Agatha Christieis one of the greatest mystery thriller authors in history, and if you love her works,there are some other titles that you absolutely need to read.Agatha Christie’s best booksare timeless classics, and despite her death in 1976, they continue to be some of the most popular novels of all time.
In fact, these stories are so popular that there are an incredible number ofAgatha Christie movie adaptations, as well as TV shows and plays. Many authors take inspiration from Christie, which is no surprise considering her prominence in the murder mystery genre. While these books that feel like Agatha Christie might never be as legendary as Christie’s, they’re still absolutely worth checking out.
10The Thursday Murder Club
Released In 2020 By Richard Osman
Althoughall 4 ofThe Thursday Murder Clubbooksby Richard Osman are worth checking out,the first installment is by far the most importantof the lot.The Thursday Murder Clubfollows a group of residents who live in the Cooper’s Chase retirement village and who work together to try to figure out who killed a local property developer. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron refuse to allow their age to get in the way of this investigation, and the fact they’re in their twilight years offers them a unique perspective others don’t have.
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The Thursday Murder Clubisan enthralling read that is frequently compared to Christie’s Miss Marple books. The title of Osman’s debut novel is even similar to Marple’s first story, “The Tuesday Night Club.” WithNetflix’sThe Thursday Murder Clubmovieon the way, now is a great time to pick up a copy and become invested in the entire series.
9The Girl On The Train
Released In 2015 By Paula Hawkins
The Girl on the Trainis one of my favorite mystery thriller books of all time, and while the narrative may differ from Christie’s in some ways, Paula Hawkins’ hit novel replicates the author’s overall gripping tone.The Girl on the Trainfocuses on Rachel Watson, an alcoholic grieving her divorce, who continues to commute to work despite losing her job. After a drunken altercation one day that she doesn’t remember,Rachel finds herself at the forefront of an investigation of a missing woman.
What’s so great aboutThe Girl on the Trainis that everything that seems obvious simply isn’t.
What’s so great aboutThe Girl on the Trainis that everything that seems obvious simply isn’t. It’s easy to frequently second-guess yourself while reading this novel, and there are several turns that you can’t help but still be suspicious of.The Girl on the Trainis agood thriller book made great by its twist ending, and although the 2016 and 2021 adaptations aren’t as endearing as the novel, it’s still worth reading.
8The Christie Affair
Released In 2022 By Nina De Gramont
While it’s common knowledge,there are still many who are unaware of Agatha Christie’s disappearance in 1926.The Christie Affairdelves into the events that led to Christie’s vanishing and reappearance 11 days later at a hotel in Harrogate, England. Nina de Gramont’s fictitious interpretation of what happened to her inThe Christie Affair, which is told from the point of view of Christie’s husband’s mistress, Nan, is fascinating.
Technically,The Christie Affairis a historical fiction book. However, the imaginary events that explain how Christie’s disappearance occurs feel like a mystery thriller as well. Although this story focuses primarily on Nan’s journey to steal Christie’s husband away from her, the reasons for this are so much more than for the sake of love and lust, which makes things even more mysterious.
7Magpie Murders
Released In 2016 By Anthony Horowitz
Author Anthony Horowitz’s works are often compared to Agatha Christie’s, and his 2016 novelMagpie Murdersis a great example of why.Magpie Murdersuses a story-within-a-story format and jumps between two main plotlines: one that focuses on fictional author Alan Conway writing a mystery novel, and the other that centers on publishing editor Susan Ryeland’s attempts to locate the missing final chapter.
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Agatha Christie’s work continues to influence the mystery genre, meaning there are plenty of TV shows that take inspiration from her style.
However, Ryeland’s mission is more than just finding the last pages of Conway’s book, it also focuses on her investigation into his death, too. The murdery mystery elements ofMagpie Murdersare very like those of Christie, butHorowitz’s layered narrative is even more gripping. The TV adaptation of this book is rather popular, andMagpie Murdersseason 1’s endingprovides a great interpretation of Horowitz’s story.
6Murder Must Advertise (The Circular Staircase)
Released In 1933 By Dorothy L. Sayers
Like Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers is one of the best authors from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. Sayers’Murder Must Advertise, which is also known asThe Circular Staircase, is the eighth installment in her series featuring Lord Peter Wimsey. Wimsey’s stories are all worth reading, butMurder Must Advertiseis a stand out in the collection for several reasons. Under the name of Death Bredon, Wimsey takes a job as a copywriter at an advertising agency to investigate the death of Victor Dean.
