Agatha Christie, dubbed the Queen of Crime, wrote 66 detective novels, 150 short stories and six romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, cementing her place as one of the most influential figures in mystery fiction. Collider has compiled a list of essential Christie novels for newcomers, chosen for how well they showcase her skill at misdirection, clue-placing and drawing readers into the role of amateur detective.

The selection includes The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, praised for a landmark twist that upends the reader's assumptions; Death on the Nile, a Poirot mystery built around a honeymoon cruise and a love triangle; A Murder Is Announced, which highlights Miss Marple's talent for gathering gossip as an unassuming observer; and The A.B.C. Murders, in which Poirot is taunted by a killer following an alphabetical pattern before realising he himself is the target.

– Christie wrote 66 detective novels and 150 short stories, beginning during her WWI nursing service
– The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is noted for one of the genre's most famous twist endings
– Death on the Nile and A Murder Is Announced feature Poirot and Miss Marple respectively
– The A.B.C. Murders sees Poirot become the target of an alphabetically themed killer