Most Popular Books by AGATHA CHRISTIE

IT was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7, 1915. The Lusitania had been struck by two torpedoes in succession and was sinking rapidly, while the boats were being launched with all possible speed. The women and children were being lined up awaiting their turn. Some still clung desperately to husbands and fathers; others clutched their children closely to their breasts. One girl stood alone, slightly apart from the rest. She was quite young, not more than eighteen. She did not seem afraid, and her grave, steadfast eyes looked straight ahead. "I beg your pardon."

The Mysterious Affair at Styles is a detective novel by British writer Agatha Christie. It was written in the middle of the First World War, in 1916, and first published by John Lane in the United States in October 1920[1] and in the United Kingdom by The Bodley Head (John Lane''s UK company) on 21 January 1921.[2]Styles was Christie''s first published novel. It introduced Hercule Poirot, Inspector (later, Chief Inspector) Japp, and Arthur Hastings.[3] Poirot, a Belgian refugee of the Great War, is settling in England near the home of Emily Inglethorp, who helped him to his new life. His friend Hastings arrives as a guest at her home. When the woman is killed, Poirot uses his detective skills to solve the mystery.The book includes maps of the house, the murder scene, and a drawing of a fragment of a will. The true first publication of the novel was as a weekly serial in The Times, including the maps of the house and other illustrations included in the book. This novel was one of the first ten books published by Penguin Books when it began in 1935.This first mystery novel by Agatha Christie was well received by reviewers. An analysis in 1990 was positive about the plot, considered the novel one of the few by Christie that is well-anchored in time and place, a story that knows it describes the end of an era, and mentions that the plot is clever. Christie had not mastered cleverness in her first novel, as "too many clues tend to cancel each other out"; this was judged a difficulty "which Conan Doyle never satisfactorily overcame, but which Christie would."

A most unusual series of crimes at a student hostel intrigues Inspector Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie’s Hickory Dickory Dock, especially when a simple case of kleptomania paves the way to murder. Hercule Poirot doesn’t need all his detective skills to realize something is troubling his secretary, Miss Lemon—she has made three mistakes in a simple letter. It seems an outbreak of kleptomania at the student hostel in which her sister works is distracting his usually efficient assistant. Deciding that desperate times call for desperate measures, the great detective agrees to investigate. Unknown to Poirot, however, desperation is a motive he shares with a killer. . . .

Famed private eye Hercule Poirot tackles international intrigue and espionage in this classic Agatha Christie mystery. Framed in the doorway of Hercule Poirot''s bedroom stands an uninvited guest, coated from head to foot in dust. The man stares for a moment, then he sways and falls. Who is he? Is he suffering from shock or just exhaustion? Above all, what is the significance of the figure 4, scribbled over and over again on a sheet of paper? Poirot finds himself plunged into a world of international intrigue, risking his life—and that of his "twin brother"—to uncover the truth.

The Murder on the Links is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie, first published in the US by Dodd, Mead & Co in the same year and in the UK by The Bodley Head in May 1923. It features Hercule Poirot and Arthur Hastings. The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence, and the US edition at $1.75.

A near-lethal dose of poison, a blood-stained knife, and a revolver all figure as clues in the crime when Hercule Poirot investigates a case for a desperate woman.

In a remote house in the middle of Dartmoor, six shadowy figures huddle around a small table for a seance. Tension rises as the spirits spell out a chilling message: Captain Trevelyan ... dead ... murder''. Is this black magic or simply a macabre joke? The only way to be certain is to locate Captain Trevelyan. Unfortunately, his home is six miles away and, with snow drifts blocking the roads, someone will have to journey on foot...

What connects a movie star, an archaeologist, a French maid, a prime minister, a wealthy dowager, and an Italian count? Crime, of course-and the master crime-solver, Hercule Poirot.

