A Courtroom Twist, a Violent Christmas: 9 Agatha Christie Books to Read Before Kicking the Bucket
A lasting crime-writing legacy
Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist of all time, with only William Shakespeare and the Bible outselling her works. Known as “The Queen of Crime,” she has remained widely admired for more than a century.
Her output included about 66 novels, 14 short story collections and around 25 plays, as well as an autobiography and six romantic novels published as Mary Westmacott. Screen adaptations continue to bring her stories to new audiences. A six-part BBC and BritBox adaptation titled “Hercule” is in production, with Edward Bluemel playing a younger Hercule Poirot.
A courtroom mystery to begin
Readers unsure where to start might try a play or short story. “Witness for the Prosecution” first appeared in Flynn’s magazine in 1925 and later became the centerpiece of a 1948 collection. Christie adapted it for the stage, and a revival is still playing at London County Hall.
The story follows Leonard Vole, accused of murdering Emily French, a wealthy woman who named him as her heir. He asks his wife, Romaine, to testify, but she takes the stand for the prosecution. The changing endings across versions have helped keep the story intriguing, including in Billy Wilder’s 1957 film and a 2016 BBC One drama starring Kim Cattrall.
A darker Christmas classic
Christie’s publisher promoted her books with the slogan “a Christie for Christmas,” and “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas” is one of her few novels set during the holiday season. The story stands out for its bloody violence rather than sentimental seasonal cheer.
Christie dedicated the novel to her brother-in-law, James Watts, who had complained that her murders were becoming too refined. He wanted a violent murder with plenty of blood, and the novel delivered a stark contrast to sweeter holiday stories.
Key points
- Christie published about 66 novels and 14 short story collections.
- “Witness for the Prosecution” began as a 1925 magazine story.
- A stage revival of “Witness for the Prosecution” is playing at London County Hall.
- “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas” is among Christie’s few holiday novels.