When it comes to sales of fiction, only Shakespeare comes close to crime expert Agatha Christie - both are estimated to have shifted at least billion copies of their novels and plays respectively.
The Queen of Crime wrote 66 detective novels - including those featuring her two best-known characters, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot - along with 14 short story collection.
She also wrote the play The Mousetrap, which became the world’s longest-running play after first being staged in London’s West End in 1952 (February 20124 saw its 29,500th performance).
With so many Agatha Chistie books to choose from, it’s hard for a beginner to know where to start.
To help out, we’ve had a look at how the millions of readers of book website Goodreads have rated her books.
Here are the top 10.
She also wrote the play The Mousetrap, which became the world’s longest-running play after first being staged in London’s West End in 1952 (February 20124 saw its 29,500th performance).
9. Five Little Pigs
The 25th Poirot book comes ninth - 1942's Five Little Pigs scores an average rating of 4.03 from 76,265 reviews. "Beautiful Caroline Crale was convicted of poisoning her husband, yet there were five other suspects: Philip Blake (the stockbroker) who went to market; Meredith Blake (the amateur herbalist) who stayed at home; Elsa Greer (the three-time divorcee) who had roast beef; Cecilia Williams (the devoted governess) who had none; and Angela Warren (the disfigured sister) who cried ‘wee wee wee’ all the way home. It is sixteen years later, but Hercule Poirot just can’t get that nursery rhyme out of his mind…" | Contributed
10. A Murder Is Announced
Completing our list is the fifth in the Miss Marple series - 1950's A Murder Is Announced scores an average rating of 4.01 from 73,394 reviews. "The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn, including Miss Marple, are agog with curiosity over an advertisement in the local gazette which reads: ‘A murder is announced and will take place on Friday October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30 p.m.' A childish practical joke? Or a hoax intended to scare poor Letitia Blacklock? Unable to resist the mysterious invitation, a crowd begins to gather at Little Paddocks at the appointed time when, without warning, the lights go out…" | Contributed