Here in Readers Services, we hear about Agatha Christie a lot—maybe even more than any other author in the world.

Readers can’t get enough of her particular genius: character-driven, twisty, smart mysteries spearheaded by an unforgettable detective with a delightfully dry sense of humor.

So, we asked our NYPL book experts: Which Christie book is your favorite? What’s a good place to start for readers who haven’t read her books before? Are there any hidden gems that don't get enough attention, or super-popular books that don't get the credit they deserve? 

Below are our picks. Let us know yours in the comments!

And Then There Were None is not only the creepiest and most thrilling of all the Christie novels I have read, but I consider it to be the best mystery novel of all time. —Tabrizia Jones, Sedgwick

I second And Then There Were None! What lurked beneath each character's facade was horrifying… and that ending! —Rosa Caballero-Li, AskNYPL

I first picked up a copy The Mystery of the Blue Train when I was 11 or so. It had a plain blue cover and no plot summation and my mother simply said, “ooh you'll like that one!” She wasn't wrong. A glamorous train trip to the South of France, a dead heiress and Hercule Poirot on the case! All good things. —Anne Rouyer, Mulberry Street

The ABC Murders is the book that made me an official Christie fan a decade ago. Hercule Poirot is at his mustachioed best in this story of a serial killer targeting unsuspecting Brits—in alphabetical order—the course of a summer. Just like Murder on the Orient Express, though, this "gentle read" has a huge twist at the end that made me gasp out loud on public transit. (And I can’t wait to watch the Amazon series based on this book, starring John Malkovich as Poirot!) —Gwen Glazer, Readers Services

Crooked House. I read this back in June 2011, and it is, to this day, quite possibly the creepiest Agatha Christie novel I have ever read. I plan to reread the book before watching the movie! —Kate Fais, Bloomingdale

The movie Death on the Nile was my first introduction to Christie back when I was a kid and made me want to read the book. The Egyptian setting made it really interesting. A good intro to Agatha Christie! —Brian Baer, Mulberry Street

The Mysterious Affair at Styles is the debut of the flamboyant, faintly ridiculous, mustachioed but thoroughly formidable Hercule Poirot. It's a twisty, closed door murder mystery that gives the Belgian detective a perfect showcase for his skills. —Joshua Soule, Spuyten Duyvil

I love a British boarding school story and Cat Among the Pigeons includes intrepid schoolgirls caught up in murder, international intrigue, and a theft of jewels. Luckily, one of them is sharp enough to call in Hercule Poirot! It's fun, slightly sillier than other Poirot adventures but still a solid mystery. —Anne Rouyer, Mulberry Street

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is Christie's unsung masterpiece. If you like a twist (of course you like a twist!), here's a twist for you. —Abby Horowitz, Communications & Marketing

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Image credit: "Agatha Christie en 1925" from Wikimedia Commons is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!