Agatha Christie....where to start?

[aperolspritzbasicbitch]

I'm thinking of reading my first Agatha Christie - any recommendations for what you would consider to be her 'best' book?

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was my entry to Agatha.

I'd read the first Marple or Poirot.

Agree with Roger Ackroyd. Although you can dip in and out

Don’t read the murder of Roger ackroyd first! It will be much better if you read that after you’ve read some of the others. Read the Mysterious Affair at Styles perhaps - one of the earlier Poirots. Or Death on the Nile? A classic.

I like Endless Night but it’s v different to her usual, no detectives in it! It’s folk horror tinged with an unreliable narrator so v up my street.

Death on the Nile, The Body in the Library, A Murder is Announced and And Then There Were None are all brilliant. You don’t need to read them in any particular order so I would just try one and see if it grabs you!

I came on to say this. I've read many of her books and this is my favourite. Excellent plot twist!

This would be my list too! You are in for a treat…..

Yes, I think I agree. It really is my favourite and I'd want to build up to it.

Read all of them several times. I would suggest Death on the Nile.
But also After the Funeral, A Murder is Announced and Five Little Pigs are little known gems.

Death on the Nile is a great shout. Murder at the Vicarage is another classic that would make a good first read.

Don't start with Roger Ackroyd! It's a little bit different so better to have read some of her others first.
I love A Murder is announced, also 450 from Paddington or Why didn't they ask Evans. From some classic Poirot I'd probably do Death on the Nile.

I've read around 60 of her books and the Poirot and Miss Marple ones are by far the best. Also her autobiography is well worth a read!

Yes the non Poirot Marple books aren't very good. Her spy stories are dire.

I've really enjoyed Miss Marple short stories and noticed that they did make me chuckle. Bbc sounds have a few of the new ones (written by various famous writers) on there at the moment.

I read Murder on the Orient Express first, then went back and started from the first Poirot. I recommend it as it's fascinating to see her writing get better and better over the years.

I then read the Tommy and Tuppence books and some of the standalones.

I was hesitant about Miss Marple as I don't like the character on TV, but I recently started the first one. It's from another character's perspective and I'm enjoying it a lot, though I haven't yet warmed to Miss Marple.

Miss Marple is a kickass pathbreaking feminist in the guise of a little old lady.

My favourite is And Then There Were None

That was voted the most popular and it is a good one, I admit.

I'm reading Roger Ackroyd at the moment :)

I was going to say the Murder of Roger ackroyd too, it was the first one I read at about age 13 and I was hooked from then on! I do take the point that it's a bit different and worth working up to though.
I'd start with the first Poirot then and go from there - the Mysterious affair at Styles. What a treat you have ahead of you! Although some of the language and attitudes are now outdated, she's an absolute master of plot lines and twists.

Sparkling Cyanide.

I am reading The Mysterious Affair at Styles now. It's not very good compared to others and might deter the OP. I dont think they need to be read in strict order.

Joan Hickson as Miss Marple was brilliant. The itv version “Marple” was dreadful.

I’d start with either Poirot or Miss Marple in the order in which they were published. Particularly Miss Marple, as there are glimpses into same characters in different books.

If you like to listen to audiobooks, you might enjoy the Poirots, some read by Hugh Fraser, some by David Suchet.