Widely known as the ‘Queen of Crime,’ Agatha Christie has contributed immensely to the genre of detective fiction by surprisingly shaping her character as the Belgian detective – Hercule Poirot. Her Hercule Poirot books are some of her most famous works.
Of course, reading Poirot mysteries is a treat in itself, and in this article, we bring you twelve fantastic Hercule Poirot books to add to your reading list.
(P.S. – The books are alphabetically arranged, of course!)
#1 After the Funeral by Agatha Christie
About The Book
Title: After the Funeral
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: Collins Crime Club
Pages: 244
Goodreads rating: 3.9/5
The book begins with the seemingly natural death of Mr Richard Abernethie and his family being basically called to assemble at their family house, Enderby Hall, to read his will. Richard’s lawyer Mr Entwhistle meanwhile reads out the choice, stating a division of Richard’s fortune among his various family members. Still, at the memorial service, his sister Cora strangely remarks that Richard had been murdered. When Cora herself is found murdered the next day, suspicions arise, and Mr Entwhistle calls his friend, Hercule Poirot, to help.
Why do we recommend this?
After the Funeral is undoubtedly one of Christie’s best books from her Hercule Poirot collection. The writing style is classic Christie, and the fast pacing keeps readers hooked. Hercule Poirot, known worldwide as the famous Belgian detective with his egg-shaped face and peculiar little moustache, strikes again and evidently solves the mystery of the two deaths in an absolutely divine way. All family members are shown to have a potential motive and advantage from killing Cora, but Poirot gracefully unravels the threads of the mystery.
To buy/gift After the Funeral, click on the below link:
#2 Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie
About The Book
Title: Appointment with Death
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: Collins Crime Club
Pages: 256
Goodreads rating: 3.9/5
Mrs. Boynton is an overbearing matriarch who derives explicit pleasure from controlling the lives of all her family members. On holiday in Jerusalem, Poirot overhears Raymond Boynton telling his sister that someone must indeed be killed. Sometime later, Mrs. Boynton is found dead with a needle mark on her wrist and a hypothermic syringe stolen from Dr. Gerard. Poirot promises to solve the mystery in 24 hours simply by interviewing all the suspects and establishing a timeline.
Why do we recommend this?
This book is another Poirot classic, where he uses his infamous ‘little grey cells to shed light on the mystery. Rather than employing elaborate investigative techniques or search parties, he simply talks to the subjects and draws shockingly accurate inferences from those interactions. The book will surely blow one’s mind, especially when Poirot reveals the killer’s identity at the end.
To buy/gift Appointment with Death, click on the below link:
#3 Curtain: Poirot’s last case by Agatha Christie
About The Book
Title: Curtain: Poirot’s last case
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: Collins Crime Club
Pages: 224
Goodreads rating: 4.1/5
This book is set in Styles, the same place where Christie first introduced the world to her little Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. In the grips of old age and arthritis, Poirot calls his old friend Captain Hastings to come to his aid without delay. But, already aware of the criminal’s identity, Poirot refuses to reveal it to Hastings and insists the duo solve their last mystery together, like old times. But unfortunately, killer X has committed several crimes and is ready to strike again.
Why do we recommend this?
I did not think crime fiction stories could possibly make me cry, but this was the book that proved me wrong. The ending had me in tears, not only because I had been reading Poirot’s books since middle school and his death was something I wasn’t ready for, but because Christie makes readers feel her characters’ emotions exceptionally well. Her prowess can be attested to by the fact that, to date, Hercule Poirot, without doubt, remains the only fictional character to have earned an obituary on the N.Y. Times front page.
To buy/gift Curtain: Poirot’s last case, click on the below link:
#4 Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie
About The Book
Title: Death in the Clouds
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: Collins Crime Club
Pages: 304
Goodreads rating: 3.8/5
Poirot is on board the midday flight from Paris to London when he observes the lady sitting beside him, infatuated with another passenger. He makes a series of observations about all the passengers on the aircraft, blissfully unaware of how valuable they would shortly prove. When the woman sitting behind Poirot, Madame Giselle, is found dead in her seat, with a poison dart on the floor and a blowpipe in the side of Poirot’s seat, he vows to clear his name and find the real culprit.
Why do we recommend this?
Though the book’s premise is similar to other Christie books like Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express in that the crime occurs in an enclosed vehicle, Death in the Clouds showcases the heights of Poirot’s ingenuity and abilities. Driven by his need to maintain his reputation, he picks apart the entangled threads of the mystery one by one to reveal unanticipated connections. Also, the small list of suspects and limited time for the actual crime to have been committed has given Christie a chance to develop each of her characters fantastically, leaving readers stunned.
