Reading the Detectives discussion

Are you a fan of Dame Agatha? If so, which of her books would you recommend for those who aren't yet hooked? I recently enjoyed The Secret Adversary, the first Tommy and Tuppence adventure, but haven't been a huge fan of her in the past.

However, I've enjoyed seeing TV and film adaptations of her work, and enjoyed the recent version of Tommy and Tuppence with David Walliams and Jessica Raine, although I must say I liked the later episode better, where I didn't have the book to compare with.

Here's a quick ten...


1. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926)
Hercule Poirot has retired to the village of King's Abbot to cultivate marrows. But when wealthy Roger Ackroyd is found stabbed in his study, he agrees to investigate. A typical village murder mystery; or so it seems until the last chapter with its stunning revelation. This title would still be discussed today even if Christie had never written another book. An unmissable, and still controversial, milestone of detective fiction.

2. Peril at End House (1932)
The impoverished owner of End House hosts a party where fireworks camouflage the shot that kills her cousin. Which of the other guests is a murderer? Perfectly paced, with subtle and ingenious clueing, and an unexpected but totally logical solution. Of its type, perfection; this is how the classic detective story should be written.

3. Murder on the Orient Express (1934)
The glamorous Orient Express stops during the night, blocked by snowdrifts. Next morning the mysterious Mr. Ratchett is found stabbed in his compartment and untrodden snow shows that the killer is still on board. This glamorous era of train travel provides Poirot with an international cast of suspects and one of his biggest challenges. Predicated on an inspired gimmick, this is one of the great surprise endings in the genre.

4. The A.B.C. Murders (1935)
Despite advance warnings, Poirot is unable to prevent the murders of Alice Ascher, Betty Barnard and Carmichael Clarke. Can he stop the ABC Killer before he reaches D? One of the earliest examples of the "serial killer" novel this classic Christie is based on a beautifully simple premise. But how many readers are as clever as Poirot?

5. And Then There Were None (1939)
Ten people are invited to an island for the weekend. Although they all harbour a secret, they remain unsuspecting until they begin to die, one by one, until eventually … there are none. Panic ensues when the diminishing group realises that one of their own number is the killer. A perfect combination of thriller and detective story, this much-copied plot is Christie's greatest technical achievement.

6. Five Little Pigs (1943)
Sixteen years ago, Caroline Crale died in prison while serving a life sentence for poisoning her husband. Her daughter asks Poirot to investigate a possible miscarriage of justice and he approaches the other five suspects. This sublime novel is a subtle and ingenious detective story, an elegiac love story and a masterful example of storytelling technique, with five separate accounts of one devastating event. Christie's greatest achievement.

7. Crooked House (1949)
The Leonides family all live together in a not-so-little crooked house. But which of them poisoned the patriarch, Aristides? Murder in the extended family always provided fertile ground for Christie, and this was one of her own favourites. Another example of a sinister reinterpretation of a nursery rhyme with an ending that her publishers initially considered too shocking, even for Agatha Christie.

8. A Murder Is Announced (1950)
In the village of Chipping Cleghorn, a murder is announced in the local paper's small ads. As Miss Blacklock's friends gather for what they fondly imagine will be a parlour game, an elaborate murder plot is set in motion. This was Christie's 50th title and remains Miss Marple's finest hour. Notable also for its setting in post-war Britain (a factor vital to the plot) this is arguably the last of the ingeniously clued and perfectly paced Christies.

9. Endless Night (1967)
Working-class Michael Rogers tells the story of his meeting and marrying Ellie, a fantastically rich American heiress. As they settle in their dream house in the country, it becomes clear that not everyone is happy for them. A very atypical Christie, this tale of menacing suspense builds to a horrific climax and shows that even after 45 years she had not lost the power to confound her readers. The best novel from her last 20 years.

10. Curtain: Poirot's Last Case (1975, but written during the second world war)
An old and frail Poirot returns to the scene of his first case, the country house Styles, now a guest-house. He summons his friend Hastings to help identify the killer he suspects is a fellow-guest. Christie uses every trick in the book to produce a unforgettable, yet poignant, swan song for the little Belgian. This novel was written during the Blitz and stored in a safe to be published after Christie's own death. It was actually published in October 1975 (Christie died in January 1976) and Poirot received a front-page obituary in the New York Times. In a lifetime of literary tours-de-force, this is the biggest shock of all.

I'd love to say that was all my own work but that would be untrue. It's from the Guardian and by John Curran, a lifelong Christie fan,who lives in Dublin...

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009...

Out of that list, I would say Endless Night was a disappointment to me.

I particularly like The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and it is early in the Poirot series (as you can see from the date), which is a plus if you decide to go on & read the others.

