't read so difficult things yet). The book is really good and addictive, I love it
It's hard ard for me not to want Mysterious Affair at Styles in there! It was my first Christie read and I can't distinguish between me falling for her style so hard and an objective placing of the book in a ranking. Thanks for this list!
Oh, and I LOVE Cards on the Table. I’m all about Ariadne Oliver.
Great video Mara! I love Cards on the Table!!
I had no idea that A Haunting in Venice is based on Halloween Party! (I googled it because I couldn't figure out what movie you meant, lol) It doesn't look like the movie has much in common with the book...? I DNF'd that book at the 60% mark, so maybe I missed something.
My favorite Christies so far have been Murder on the Orient Express and The Sittaford Mystery, but I've barely scratched the surface of her oeuvre. Having a ton more to read is a good problem to have. 😄
I am doing the ultimate reader crime and just watching the adaptations instead of reading the books. 😭 But I do really enjoy your Christie content and consider you to be an authority on the matter. ♥️♥️♥️
It's a crime because it spoils the fun of the actual book. 😂😂😂
I have read almost 40 books by Christe but I skipped 'Murder in Orient Express' & 'Death on the Nile' because I had the audacity to watch the Poirot TV adaptation of these books and now I feel like 'How could I enjoy it if I already know the whodunit. 😂😂😂
Christie “flows” and there’s a lovely lightness of touch……!!
Always love your Christie videos! Currently reading and rereading several Christie novels. Her writing never gets old.
A goal for 2024 is to read the Miss Marple stories
I somewhat agree with this list. I don't remember toward zero's plot and I don't like cards on the table. I love endless night and ordeal by innocence, so I'd swap those.
Your list is very solid, as is your reasoning. I would probably rate "Five Little Pigs " as her best because there is no perfunctory character. It's her most balanced novel.
Yes, the characters make it memorable though its not my fav but still top 10 .
I am so glad Towards Zero made it onto the list - I love that one.
Unbelievable, My top 15 is the same. 😮, just change the order of the top 5, and we agree 100%.
My top 5:
* Five little pigs.
* The murder of RA.
* Murder in the OE.
* Death on the Nile.
* And then there were none.
From 6 to 15....the same.
I enjoy your perspective. I'm in the process of reading all of the Christie output according to the official Agatha Christie Reading List. While I've read many, I've got many to go as there are more than 100 items if you count plays and novelized plays. I have even read two of her novels written under the name Mary Westmacott, marketed as romances but I wouldn't call them romances. I was really surprised at how much I liked Absent in the Spring and I also enjoyed A Daughter's a Daughter and watched the play version on RUclips.
I don't see how anyone can narrow it down to 10 or 15. I've recently read a few that I enjoyed immensely that don't get mentioned. I did enjoy Endless Night, the Mirror Crack'd, The Pale Horse. Dead Man's Folly stunned me in a good way. I just finished Murder in Three Acts (A Three-Act Tragedy) and thought that was real fun. It might be easier to put together a shortlist of stinkers which I don't really want to do. I also enjoyed Cards on the Table. I'm reading a book about her plays and I'm reminded when I'm enjoying on of her novels that the dialogs are very awesome and I'm also checking out the various screen adaptations. Thanks again.
Great video on Quality Christie. I have so enjoyed all your Christie vids, some more than once, or more than twice! I must say , bc i just finished Endless Night, how shocked i am that it was so disliked by me ( 1 star, sheesh) --and one of her favored?? ! On other side, one of my Favorite ones is Sleeping Murder: loved it! Can you think of another Christie topic for a video?? 😊❤
And Then There Were None is, no joke, a top three novel of all time for me. Christie has said it was her hardest book to write and you can tell because there’s so much care in every single word. I have written very long essays about how there are no good adaptations of this and why (the 1987 Russian one is imo the best, it comes really close; I had such high hopes for the 2015 BBC version but I HATED IT!!). Sorry, I just have a lot of feelings on this subject.
Also, Murder of Roger Ackroyd haunts me to this day because I ALMOST CALLED IT and then went no, surely not. She got me!!
I think we overlap on about 12 or 13 of these. The ones you called "controversial" weren't really so for me.
Didn't really like Towards Zero, I would have gone with Murder is Easy instead. No quibbles with the rest.
Obviously And Then There Were None and Orient Express were shoo-ins, but weirdly I've never been compelled to go back to them now that I know the endings. I guess I probably should though.