To buy/gift Death in the Clouds, click on the below link:
#5 Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
About The Book
Title: Death on the Nile
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: Collins Crime Club
Pages: 288
Goodreads rating: 4.1/5
This book begins with Poirot about to start his journey on the steamer Karnak, set to tour the Nile River. Instead, he is approached by a successful lady Linnet Doyle, asking for protection against her husband’s ex-wife, Jacqueline. Poirot refuses to take the case, but when Linnet Doyle barely escapes being crushed under a boulder, and his friend Colonel Race tells him there was a murderer on the ship, he is forced to jump into action.
Why do we recommend this?
This novel features not one but many murders, all committed in close quarters in a short period. This gives Poirot a head-start as his list of suspects is undoubtedly reduced to the people on the ship. The book features several chapters of the classic Poirot interrogation, wherein the revelations that come forward will undeniably surprise the readers. The culprit(s) is (are) brought to the forefront, but the end of the book is slightly unusual because Poirot lets his own sense of justice prevail over the law of the land.
To buy/gift Death on the Nile, click on the below link:
#6 Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie
About The Book
Title: Five Little Pigs
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: Collins Crime Club
Pages: 234
Goodreads rating: 4/5
Sixteen years after Caroline Crale is convicted for the murder of her husband Amyas, So, their daughter Carla Lemarchant seeks Hercule Poirot’s help proving her mother’s innocence. Poirot agrees to take on the case and dubs the five people present in Caroline’s house on the day of the murder the Five Little Pigs. He gathers them along with Carla and her fiancée. Doing this reveals that not only was Caroline innocent, but she had not defended herself to protect her little sister Angela who she thought was the wrongdoer. He shows who the criminal is, and the answer is shocking, to say the least.
Why do we recommend this?
With the book’s title based on the famous nursery rhyme, Five Little Pigs presents a unique problem to the readers. Most clues have been wiped out because the crime occurred so many years ago. What we are left to rely on is none other than Poirot. He uses his astute observational skills and subsequently filters the different versions of events he hears from different characters into one sensible scene which had played out at the house that day.
To buy/gift Five Little Pigs, click on the below link:
#7 Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
About The Book
Title: Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: Collins Crime Club
Pages: 256
Goodreads rating: 4/5
With the book’s title based on the famous nursery rhyme, Five Little Pigs presents a unique problem to the readers. Most clues have been wiped out because the crime occurred so many years ago. What we are left to rely on is none other than Poirot. He uses his astute observational skills and subsequently filters the different versions of events he hears from different characters into one sensible scene which had played out at the house that day.
Why do we recommend this?
After receiving complaints that her books were getting a ‘little too anemic,’ Christie straightaway sets out to deliver a ‘good violent murder with lots of blood to her readers. Like Appointment with Death, this book features a sadistic family head who dies, but Christie’s twist of making this a locked-room mystery leaves readers tingling. The book might seem scattered with seemingly unimportant information, but the end proves to the readers how every little bit is crucial in getting the final piece of the puzzle right.
To buy/gift Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, click on the below link:
#8 Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
About The Book
Title: Murder on the Orient Express
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: Collins Crime Club
Pages: 256
Goodreads rating: 4.2/5
On his way to Istanbul after solving a case in Aleppo, Poirot receives a sudden telegram requesting his urgent presence in London. So, he pulls some strings and gets his friend Monsieur Bouc to reserve a second-class seat for him aboard the Orient Express. There, he meets Ratchett, who confesses to having been receiving death threats and asks for Poirot’s help, which the latter refuses. However, when the following day finds Ratchett murdered, with the train stuck in a snowdrift, Poirot must use his skills to find the killer who was amidst them, still on board the train.
Why do we recommend this?
This is one of those classic Poirot mysteries which keeps readers guessing the identity of the culprit right till the end. However, in typical Christie fashion, the reveal is something beyond most readers’ wildest guesses. Poirot displays great logical thinking and methodically draws conclusions about each passenger on board the Orient Express, looking for possible motives for murdering Ratchett. With clues like a woman in a red kimono, a handkerchief with the initial H, and a flat match, the book uses trivial objects as excellent plot highlights and markedly leaves readers yearning for more.
To buy/gift Murder on the Orient Express, click on the below link:
#9 The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie
About The Book
Title: The A.B.C. Murders
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: Pocket Books
Pages: 256
Goodreads rating: 4/5
Arthur Hastings returns from South America to meet Poirot in London. He finds a peculiar letter addressed to Poirot. The letter details a crime soon to be committed and is signed A.B.C. Two more letters follow, each describing murders, but in a particular fashion – Alice Ascher in Andover, Betty Barnard in Bexhill, and Sir Carmichael Clarke in Churston. Perplexed by the happenings, Poirot gets involved in investigations to find the killer when another letter arrives, directing them to Doncaster. Will the A.B.C. murderer strike again? Are these random murders by serial killers, or is there a more profound connection for Poirot to discover?
Why do we recommend this?
The book contains clever use of places and character names, leaving readers contemplating until long after finishing the book. Poirot displays unimaginable skill in finding further connections between the various victims and repeatedly outshines the Scotland Yard investigating team. Also, his use of a ‘bluff’ towards the end of the novel is amusing and leaves readers grinning from ear to ear.
