Agatha Christie is known as the Queen of Crime for a reason. The best-selling author of all time — only the Bible and Shakespeare have sold more copies — wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, as well as several plays, one of which, The Mousetrap, is the longest-running play ever. Her life was as full of mystery and intrigue as her stories; her 11-day disappearance in 1926, following the breakdown of her first marriage, has led to speculation ever since, particularly as she never spoke about it again. During the Second World War, Christie worked in the pharmacy at University College Hospital in London, where she learned extensive details about various different kinds of poisons that eventually made it into several of her books. She was also, delightfully, a very keen and competent surfer. Christie created a huge number of memorable characters, the most famous being Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple, two detectives who run rings around the more staid police force when solving unusual crimes. Other recurring characters include Tommy and Tuppence, a married couple who solve mysteries together, and lesser-known figures like Superintendent Battle and Parker Pyne. Her stories are known for their twists and turns, and their subversions of readers’ expectations — but when a writer is as prolific as Christie, some of her books are bound to be duds. Here are some of Agatha Christie’s most and least satisfying endings. Beware spoilers as you read on!
Christie’s Greatest Endings
Christie’s Worst Endings
While some of Agatha Christie’s books are misses rather than hits, there are still plenty of great books of hers to work your way through. If you’re looking for more mystery reads, try our list of 8 of the Best Mysteries and Thrillers by Black Authors, or 25 of the Best Murder Mystery Books. For more about Agatha Christie, check out Agatha Christie in Contemporary Literature and Pop Culture and A Definitive Ranking of Agatha Christie Movies.