Two suggestions (unless you’ve done them before): (1) top ten underrated; (2) top ten “surprising/unexpected/bizarre”…
Solid list. Nothing really to argue, really, from me! Having reread several of these just in the last few months, I particularly am with you with regards to And Then There Were None and Cards on the Table as being especially brilliant.
There's a reason And Then There Were None is kind of the cliche answer to "best Christie?" and the one that gets assigned to kids in school (at least around here): because it IS the best. Just the existential dread of it all is amazing. My only complaint at all about it is that she for some reason did a lot of dialogue in a play/screenplay style ("She said: [paragraph] next line") which I found weird and off-putting, but that didn't spoil the whole achievement of it for me.
Cards on the Table is really the perfect Poirot novel, because it is a mystery that only HE can solve because it can ONLY be solved the way Poirot approaches them: through examining the psychology of the suspects. There really aren't a lot of "clues," if any, to go on. It all comes down to who these people ARE and how they play cards reveals that, but who else but Poirot and his little gray cells could to tease that out?
One slight caveat for anyone who has never read Lord Edgware Dies: you get hit with racism, misogyny, homophobia, and anti-Semitism all within about the first ten pages. I don't think that makes it unreadable, but it is just so dramatic so quickly it sort of stunned me for a second. Just a heads up.
i have a question. i bought one two buckle my shoe it is a part of piorot series but can i read it without completing the series?
Mara, 'Cards on the table' is without doubt her best work.😂😂😂 And, I am saying this after reading more than 40 of her books.
I love your videos but if I may make one suggestion or perhaps “ask”, it would be for a ranking of your favorite Agatha short story collections 😅
I’m actually glad that they chose to adapt Hallowe’en Party. Since I was disappointed by the first two adaptations, at least now my expectations won’t be as high.
Kinda disappointed not to see Death comes as the end on your list. I read it as a child and it made me fall in love with detective genre. I love both the mystery part and the ancient Egypt setting.
This book and ‘and there were none’ are my top favourites.
I CAME AS SOON AS I HEARD 😍
And Then There Were None, I agree, has to be her best book. For two and three, I could go either way between Nile and Orient Express but agree they both should be there! I'll have to re-read Towards Zero because I don't recall it. I was not a fan of Edgware because there was a 1980's movie with Faye Dunaway that was so poor quality it completely put me off to that story. I hadn't read the book before it though so maybe I should. Love the Christie content as per usual!
I found 5 Little Pigs tedious with the rehashing and rehashing of the events of the original murder.
I would like to know your take on Ordeal By Innocence. Thank you.
Interesting truly. I have not read any novel but now I wish to start with
Agatha...
Have you done any videos discussing Christie-related nonfiction, such as A is for Arsenic or The Science of Murder? I think a video from you discussing those in relation to her books would be fascinating since you know her work so well! A new one just came out, The Science of Agatha Christie, that I'd like to pick up soon.
I've read
- The murder on the Orient express
- The body in the library
- The ABC Murders
- The 13 Problems (short stories)
- Cards on the Table
- The mystery of the blue train
- A pocket full of rye
I liked all of them except for the 13 Problems although I have to say that I'm more of a Poirot girl in general. I just think he's way more involved in actually finding out stuff whereas Marple just arrives, talks with a few people and suddenly knows everything while simultaneously being a pick me with all that "oh no I'm just an old woman who knows about people, I'm not actually a detective" stuff. I grew up reading/listening to Sherlock Holmes so I'm probably biased in that sense.
If you are interested in a well clued Miss Marple, try "A Murder is Announced". She used the same tactics as in the other books, but how she arrives at the solution is well traceable and logical.
Stop showing off those Hardcover copies please.
Now I need them all and I do not have the funds...
Thanks so much! I read Death on the Nile in junior high and just on a whim picked it up again last year (I’m now 36), still loved it, and am now picking up more and loving them so this is very helpful!
Thomas Melissa Johnson Linda Hernandez Patricia
My husband and I just saw A Murder in Venice (Halloween Party) this past Friday night and we LOVED it. It may not be her best book but the movie was great for the fall. Creepy, rainy, spooky, autumnal. Just fun. I was entertained and that's all I needed. Much better than Death On The Nile.
The movie was nice, but it's nothing like the book.
