As I have mentioned before, Agatha Christie's books are the gateway books to the wonderful world where every crimes are done in the most ingenious ways and solved in the most elegant, extravagant manners. From all her novels, I hereby present you with a list containing ten I love the most. The order doesn't need to reflect the level of favouritism. Short stories collections are considered as novels as well. Beware. Spoiler ahoy!
1. Crooked House
This is the first Christie book I read. I found it in my aunt's book shelf when I was eight or nine years old - hardly an appropriate age to digest any of her writings. I left it unfinished out of sheer boredom. When I was more mature, about fifteen years old, I reread it again and thoroughly enjoyed it. The storyline is very unique. A lot of poisons - my weapon of choice were I need to take another human being's life - are mentioned. It is hard to believe that a girl that young is capable of planning and doing crimes so atrocious. Crooked House is a perfectly dark novel set in location where Christie is a specialist - a big family living in idyllic British village.
2. Towards Zero
Towards Zero opens with two disturbing scenes, seemingly unrelated at all. A murderer plans his move and a man attempts to commit suicide. Christie managed to weave an intriguing story based on a premise that she had exercised before, namely that if every evidence points to someone since the very beginning, that someone cannot be the guilty party - he/ she must have been framed by the real culprit. The main attraction of Towards Zero is that the planned murder doesn't happen, after all. This book features Superintendent Battle as the investigator.
I have watched the screen adaptation and it firmly established Saffron Burrows as one of my favourite actress. It is a pity they ruin it by changing the investigator to Miss Marple instead.
She is so pretty! In my personal opinion, she is the perfect Audrey Strange.
3. Death Comes at the End
Technically, this is the first historical crime I have ever read, although I didn't know that time because I hadn't known that such a genre exist. The ancient Egypt setting feels so realistic and accurate. The heroine was irritating at first because she seems so weak and trusty and pacifist, but later I realized that it might be caused by her grief of losing her husband just before the events in Death Comes at the End began. Her character development is one of the strong points of this novel. Another strong point is the realistic depiction of household bickering and almost life-like characterization of every family members (excluding the kids) of Imhotep's household. I personally like the sharp-tongued, clever old lady Esa. The ending is quite sappy, but well, it is to be expected from Christie. It is a good ending, though.
4. Ten Little Indians
The definition of awesome detective story is Ten Little Indians! I mean, who would expect that? I was completely in the dark all the time. The trick Christie employed here is classy and doesn't feel like a cheap deception - unlike Roger Ackroyd. She depicts the increasing tension in the isolated island perfectly. How the remaining people were suspicious of each other and paranoid all of the time. And in the end, I totally understand, relate, and sympathise with the Avillain, that misguided vigilante.
5. Murder on the Nile
One of Christie novels (another example is Murder on the Orient) in which I ship so hard for the villains not to get unmasked. It is a great pity that Poirot decided to reveal the truth after all in the end... If I were in the same position as Jacqueline and to have the same characteristics as her, I would have definitely chosen the same steps, I think. Linnet Ridgeway gets zero of my sympathy because I find that she is an obnoxious rich girl whom I will gladly slap. She deserves her fate.
 |
| I hate her. |
6. The Mysterious Mr. Quin
... I forget to include him on the list of my favourite sleuth... Well, there is not enough space, after all. Mr. Quin's cases are mostly bizarre, supernatural, and out of logical realm. He usually appears with Mr. Satterthwaite, an old endearing snob. Mr. Quin evokes my romantic side, I guess.
7. The Thirteen Problems
A short story collection featuring Miss Marple. This book feels so homey and old-timey... And as usual, Miss Marple kicks ass although from outside she looks just like a very boring, ordinary old spinster with a penchant for knitting and gossiping.
8. Nemesis
But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Amos 5:24
This is a quote from Bible which is quoted by a dead man in his letter to Miss Marple. And this quote is damned awesome. Nemesis, naturally, refers to her role in this book as the one who addresses the awful, awful miscarriage of justice. The crime in Nemesis saddened me deeply because of oh so much wasted potential of the lives of several people. Those wasted years, all caused by an egoistic act of a person. The years that can be spent for marrying, having and raising children together, laughing, bickering, crying - living. I really loathe the villain and think that the culprit has it really easy in the end.
9. The Hollow
The motive behind the murder is plain creepy. And Christie uses her old trick again, the same one she uses in #2. I adore the Angkatells and their antics. I am quite okay with the additional love story in this book. Overall, the case is so-so, but the reading experience of The Hollow had been nice.
And I like the Indonesian old version of the cover!
10. Murder on the Orient Express
It is an awesome murder the villains manage to concoct, orchestrate, and execute. Given the same numbers of personnel, resource, and circumstances, I highly doubt some people I know would be able to create a simple gathering or something, let alone a complicated murder. I absolutely agree with Poirot's and other people's acts and decision in this book. The man sure had it coming. If it makes me morally defect, so be it.
So, these are ten Agatha Christie's works I like the most. What are yours?
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