Before podcasts turned everyone into armchair detectives, Agatha Christie was already schooling readers in the art of suspicion. Born in 1890, she became the best-selling novelist of all time, penning over 60 mysteries and creating icons such as Hercule Poirot, the meticulous Belgian sleuth with a flair for the dramatic. Her twisty plots helped define the genre and set a standard few have matched. Some cases feel solvable. Others feel like traps. We’re ranking her toughest novels to crack. Think you can outsmart Christie? Dive in and test your instincts.
#25: The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920)
In The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Hercule Poirot makes his debut after landing in England during World War I. A wealthy woman dies in her country home, and suddenly everyone looks suspicious. Christie plays fair, laying out clues like a contested will and some very convenient behavior. Stay alert, and you can piece it together. The setup is classic, making the solution feel within reach for sharp readers.