100% agree that jacqueline is christie's best characterisation, it's so impressive - not only did the book really stick with me, but jacqueline as a character just wouldn't leave my mind for weeks after i finished it.
i was always Team Lynette in that book, but largely because I loved the actress who played her in the 1970s fabulous adaptation.
See, I was happy to hear that Tina Fey was playing Ariadne Oliver AND that a legend like Michelle Yeoh was in it. Apart from that, I’m not happy about the adaptations.
What do you think of her book Ordeal By Innocence?
Love those covers- where are you finding those editions?
I agree with your list overall, but as much as I like Body in the library, I think the best Marples are 450 from Paddington, and A Murder is Announced.
Oh!! This is what I wanted to say too.😂😂 4:50 from Paddington and a Murder is announced are awesome books and I was surprised because I usually I am not a Marple fan.
I wake up and see Mara posted AC related video. Made my day!
I agree for almost anything you said, but I really could never liked Towards Zero and Poirot's Christmas. I've always had a soft spot for Endless Night. If I read this book now I wouldn't be that impressed because I would guess what's going on very early on, but 15 years old me was jaw-dropped. Cards on the table is in my top 10, so I am right 😂😂
Books that I consider best and always recommend for starters are ABC Murders, After the Funeral, Crooked House, Death on the Nile, Evil Under the Sun or Man in the Brown Suit/Seven dials Mystery for her spy/thrillery/adventure books
Yay, more Christie! I would watch a whole channel of you just talking about Agatha Christie.
Me too
Can you do one with her best plot twists?
Super weird but I absolutely hate when a detective is a main character in a story. I *loved* And Then There Were None. Are there any other great Christies that don't feature a detective?
I would suggest Crooked House (the protagonist IS investigating but not in an official capacity), Endless Night, & Towards Zero.
@@stevie_in_the_stacks2516 thanks!! I'll check those out
Agreed for Crooked House and Endless Night , you can try also The Man in the Brown Suit
Try Sittaford Mystery, it's a country house, close-circle mystery or Crooked house or if you want light-read, Chimney is good.
@@teddytodorovaYes, the Man in the brown suit was surprisingly good. Same with 'Chimney'.
Thank you!
I feel like Murder on the Orient Express just doesn't have the same spark for me as it did the first time I read it. It isn't the most riveting read to begin with, as genius and iconic as it is. I think there is an element of overdoing it. Murder on the Orient Express is the go-to book for films, video games and anytime the Christie estate does something new. I wouldn't say I'm sick of it but I'm almost tired of it being so ubiquitous.
Murder on the Orient Express is, so far, the only Agatha Christie book I can say I hated. I respect everybody's opinion, but I don't understand why it gets so much praise
The ending is innovative and it makes sense with how the clues were handled.
@@toddsimpson9624 I think the ending was very predictable
I was pretty surprised when you put Five little pigs on number 4. I did enjoy this book, but it was too long, lacked the action to me. Too much interviewing. But I agree it had some great characters and it's fullfield with emotions too. My ranking would be slightly different, but maybe even more controversial.
1. The murder of Rodger Ackroyd
2. And Then there were none
3. Death on the Nile
4. Murder on the orient express
But here it becomes controversial :
5. The ABC murders
6. They do it with mirrors
7. The Hound of Death and other stories. (if short stories count, if they don't maybe The Body in the Library? Tbh the mystery was pretty easily solvable, but for some strange reason I really liked it)
I adore Agatha Christie!
Halloween Party?!?! I was shocked when I heard that book was getting an adaptation. That being said, my personal fav is At Bertram’s Hotel, which would make a truly fun adaptation, but I think we can all be agreed it’s not top tier Christie. (And I know you hate that book. LOL!)
Nice job! I've read all of Agatha Christie's books at least twice and have a hard time thinking of which are the best and which are my favorites, beyond a few. Death on the Nile is my favorite Poirot and Murder is Announced is my favorite Marple. And Then There Were None is up there, too. Five Little Pigs is probably my favorite David Suchet adaptation.
Murder is Easy is delightfully camp, and I'm glad it got an honorable mention. Also appreciate the love for Towards Zero--it's a book that speaks much more to women and queer readers, and thus rarely gets the respect it deserves from male reviewers.
Shout out to Dead Man's Folly. There's something so elegant about the way the main themes, characters, tone, and setting (both time and place) align; I just wish the prose was as neat.
