Best Detective Stories of Agatha Christie

by Agatha Christie

A shooting in a lonely country house, the theft of a million dollars' worth of papers and the death of a woman whose husband loves these are som e of the mysterious events investigates in these seven short crime stories. Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple and ex-Inspector Evans all feature in these classic mystery stories. Prepare to be baffled, entertained and ultimately enlightend by Agatha Christie, "the Queen of Crime".

Genres: Agatha Christie, Mystery, Short Stories, Fiction, Crime, Detective, Classics

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Agatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.

This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.

Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)

Reviews

[Orient · Rating 5 out of 5]

nusikaltimai + originalūs sekliai + netikėtumas ir išradingumas = šaunus detektyvas. Netikėtumas, paini istorija ir įdomus siužetas - Christie arkliukas

[Black Tea Lady ☕️📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nada mejor para relajarse que disfrutar un buen misterio de Agatha Christie con Hércules Poirot y sus manías. Un libro de tamaño ideal que es perfecto para llevarlo en la bolsa a cualquier lugar. Excelente y muy recomendable.

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read one of her novels earlier in the year and I loved it, but I found these stories boring since they give you neither enough time nor information to draw up your own conclusions (either right or wrong), Hercule just shows up at the end and explains what happens and you're like "ok, that makes sense" and you move on to the next one. Sometimes he even had more information than the reader.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all these stories in other publications

[milsvpl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I will but It was overall okay. I think I prefer long-form books than short stories. And actually I was only reading it in order to improve my English so maybe that's why I didn't feel 100% engaged in the plots 😅

[Fetoon_i_145506 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best detective stories of Agatha Christie shows the author's tendencies. Contrived and very good writer formed an interesting and readable stories in a book. Moreover, the book contains seven entertaining collection of stories which deal with robberies or murders. I don't like to read books are written in English but it took my attention from the title so I observed that was my favorite kind of stories. I wish you read it because you will live in all events of the stories like you are there.

[Dzung Ho · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ideal book to begin with if you start reading Agatha Christie’s stories. The introduction covers all her biography, her books, and her detectives. The seven stories are short yet attractive enough to invite the readers into Christie’s mysterious world.

[Ahtims · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories were very intriguing - almost better than her full fledged novels. I enjoyed this set a lot.

[Luis Maggi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to have a collection of short stories, most of them obviously have Poirot as the main character but there are two that do not, one of those stories is great and the other one lacks the right elements to get you involved.

I believe it’s harder to get your reader interested when it’s a short storie, maybe 12 to 30 pages than a long book, that’s what makes this book good (except the story I just toñd you about).

[Ankit Dhakal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the short stories very much. "Accident" has stuck in my mind forever. The build up of the story and then the inevitable twist makes it one of the best stories I have read so far.
"Tape-Measure Murder" is the first time I met with Miss Marple. I found it interesting as well. The twist is good.
Hercule Poirot is always fun, though I need to translate his French every now and often.

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed Agatha Christie's mystery novels, but these short stories are even more enjoyable, allowing the reader to focus on just a handful of facts to puzzle over and try to anticipate who dunnit. The stories are resolved sometimes in very clever and unexpected ways. I would be happy to read more of her short stories.

[Daniel Pardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very imaginative and entertaining short mystery stories that are well written and always surprise you in the end even when you think everything is settled. The Stymphalian birds was my favourite, with a rich physical description of the scenes and characters.

[Pau · Rating 4 out of 5]

"My dear lady, many years ago I read of certain Chinese philosopher who, when his dearly loved wife was taken from him, continued calmly to beat a gong in the street..."

[Mrs. Elmtree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Habe das Gefühl, dass die Poirot Geschichten ein Abklatsch der Sherlock Holmes Geschichten sind. Kaum Originalität.

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Saurabh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, very entertaining fast-paced stories, just as expected.

[Jesus Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and fast paced. I, however, prefer a full fledged novel over a compilation of short stories, and since this book is the latter, I was not a huge fan.

[Agnieszka Kalus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Szukałam opowiadania, które mogłabym wykorzystać podczas lekcji, ale żadne mnie nie zainspirowało, co nie znaczy, że mi się nie podobały – po prostu nie mam pomysłu na wykorzystanie ich na lekcji. To opowiadania z Poirotem, panną Marple i innymi detektywami – zwięzłe, ale zapadające w pamięć dzięki ciekawym zagadkom kryminalnym o morderstwach, oszustwach, kradzieżach. Polecam.

[Inita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Staigājot pa grāmatnīcu pamanīju grāmatu „Best detective stories of Agatha Christie”. Tā kā es nebiju vēl nekad lasījusi detektīvus, lai gan biju dzirdējusi par dažām Agatas Kristi filmām. Nolēmu pamēģināt izlasīt šo grāmatu. Sākumdaļā ir aprakstīts par pašu rakstnieci, tālāk ir 9 viņas rakstītās noveles, bet beigu daļā ir vārdu krājums un nelieli uzdevumi, iespējams, tāpēc ka grāmata ir angļu valodā. Arī bērnībā viņa izdomāja dažādus stāstus,taču rakstnieces karjeru Agata uzsāka pēc otrās laulības, pirmajā laulībā viņu pameta vīrs citas sievietes dēļ. 11 gados viņai nomira tēvs. Un viņa strādāja slimnīcā.
Gandrīz katrā novelē ir viens galvenais varonis – detektīvs Poirot, un viņa pārinieks Hastings, lai gan mazāk zinošāks detektīvs par Poirot. Katrā novelē ir kāda lieta, kuru viņi uzņemas un atklāj beigās noziegumu vai slepkavību. Sākumā viņi iepazīstas ar lietu, turpinot ar liecinieku, tuvinieku, aizdomās turamo iztaujāšanu, kas notiek ilgāk. Nobeigumā Poirot saprot, kurš ir paveicis noziegumu, to paskaidrojot Hastingam, kurš sākumā īsti neizprot Porota domu gājienu. Iespējams, tas arī palīdz lasītājam, pārliecināties par īsto aizdomās turamo.
Katrai novelei sižets bija savādāks, tāpēc arī mani dažas no tām vairāk ieintriģēja, bet citas mazliet garlaikoja. Iespējams arī tāpēc ka es nesapratu kādu daļu, jo grāmata bija angliski. Taču kopumā es nenožēloju, ka nopirku grāmatu un izlasīju to. Es iepazinu Agatu vairāk kā rakstnieci un arī kā personību.

[Quenum Xavier · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's a book that involved 7 detective stories that deals with murders and robberies. The first story i'm reading is about a rich person's murder that occured in London. The daughter of the murdered decided to hire a dectective who is the real murderer. Troubled, she takes over.

[Juniper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agatha Christie is definitely one of my favourite authors ! These short stories were really great to read since they were about two of the greatest detectives in crime lit.: Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for my English course and I have to say it was surprisingly good. I'm not one for enjoying detective stories but Agatha's plot twists and amazing detective Poirot (he's like a Sherlock Holmes) made me fall for the mystery of each story.

Really well written and easy to read.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining collection of short detective stories. I highly recommend if you want a quick sampling of Ms. Christie's work.

[Berna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like the author's short stories as much as I liked her novels. The longer stories were better constructed though.

[Sai Yogesh]

Its a good book...

[Janet Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reads like stories too thin to hang a novel on, which I'm sure is pretty much the gist of it.

[Elidanora]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12118872

[Daniel Bratell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short little book with some nice mystery novels.

[Ema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh. I just love Agatha's. She's brilliant. I love the Accident.

[Ellen Cheetham · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always an excellent read.