I don't know where you are located, but a word of warning: many of Christie's books were published in the United States with a different title. So if you live here (in the U.S.) and are getting them from the library, you might need to check for the American title. For example, Five Little Pigs was published in the U.S. as Murder in Retrospect for 40 or 50 years. The Fantastic Fiction website is a great place to check for those alternate titles (or to see the publication order of an author's books):
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/a...

Another good site for that is www.stopyourekillingme.com.

Thanks for that list, Nigeyb... do you have a personal favourite among those?

Leslie, maybe I'll start with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - an intriguing title.

Thanks also, Leslie and Jan, for the point about the different titles and the links to check them - I'm in the UK, but it's well worth knowing for those in the US, and it's bound to come up again in future.

I just read a Murder is Announced ( Miss Marple) and enjoyed it immensely. I remember reading it before but thanks to my mind being a sieve, all mystery books read new to me after a few years :)

I wrote a blogpost recently about my favourite 8 Christies: they were the Murder Of Roger Ackroyd, 4.50 from Paddington, And then there were none, Murder on the Orient Express, Endless Night, Murder in Mesopotamia, Hercule Poirot's Xmas and the Pale Horse.

Arpita, your blog looks great - I've just been over to read our posting about your favourite Christies, so here is a link to it for others:

http://bagfullofbooks.com/2015/09/18/...

Thanks v much for your kind comment Judy. The post seemed appropriate to mention with regard to this particular thread.

Judy wrote: "Thanks for that list, Nigeyb... do you have a personal favourite among those?

Leslie, maybe I'll start with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - an intriguing title.

Thanks also, Leslie an..."

I think you should start with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, too!

I can't remember them sufficiently well to offer up a recommendation

I have a feeling that Peril at End House is one I've very much been wanting to reread.

Have just finished Endless Night. Very different from the usual Christie & IMO the last really good book she wrote. Of course it doesn't have the same impact as a reread, but I still gave it 5*. (obviously I agree with the Guardian critic!)

☆ Ｃａｒｏｌ ☆ wrote: "Have just finished Endless Night. Very different from the usual Christie & IMO the last really good book she wrote"


Endless Night sounds really intriguing - and a five star rating eh ☆ Ｃａｒｏｌ ☆?

I also notice that Susan, whose taste is impeccable, lavished it with a four star rating and a review you should read...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Nigeyb wrote: "
Endless Night sounds really intriguing..."

Already read & liked Susan's review! :)

My own favourite Christie (and voted her best in a recent poll) is And Then There Were None. I do think some of her later books were weak, but she remains my favourite author of all time. I have to admit I do enjoy the books she wrote set around her archeological digs with her second husband and also enjoyed her memoir Come, Tell Me How You Live.

Susan wrote: "....she remains my favourite author of all time..."


Wow Susan. High praise indeed from you, as you're such a prodigious and thoughtful reader.

It is hard to name a favourite book/author, but if I were forced to then she would be my choice. She has always held a very important place in my reading life and I always turn to her when I feel in need of comfort.

We forget what impact stories have on us as people. I'm glad that you gain such pleasure from her writing Susan. There are a mixture of characters in her books that clearly strikes a chord with the reader.

It's true, Roisin, that books do impact our lives. Especially for bookworms, like us :)

: )) That is one of the reasons why I think it is awful that public libraries in the UK are heavily under attack. The benefits out way any weaknesses long term.

Also, in the past stories were told and in cultures where writing isn't prominent the oral tradition is strong. Films, theatre, books and art is how some people tell stories. Just in a different way.

Yes, our local library is under threat at the moment :(

Susan wrote: "My own favourite Christie (and voted her best in a recent poll) is And Then There Were None. I do think some of her later books were weak, but she remains my favourite author of all ti..."

I loved Come, Tell Me How You Live! I think of it often, in fact - especially when another Middle East crisis erupts. I always wonder if some of the people involved are related to those she knew.

According to a Dominic Sandbrook programme on UK TV the other night, only Shakespeare and the Bible have sold more books than Agatha Christie

I watched that too, and enjoyed the accompanying book - The Great British Dream Factory: The Strange History of Our National Imagination

Nigeyb wrote: "According to a Dominic Sandbrook programme on UK TV the other night, only Shakespeare and the Bible have sold more books than Agatha Christie"

Looks like an interesting series - thanks for mentioning it Nigeyb.

It's a while since I've read any Agatha Christie although I've seen all the recent TV adaptations and I'm looking forward to seeing And Then There Were None later this week.

I've just started listening to the audiobook of The Moving Finger narrated by Richard E Grant, and what strikes me immediately is the straightforward way she lays out the background for the story to unfold. The setting is described with all the main characters introduced. You know their backgrounds, how they dress and what they look like. It makes a refreshing change from having to go back and remind myself of details in the first few chapters, to be able to move straight on with the story.

Ruth, I'm intrigued to hear that Richard E Grant narrates the audiobook, as I love his voice.

