Sir Arthur Conan Doyle might have Sherlock Holmes, but Agatha Christie has Hercule Poirot. Detective Poirot is just one of the few characters who make recurring appearances in Christie’s novels, so much so that she featured him in 33 novels and 51 short stories. Best known for his crisp sense of fashion and, not to mention, his famous eccentric mustache, Poirot calls himself the greatest detective in the world.
One might try to argue with that, but his cockiness is well justified by his impeccable sleuthing techniques. Having been the face of popular Christie book-to-television adaptations, Poirot’s novels are essential reading for mystery fans. From a love triangle gone wrong on the Nile to a train murder in the middle of a snowstorm, here are the greatest Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot books, ranked.
10
‘After the Funeral’ (1953)
Image via William Morrow
Following Richard Abernethie’s funeral, his family gathers for the reading of his will, only for his sister Cora to casually suggest that he was murdered. The next day, Cora is brutally killed in her sleep. With the family’s inheritance suddenly under suspicion, Poirot is called in to investigate Richard’s death.
Dysfunctional families make the best recipe for murder. After the Funeral is no exception. Instead, there’s a cruel irony in knowing that another death happens after the literal death of someone else. Because everyone has their own set of personal baggage, it’s hard to decide who the suspect is with all the layers to each character.
9
‘Five Little Pigs’ (1942)
Image via HarperCollins
Cold cases are a tough nut to crack. In Five Little Pigs, Poirot revisits the sixteen-year-old murder of painter Amyas Crale after his daughter, Carla, brings him a letter from her imprisoned mother. Convicted of the crime, Caroline maintains in the letter that she was innocent, prompting Poirot to uncover the truth.
Cold cases rarely leave enough physical evidence behind to crack the mystery. Fortunately, Poirot has something arguably more useful: five surviving witnesses with their own versions of what happened. It’s a Rashomon effect at its finest, as every account offers a slightly different perspective. Poirot must nitpick through their contradictions, memories, and missing details to see which version is the most accurate.
8
‘Cards on the Table’ (1936)
Image via HarperCollins
It’s a party to die for in Cards on the Table. Flamboyant collector Mr. Shaitana invites Poirot and three other crime experts to dinner, along with four guests he suspects of getting away with murder. After the evening ends with Shaitana dead from a stab wound, everyone becomes a suspect.
The reason why the book is called Cards on the Table becomes clear when someone is murdered during a game of bridge. It’s an uncanny murder situation, but even more high-stakes since Poirot isn’t the only one investigating. With a police officer, a secret agent, and a crime writer on the case, there’s plenty of work to be done.
7
‘The Murder on the Links’ (1923)
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