Thanks to my mom, who loves mysteries TV in general, I've seen a lot of adaptations and I've been spoiled most of Christie's plots. Except, somehow, for And Then There Were None. I really want to read it before I get spoiled but I don't know if I should do it physically or on audio. What would you recommend? (I wish I bought the edition you're holding before it went out of print, I picked a few like this but ironically not the best covers 😭)
I really enjoyed this video and can’t wait to check out your other videos. I’m wanting to start reading some AC books and this was very helpful. What would you recommend me read if I’m wanting more of a cozy mystery vibe from her?
I agree with most of your choices but will just mention, why I would put A Murder is Announced definitely in the top 15 or even Top 10. The character work is well done, and the post war setting is even better. Because not only does it gives us a big glimpse into Britain post Second World war, with black Market, war widows and refugees, all of this stuff is woven into the plot and it's solution elegantly. And also, and the biggest reason why I would rank it high: It has maybe the best clueing in all of Christie. I won't go into more detail, because I don't want to spoil, but it unites several of Christie's most famous and best clues.
I’m down with Towards Zero being in. I think you’re right there. I would have included N or M on the list though. Tommy & Tuppence are just fun and I think Christie’s love for them shines through. Snoring SOS! Come on, what could be better?
In the top 7-15 We see some really surprising takes. A few where I think you really go for iconic or best vs. ones you liked most in the other ranking! This part also brings up like 4 or 5 I haven't read yet...and I've read about 40!
I think Murder is announced is my favorite, but you're right that body in the library is used waaaayy more in pop culture. Although MIA does a lot of things I think are brilliant!
The characters are amazing, we get a gay couple in anything except saying the words. The mystery is complex and involves a lot of human nature, which are my favourite and she gives a very clear image of day to day life after the war.
ngl, part of me is kinda glad that the movies are going through the best known Poirot stories and then one of the weaker ones. It means if people want to check out the other better ones, they can watch the David Suchet versions, like they should =)
Personal favourites are Cards On The Table, After The Funeral and Death In The Clouds or Dumb Witness.
I've never read Agatha Christie. Now I'm trying to decide whether to start with the best of the best, or with number 15. I guess I should start with 15.
There's always a chance you don't like a book. There are different opinions on the different books. Me as huge fan of Agatha Christie for more than 25 years never liked Towards Zero or Pale Horse, and to some people that's there favourite books. I couldn't like Body in the Library which is maybe fan's favourite Miss Marple book, but on the other hand I like Nemesis, which usually people don't like. I recommend you to start with well received books, as there's a better chance for you to get hooked. Maybe you can start with ABC Murder, Death on the Nile or Five Little Pigs
The timing of it all...💯 I'm just about starting my mission on reading all of Agatha Christie...also, a very great list and have read 5 of these and am reading And Then There Were None just now, kinda halfway through, loving the plot and characters are quite memorable, more than the ones from those other 5 for sure but I did read those in 2020! Anyways, thanks for the video, it helps a lot...ALSO, Where did u get those hardback editions from, they be sooo coool to collect, the paperback ones are weird and not Cuutte!!! Lolz
also, I wish Hastings and Marple had a cameo in this one...💙🐱🤗🐈💙
I've read 10/15 of these books because I used your previous video as a guide, so thanks for that! Poirot's Christmas is definitely one of my all time favourites so I agree with you there, and I recently read Endless Night so I also agree that it isn't as good as other people say (I wish it actually had been supernatural). Personally Murder on the Orient Express is my favourite and I prefer it to Death on the Nile, but it's arguably a less complex murder than some others. Crooked House to me is actually her creepiest/eeriest book to me, more so than And Then There Were None, so I enjoyed it quite a lot. Now to read the last five.
Thank you for this list. I have read all of her books and can't argue with the top 10 especially putting Death on the Nile (It is my personal favorite of all her books) above Murder on the Orient Express. Because A Murder is Announced is my favorite Marple book I would have put it there instead of Body in the Library.
Why Didn't They ask Evans?.... should have been included!!
I've been reading and rereading these books since middle school. My favorite is Roger Ackroyd, but second to that is The Hollow, for the cast of characters and the psychology of that love triangle.
Maybe they were looking to avoid complaints about the changes by picking one most people have never heard of?
I have a hardcover set that put out 24 Christie titles, and they had the gall not to include And Then There Were None?! 🤨
Hello person randomly in my recommended. I love Agatha Christie.
thanks