Agatha Christie: 5 Best Novels of All Time that You Must Read

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Agatha Christie, the Queen of Crime, has captivated millions of readers worldwide with her clever and enigmatic mystery novels.

With over 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, Christie created iconic detective characters like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, beloved by many.

Each of her novels offers complex storylines, deep characters, and unexpected plot twists, often keeping readers surprised until the very last page.

Here are five of Agatha Christie's best novels, widely acclaimed for their clever plots, strong characterization, and lasting impact on the literary world.

"A Murder Is Announced" was first published in the UK by Collins Crime Club in June 1950 and in the US by Dodd, Mead & Company the same month.

The novel features detective Miss Marple and is set in the quiet English village of Chipping Cleghorn, where a strange announcement appears in the local newspaper.

The announcement states that "a murder will occur" at a specific time and place, which the villagers initially assume is a murder mystery party game.

However, when the lights go out and a masked man is shot dead at Little Paddocks, Letitia Blacklock's home, they realize the announcement is no joke.

Miss Marple, who is vacationing nearby, teams up with Inspector Craddock to uncover a web of secrets, ulterior motives, and the characters' true identities.

"The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" is a mystery novel by English author Agatha Christie, her third to feature Hercule Poirot as the lead detective.

Published in 1926, the story is narrated by Dr. James Sheppard, a country doctor who becomes Poirot's assistant in investigating the murder of Roger Ackroyd, a wealthy man.

Ackroyd is found stabbed to death in his office shortly after his fiancée, Mrs. Ferrars, took her own life.

Poirot uncovers a web of secrets, blackmail, and lies among the suspects in the village of King's Abbot.

"The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" remains a benchmark for mystery novels with brilliant twists.

"The Murder at the Vicarage" is a mystery novel by British author Agatha Christie, first published in the UK by Collins Crime Club on October 20, 1930, and in the US the same year.

This novel marks the first appearance of Miss Marple in a novel, although the character had previously appeared in short stories.

Set in the fictional village of St. Mary Mead, the story is narrated by Reverend Leonard Clement.

Clement finds the unpopular Colonel Lucius Protheroe shot dead in his study, setting off a series of intrigues in the small village.

With many villagers having a motive for Colonel Protheroe's murder, including his wife and her lover, who each confessed to the crime, Miss Marple calmly pieces together the clues.

"Murder on the Orient Express" is a mystery novel by British author Agatha Christie featuring Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.

Published in 1934, this classic novel is set on the luxury Orient Express, which is stalled by a snowstorm in Yugoslavia.

When an American tycoon named Samuel Ratchett is found stabbed to death dozens of times in his locked compartment, Hercule Poirot must solve the case.

The novel explores the moral complexities of retribution and justice, making it one of Christie's most iconic novels.

"Murder on the Orient Express" remains a reader favorite for its brilliant plot twists and the moral dilemmas it presents.

"And Then There Were None" is a mystery novel by Agatha Christie, first published in 1939.

It follows eight strangers who are invited to a secluded mansion on a remote island off the coast of Devon by a mysterious host named U. N. Owen.

Upon their arrival, they are confronted with accusations of past unpunished crimes, revealed through audio recordings, creating a tense atmosphere from the outset.

The tension escalates as mysterious deaths begin to occur, each mirroring lines from the eerie nursery rhyme, "Ten Little Soldier Boys," which hangs in every room.

"And Then There Were None" remains one of Christie's most acclaimed works, demonstrating her mastery of suspense and intricate plotting, and has sold over 100 million copies worldwide.