Agatha Christie

I just watched the latest episode of Doctor Who on the weekend, which featured Fenella Woolgar as Agatha Christie and, despite my misgivings about Dame Agatha (I've thought her old-fashioned), I now feel inspired to read her again. Can anyone suggest some favourites? They mentioned Death in the Clouds in the show, which I'm considering, but what have others enjoyed? Thanks!

The first Agatha Christie novel I ever read was The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and it's still a favorite -- I highly recommend it!

Thanks, Imprinted, I'll look for a copy of that one. Does anyone else want to weigh in? Seems to me there are several Agatha fans out there...!

And then there were none, Murder on the Orient Express, Murder on the Nile, Evil under the Sun for example, but I really could not suggest one over the other because I like them all!
:-))

All good suggestions!

The first Poirot, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, is a classics English country house mystery and not a bad place to start ...

Just re-read The Mysterious Affair at Styles, which is Hercule Poirot's first appearance. Then I read The Secret Adversary, the first Tuppence and Tommy. I don't particualrly like them.

Roger Ackroyd was one of Dame Agatha's favorites. All of aluvalibri's recommendations. Also The Tuesday Club Murders stands out in my mind - short stories with Miss Marple.

I just recently read Agatha Christie An Autobiography and am re-reading all Dame Agatha's books in order of publication, Styles being #1 and Adversary being #2. Murder on the Links is next - I remember liking it a lot too.

So many good books to read - there are very few that aren't wonderful. You might want to head on over to the Agatha Christie group to get some more ideas.

Yeah, I remember not really liking the Tuppence and Tommy mysteries either, back when I first read Agatha's books.

I guess I'll just see what my local second-hand bookstore has in stock. Thank you all for your suggestions. Thanks also, karenmarie, for drawing my attention to the Agatha Christie group!

A couple of my favourites are And Then There Were None and Taken at the Flood.

Like avisannschild I didn't care for the Tommy and Tuppence stories although I might go back and give them another try.

Altho I've seen a lot of the Agatha Christie made for TV movies, and enjoyed them, I've only read one of her books. It was a stand alone that takes place in ancient Egypt called Death Comes as the End. If you like historical mysteries, this was enjoyable.

For those of you who love Agatha Christie, you need to read Who Killed Roger Ackroyd? by Pierre Bayard. Bayard makes the convincing argument that Poirot may have been wrong... it's very humourous and very well done!

Wow, that book looks fascinating! Thanks for pointing it out.

It does sound interesting! I've added it to my BookMooch wishlist.

I must profess my complete ignorance. I recently (ie two days ago) found out that Agatha Christie also wrote under the pen name of Mary Westmacott. Has anyone read those? Are they mysteries or was Christie trying to "branch out". I'd be curious to find out more from follow readers.

Cecilturtle, as far as I know, the Mary Westmacott's novels are not mysteries.

I have just finished The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories, a compilation of Christie's stories over the years. Not many were murder mysteries, they were more about blackmail and the dark side of the human soul - I very much enjoyed them and adore her simple, clear, classical writing style.