I'm also looking forward to the new TV version of And Then There Were None - don't think I'll be able to see it tonight, but will record it and see it soon!

I have also put And Then There Were None on record, Judy. I remember seeing it at the theatre some years before and it remains my favourite Christie novel.

Judy wrote: "Ruth, I'm intrigued to hear that Richard E Grant narrates the audiobook, as I love his voice.

I'm also looking forward to the new TV version of And Then There Were None - don't think I'll be able..."

Is this BBC, I'm presuming?

Karlyne, yes, it's a new BBC adaptation.

PS, here's a link to the BBC site about it, which has various bits and pieces - not sure if you can see the clips outside the UK:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06v2v52

Judy wrote: "PS, here's a link to the BBC site about it, which has various bits and pieces - not sure if you can see the clips outside the UK:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06v2v52"

Thanks!

I seriously dislike Poirot, the conceited little twit, but I love Miss Marple.

Judy wrote: "Ruth, I'm intrigued to hear that Richard E Grant narrates the audiobook, as I love his voice.

I'm also looking forward to the new TV version of And Then There Were None - don't think I'll be able..."

Richard E Grant is a wonderful narrator - makes all the difference.

I've read that this new version of And Then There Were None is a lot grittier and dark than the usual Christie adaptations. We've recorded it as well. Anyone watched any of it yet?

I just watched the first episode of, "And Then There Were None." It was very good - it kept very much to the novel and was well done. This is from someone who really dislikes television adaptations of books!

Susan, I've also just watched the first episode and thought it was very good too - and what an amazing cast!

It's many years since I read the book, so I'm interested to hear that it is very true to it. I often like TV adaptations, but not always.

Yes, we have been a little spoilt by the BBC this year, with some good documentaries and drama over Christmas. Nothing to do with crime, but I am also looking forward to the adaptation of "War and Peace."

Me too - I absolutely loved the older BBC version with Anthony Hopkins, and now have high hopes for this one too, especially as it was written by Andrew Davies who has created so many excellent adaptations.

Yes and I loved the Tudor quiz that was on over the holidays.

Susan wrote: "I just watched the first episode of, "And Then There Were None." It was very good - it kept very much to the novel and was well done. This is from someone who really dislikes television adaptations..."

We watched all three episodes back-to-back last night and really enjoyed them. Very atmospheric. The music was wonderfully done with a menacing undertone running through it.

Looking forward to watching another one today, or possibly tomorrow, Ruth - as I have to go into work today. I am glad they made it particularly creepy - people often think of Agatha Christie as quite cosy, but she could write some very scary stuff!

Susan wrote: "Looking forward to watching another one today, or possibly tomorrow, Ruth - as I have to go into work today. I am glad they made it particularly creepy - people often think of Agatha Christie as qu..."

Nothing cosy about this one!

I've finished watching this one now - creepy was right! I'm glad they did 3 episodes and gave the story time to develop.

"And Then There Were None," was recently voted Christie's most popular novel in a poll, so possibly that is why it was chosen for adaptation. I thought some of the language/swearing a little modern, but they basically kept to the plot very well. Those Rogers though - I'd have taken one look at them and bolted back on the boat!!!

Yes, I could have done without the swearing - it didn't add anything. Mr Rogers looked like a vampire, didn't he?!

I didn't necessarily object to the swearing, but I doubt men would have used such language in front of a woman then. Also, I didn't think some of the terms would have used. Mrs Rogers looked both terrified and terrifying, which is hard to pull off!

I found the adaptation of And Then There Were None rather unsatisfactory in several respects, but in particular, pace Susan, above, they had changed the plot in a variety of ways. SPOILER ALERT: eg Macarthur did not shoot his rival in the back but sent him on a suicidal reconnaissance mission, the Rogers did not kill their employer but merely let her die by withholding medication etc. The whole point of the plot being that none of the deaths were murder in the strict legal sense and thus not punishable (as murder) in the courts.

Leveller, I think I've only seen an old stage adaptation and haven't actually read the book, so I didn't notice the changes, but am interested to hear this.

If posting spoilers, please could you use the Goodreads tags - they are <"spoiler>...<"/spoiler>, but please remove the " from each tag. Thanks!

Well, I hope PBS picks this up.

I thought the BBC adaptation of 'And then there were none' was very good. Excellent casting and very well adapted (IMHO) to make it relevant and understandable for a 21st century audience. I recorded and watched all 3 back to back. Stunning production values as well. I think the bad language was a device to illustrate the difference between so called 'gentlemen' and 'blokes'. Under normal circumstances at that time, you would not have had a collection of folk like them together. In a middle to upper class environment - swearing in front of women was not acceptable. However, just like today, folk would use that as an opportunity to disrespect others.

Yes, plus the BBC could not resist having another television 'Darcy' moment - with Aidan Turner (Philip Lombard) - standing around in the smallest towel possible while his room was searched!