To buy/gift The A.B.C. Murders, click on the below link:
#10 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
About The Book
Title: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: Collins Crime Club
Pages: 312
Goodreads rating: 4.3/5
This book begins with Dr. James Sheppard narrating the story of a specifically strange murder in his town called King’s Abbot. A wealthy widower, Mr. Roger Ackroyd, was about to be married to a widow Mrs. Ferrars. However, the latter commits suicide, leaving him distressed. Finally, he confesses to Dr. Sheppard that Mrs. Ferrars was being blackmailed for murdering her husband, a revelation unknown to others. Later that day, Mr. Ackroyd is found dead in his study, with all clues pointing to his stepson, Ralph Paton, who is missing. Roger’s sister requests Poirot to cast aside his retirement and gets him involved in the case. Will Poirot be able to make sense of the radically different versions of events being told?
Why do we recommend this?
This book features Poirot being aided by Dr. Sheppard rather than Poirot’s usual assistant Hastings, providing freshness to the book. In addition, readers get to see a new sort of chemistry between Poirot and his assistant. This was one of the first Christie books to be widely acclaimed and was voted the Best Crime Novel by the British Crime Writers’ Association in 2013. Initially published in 1926, the book contained a sting in the tale towards the end. It was among the first to feature such an element in the genre. The book is indeed a must-read for avid fans of the genre and those wishing to try reading crime novels for the first time.
To buy/gift The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, click on the below link:
#11 The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie
About The Book
Title: The Murder on the Links
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: The Bodley Head
Pages:298
Goodreads rating: 3.9/5
Poirot and Hastings are invited to France to meet Paul Renauld, who needs their help in some matter. On reaching there, they are informed that Paul had been found markedly dead that morning, lying stabbed in a freshly dug grave. When Poirot asks around for information, something seems to feel too familiar to him. Leaving Monsieur Giraud of the police in charge, Poirot journeys to London to research a similar case that had transpired 22 years ago. He returns to find another dead body, stabbed with the same weapon, and Renauld’s son, Jack, is arrested for the crime. Again, however, something feels off. Will Poirot manage to save the innocent Jack Renauld from eventually being convicted? Will the actual killer be revealed?
Why do we recommend this?
‘History repeats itself – a phrase we’ve all heard innumerable times previously, right? Here, Christie uses this phrase as the book’s premise, with the final resolution stemming from Poirot’s great memory and substantial experience. In addition, his observations of minute details like the handwriting on a bill, a piece of lead piping found near the body, the reaction of Eloise Renauld (Paul’s wife) on seeing his body, etc., provide complexity to the novel and make it difficult for readers to put the book down.
To buy/gift The Murder on the Links, click on the below link:
#12 The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
About The Book
Title: The Mysterious Affair at Styles
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: The Bodley Head
Pages: 296
Goodreads rating: 4/5
This book features Poirot’s friend Captain Arthur Hastings on sick leave from war, staying with his old friend John Cavendish. When he wakes up one morning to discover John’s stepmother, Emily Inglethorp, dead, he asks his friend Hercule Poirot for help. However, with Scotland Yard’s Inspector Japp intent on arresting Emily’s new husband, Alfred Inglethorp, and Poirot convinced that that is the wrong move, the book is a race against time as Poirot rushes to bring the real culprit to justice.
Why do we recommend this?
This book was Agatha Christie’s debut novel, but not inferior. Sure, her writing style has evolved over the years, but most readers will agree that her first novel set in Styles St. Mary holds a special place in their hearts. Next, we are introduced to Hercule Poirot, who will become precisely one of the greatest fictional detectives ever created. Also, Poirot’s methodical thinking approach to solving problems is awe-inspiring.
To buy/gift The Mysterious Affair at Styles, click on the below link:
That’s all for the recommendations for Hercule Poirot books until next time. I hope you might find something certainly that you like in these books.
And if you have never tried Hercule Poirot’s mysteries, this is the best time to change that. Give Hercule Poirot’s mysteries a try to have a good outlook on life and surely get good and positive energy after finishing a book. They won’t disappoint, surely.
P.S: Some books recommended here are available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have subscribed to it, you can read these books. Check out this article: Is Kindle Unlimited Worth It?
To conclude, here are the 12 best Hercule Poirot books.
| 1 | After the Funeral by Agatha Christie | Buy Now |
| 2 | Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie | Buy Now |
| 3 | Curtain: Poirot’s last case by Agatha Christie | Buy Now |
| 4 | Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie | Buy Now |
| 5 | Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie | Buy Now |
| 6 | Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie | Buy Now |
| 7 | Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie | Buy Now |
| 8 | Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie | Buy Now |
| 9 | The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie | Buy Now |
| 10 | The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie | Buy Now |
| 11 | The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie | Buy Now |
| 12 | The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie | Buy Now |
Read every book on this list as soon as possible. I am sure they won’t disappoint you.
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