The Murder at the Vicarage (1930) is Agatha Christie''s first novel featuring the iconic amateur detective, Miss Marple. Set in the picturesque yet deceptively peaceful village of St. Mary Mead, the story begins when the widely despised Colonel Protheroe is found murdered in the vicarage. The vicar, Leonard Clement, discovers the body in his study, setting off a chain of events that will forever alter the quiet village. As the investigation unfolds, the police question various suspects, but there is no clear motive or culprit. Colonel Protheroe was a man with many enemies, making the list of suspects long. The vicar, along with his wife Griselda, and other villagers, are soon caught in the web of suspicion. However, the investigation remains stuck in confusion, with many conflicting theories and no concrete evidence. Enter Miss Marple, a sharp-witted and unassuming elderly woman who quietly observes the behavior of the villagers. Despite her age and gentle demeanor, Miss Marple has a keen understanding of human nature and a unique ability to read people''s motivations. While the police struggle to make sense of the case, Miss Marple''s methodical approach leads her to a solution, revealing the truth hidden behind a veil of deception. This novel showcases Christie''s signature style-an intricate puzzle full of twists, red herrings, and complex characters. Through Miss Marple, Christie explores themes of class, village life, and the complexity of human interactions. The story invites readers to look beyond the surface of things and question appearances. The Murder at the Vicarage is a quintessential example of Christie''s skill in creating an engaging mystery and her ability to craft unforgettable characters, making it a must-read for fans of detective fiction

"The Lost Mine" immerses readers in a compelling short story featuring the brilliant detective Hercule Poirot, created by the renowned Agatha Christie. In this narrative, Poirot is confronted with the mystery of a missing map leading to a valuable gold mine, owned by the eccentric prospector Mr. Richard John Emsworth. As Poirot unravels the complexities surrounding the lost mine, readers are treated to a delightful blend of Christie''s signature humor, clever deductions, and unexpected twists. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of the American West, adding a touch of adventure to the traditional detective tale. "The Lost Mine" stands as another shining example of Agatha Christie''s ability to craft engaging mysteries within a condensed format. With Poirot''s inimitable insights and the author''s storytelling finesse, this short story offers enthusiasts a brief yet satisfying journey into the world of Hercule Poirot''s investigations.

Hercule Poirot has retired to the English village of King’s Abbot, determined to use his little grey cells in the growing of vegetable marrows. But when Roger Ackroyd, a local businessman and former acquaintance of Poirot’s, is murdered, the man’s niece begs Poirot to investigate in order to clear her fiancé. With Hastings having married and moved to Argentina, Poirot enlists the local doctor to be his assistant and scribe, and the two of them sift through clues to try to discern the ones that will lead them to the killer. Agatha Christie’s two previous Poirot novels had been generally well-received, but The Murder of Roger Ackroyd made her a household name. Consistently ranked among Christie’s best works, in 2013 it was voted as the best crime novel ever written by the 600-member Crime Writers’ Association of the United Kingdom. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.

Agatha Mary Clarissa, Lady Mallowan, DBE (15 September 1890 - 12 January 1976), commonly known as Agatha Christie, was an English crime fiction writer. She also wrote romance novels under the name Mary Westmacott, but is best remembered for her 80 detective novels and her successful West End theatre plays. Her works, particularly featuring detectives Hercule Poirot or Miss Jane Marple, have given her the title the ''Queen of Crime'' and made her one of the most important and innovative writers in the development of the genre. Christie has been called - by the Guinness Book of World Records, among others - the best-selling writer of books of all time, and the best-selling writer of any kind together with William Shakespeare. Only the Bible sold more with about 6 billion copies. An estimated four billion copies of her novels have been sold. UNESCO states that she is currently the most translated individual author in the world with only the collective corporate works of Walt Disney Productions superseding her. As an example of her broad appeal, she is the all-time best-selling author in France, with over 40 million copies sold in French (as of 2003) versus 22 million for Emile Zola, the nearest contender. Her stage play, The Mousetrap, holds the record for the longest initial run in the world, opening at the Ambassadors Theatre in London on 25 November 1952, and as of 2007 is still running after more than 20,000 performances. In 1955, Christie was the first recipient of the Mystery Writers of America''s highest honor, the Grand Master Award, and in the same year, Witness for the Prosecution was given an Edgar Award by the MWA, for Best Play. Most of her books and short stories have been filmed, some many times over (Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, 4.50 From Paddington), and many have been adapted for television, radio, video games and comics. In 1998, the control of the rights to most of the literary works of Agatha Christie passed to the company Chorion, when it purchased a majority 64% share in Agatha Christie Limited.