Murder Must Advertiseintroduces an array of intriguing characters, all of whom are potentially behind the murder. This formula parallels titles of Christie’s likeThe Murder of Roger AckroydorAnd Then There Were None, too. While many authors take inspiration from Christie, Sayers’ works are from a similar era, which means that her novels are purely from her own creativity.
5Shroud For A Nightingale
Released In 1971 By P. D. James
P.D. James’ style is undoubtedly her own, but there are elements of Agatha Christie that cannot be denied, either. Her 1971 novel,Shroud for a Nightingale, is a part of her series focusing on Chief Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard. Aftertwo student nurses die under suspicious circumstances, Dalgliesh arrives at Nightingale House to investigate but discovers several harrowing secrets that prove that the nursing school is far darker than anyone realizes.
ThroughoutShroud for a Nightingale, James litters small details that initially seem irrelevant but are later integral to the plot, and the author isn’t afraid to throw readers off with false clues, either. The way James creates layered characterizations is astounding, and this is apparent in all of her Dalgliesh stories, too.Shroud for a Nightingalemay be a title from the ‘70s, but it’s incredible how relevant parts of the narrative are to the UK in the present day.
4The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Released In 1998 By Alexander McCall Smith
Alexander McCall Smith’sThe No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, the first in the series of the same name, is a title that I truly believe Christie would appreciate if she were still around today. The novel centers on Precious Ramotswe, who opens the first detective agency in Botswana following her father’s death. The HBO adaptation is a brilliant watch, too, and is considered ahidden gem TV show from the 2000s.
There are big mysteries inThe No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, whichfocus on investigations into a con man and a missing child. However, Precious’ backstory and the events that lead her to the present day are also integral parts of the story. McCall Smith isn’t exactly like Christie, but that isn’t a problem. Each ofThe No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency’s mysteries is easy to sink your teeth into, but learning more about Precious and why she is who she is is just as thrilling.
3Daisy Darker
Released In 2022 By Alice Feeney
Daisy Darkerby Alice Feeney is frequently compared to Christie’sAnd Then There Were None, a tale that follows the titular character and her family reuniting for her grandmother’s 80th birthday on a remote island.Every member of Daisy’s family has a secret or two, and after Nana is suddenly found dead, the rest start to drop off one by one.Daisy Darkeris a great recommendation for those who lovemovies likeKnives Out, and Feeney does a brilliant job at replicating Christie’s way of writing whodunits.
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The pressure of the incoming tide surrounding the desolate island raises the stakes massively, and the twists throughoutDaisy Darkerwill continue to keep you guessing until the book’s climax. There’s something about a family-focused murder mystery that continues to draw readers in, andDaisy Darkeris a brilliant titlethat proves why this subgenre is such a success.
2The Iron Gates (Taste Of Fears)
Released In 1945 By Margaret Millar
Margaret Millar is a name that often pops up when readers ask about authors similar to Agatha Christie.The Iron Gates, also known asTaste of Fears, is the second installment in theInspector Sandsseries. The book follows Inspector Sands’ investigation into Lucille Morrow, who suddenly leaves her house after receiving a strange parcel and vanishes into thin air.
The Iron Gatesis an amazing example of a psychological character study done correctly and something Christie would likely have loved.
While the mystery of Lucille’s disappearance is important inThe Iron Gates,Millar’s unique focus on the inner workings of the human psyche is what makes this book so thrilling. Readers learn more about Lucille’s past with her husband’s first wife, who also disappears and is later found dead, as well as the Morrow family in general, and this makes it hard to put the book down. Overall,The Iron Gatesis an amazing example of a psychological character study done correctly and something Christie would likely have loved.
1The Woman In Cabin 10
Released In 2016 By Ruth Ware
A lot of Ruth Ware’s works, especiallyThe Woman in Cabin 10, areinspired by Agatha Christie, according to the author herself (viaDeadGoodBooks).The Woman in Cabin 10centers on travel writer Lo Blacklock, whose journalistic assignment on a luxury cruise goes awry when one of the very few people on the ship is thrown overboard. However, all the official passengers and staff are accounted for, so who is the woman who just died?
The journey starts well, but thejarring shift in tone from a vacation paradise to a crime sceneis enough to keep readers turning the page. The possibility that Lo has imagined the stranger’s death makes things even more interesting, and the main character’s personal issues fuel speculation that she’s an unreliable narrator.The Woman in Cabin 10, as well as all of Ware’s works, is a brilliant recommendation for anyone who lovesAgatha Christie.