As Jane Marple sat basking in the tropical sunshine she felt mildly discontented with life. True, the warmth eased her rheumatism, but here in paradise nothing ever happened. Then a question was put to her by a stranger: ''Would you like to see a picture of a murderer?'' Before she has a chance to answer, the man vanishes, only to be found dead the next day. The mysteries abound: Where is the picture? Why is the hotelier prone to nightmares? Why doesn''t the most talked-about guest, a reclusive millionaire, ever leave his room? And why is Miss Marple herself fearful for her life? Of note: A Caribbean Mystery introduces the wealthy (and difficult) Mr Jason Rafiel, who will call upon Miss Marple for help in Nemesis (1971) -- after his death.

Ten strangers, apparently with little in common, are lured to an island mansion off the coast of Devon by the mysterious U.N.Owen. Over dinner, a record begins to play, and the voice of an unseen host accuses each person of hiding a guilty secret. That evening, former reckless driver Tony Marston is found murdered by a deadly dose of cyanide. The tension escalates as the survivors realise the killer is not only among them but is preparing to strike again and again.

Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Christie’s wildly unconventional investigator, Parker Pyne, all make appearances in The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories—a riveting collection of short stories featuring a host of murderous crimes of passion, pleasure, and profit. There''s a body in a trunk; a dead girl''s reflection is caught in a mirror; and one corpse is back from the grave, while another is envisioned in the recurring nightmare of a terrified eccentric. What''s behind such ghastly misdeeds? Try money, revenge, passion, and pleasure. With multiple motives, multiple victims, and multiple suspects, it''s going to take a multitude of talent to solve these clever crimes. In this inviting collection, Agatha Christie enlists the services of her finest—Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Parker Pyne—and puts them each to the test in the most challenging cases of their careers.

Poison-pen letters cause two deaths in Lymston. Can Miss Marple uncover the killer before there is another?

Agatha Christie’s beloved classic novel sets Hercule Poirot on the trail of a serial killer—now a limited streaming series starring John Malkovich, Rupert Grint, and Tara Fitzgerald. “There is no more cunning player of the murder game than Agatha Christie.”— Sunday Times (London) “Let us see, Mr. Clever Poirot, just how clever you can be.” There’s a serial killer on the loose, working his way through the alphabet and the whole country is in a state of panic. A is for Mrs. Ascher in Andover, B is for Betty Barnard in Bexhill, C is for Sir Carmichael Clarke in Churston. With each murder, the killer is getting more confident—but leaving a trail of deliberate clues to taunt the proud Hercule Poirot might just prove to be the first, and fatal, mistake.

"The Secret Adversary is the second published detective fiction novel by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in January 1922 in the United Kingdom by The Bodley Head[1] and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company later in that same year.[2][3] The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6)[1] and the US edition at $1.75.[3]The book introduces the characters of Tommy and Tuppence who feature in three other Christie novels and one collection of short stories; the five Tommy and Tuppence books span Agatha Christie''s writing career. The Great War is over, and jobs are scarce. Childhood friends Tommy Beresford and Prudence ""Tuppence"" Cowley meet and agree to start their own business as The Young Adventurers. They are hired for a job that leads them both to many dangerous situations, meeting allies as well, including an American millionaire in search of his cousin."