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TOP 10 HP NOVEL

ariadnepoirotmarple 13 Oct 08 at 1:51 p.m. GMT

MY TOP 10 HP NOVEL:

1.Lord Edgware Dies ~

2.Death on the Nile ~

3.Dumb Witness ~

4.The Hollow ~

5.Cards on the table ~

6.Evil Under the Sun

7.After the funeral ~

8.Three act tragedy~

9.Dead man's folly ~

10. Hickory Dickory Dock ~

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55 replies

Reverse order

BrigidM 04 Mar 12 at 4 p.m. GMT

Good question. Mine have got to be -

1. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

2. Lord Edgware Dies

3. Death On The Nile

4. The Mysterious Affair at Styles

5 The Clocks

6. The ABC Murders

7. Mrs McGinnty's Dead

8. Sad Cypress

9. Cards on the Table

10. Dead man's folly.

dorabunnybunner 09 Feb 12 at 12:17 a.m. GMT

My favorite HP's are 1. Appointment With Death 2. Hercule Poirot's Christmas 3. The Big Four 4. Murder on the Orient Express 5. Death on the Nile 6. Third Girl 7. Peril at End House 8. The ABC Murders 9. Cards on the Table 10. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe I have to admit that although Poirot is my favorite detective my favorite AC novels aren't HP. (Nemesis, The Seven Dials, A Murder is Announced)

john_c_hamilton 24 Jan 12 at 4:06 p.m. GMT

10. The Clocks

9. Sad Cypress

8. Cat Among the Pigeons

7. Taken at the Flood

6. Death on the Nile

5. Cards on the Table

4. The Hollow

3. After the Funeral

2. Murder on the Orient Express

1. Five Little Pigs

StephenNorton 15 Jan 12 at 12:06 p.m. GMT

My top ten HP stories would be

1. The mysterious affair at Styles

2. Curtain

3. Clocks

4. five little Pigs

5. Murder of Roger Ackroyd

6. Hallowe`en Party

7. Murder in Mesopotamia

8. The Hollow

9. Taken at the flood

10. Elephants can remember

jakat 09 Dec 11 at 10:09 p.m. GMT

my fav hp novels are

1. the murder on the links

2.hecule poirot's christmas

3. hickory dickory death[hickory dickory dock]

4.evil under the sun

5. dumb witness

6.death in the clouds

7.the abc murders

8.cards on the table

9.murder in three acts[ three act tradgedy]

10.appointment with death

jakat 09 Dec 11 at 10:02 p.m. GMT

neaither is the thirteen problems

jakat 09 Dec 11 at 10:02 p.m. GMT

biggles_aristide

1~ MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD

2~ AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

3~ A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED

4~ THE MOVING FINGER

5 ~ ORDEAL BY INNOCENCE

6 ~ CARDS ON THE TABLE

7~ THE THIRTEEN PROBLEMS

8 ~ THREE ACT TRAGEDY

9~ CURTAIN

10~ THE HOLLOW

LadyMary 08 Dec 11 at 2:07 a.m. GMT

1.  The Hollow

2.  Murder on the Links

3.  Theft of the Royal Ruby

4.  Death on the Nile

5.  Death in the Clouds

6.  The Chocolate Box

7.  Murder of Roger Ackroyd

8.  Dumb Witness

9.  Mysterious Affair at Styles

10. Murder in Mesopotamia

LauraPoirot 01 Aug 11 at 7:58 a.m. GMT

1. The ABC murders

2.The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

3.Cards on the Table

4.Murder on the Orient Express

5.Hercule Poirots Christmas

6.Murder on the LinksTaken

7.at the Flood

8.Five little Pigs

9.Third Girl

10.Hellowe'en Party

It was so difficult to decide... I love almost all Novels in which Poirot appears precisely because he appears!

HeiseiHolmes

And Then There Were None isn't a Poirot...

2 to 5 of biggles_aristide's favourites aren't Poirots =)

GnaeusJuliusAgricola 31 Jul 11 at 9:02 p.m. GMT

1. Alibi (The Murder of Rpger Ackroyd)

2. Murder on the Orient Express

3. Curtain

4. Death on the Nile

5. Death in the Clouds

6. Appointment With Death

7. A Murder in Retrospect (Five Little Pigs)

8. The ABC Murders

9. Thirteen at Dinner (Lord Edgware Dies)

10. Mrs. McGinty's Dead

ErkutSoyer 28 Jul 11 at 8:25 p.m. GMT

I have not yet ten Poirot books.But it is my bests

1.Murder on the Orient Express

2-Death on the Nile

3-The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

4-Evil Under the Sun

5-The Hollow

6-Third Girl

7-Death in the Clouds

8-Black Coffee

Tommy_A_Jones 18 Apr 11 at 4:06 p.m. GMT

1. The Clocks

2. Cards On The Table

3. ABC Murders

4. Mrs McGinty's Dead

5. Death On The Nile

6. Evil Under The Sun

7. Cat Among The Pigeons

8. Cat Among The Pigeons

9. Five Little Pigs

10. Dumb Witness

The first three are in the order I put them and so are the last 2 but the others are how I remember them. I think it funny that both Race Books are in my Top 10, Death On The Nile made me like him 

HeiseiHolmes 01 Feb 10 at 5:56 p.m. GMT

And Then There Were None isn't a Poirot...

biggles_aristide 19 Jan 10 at 5:45 p.m. GMT

1~ MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD

2~ AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

3~ A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED

4~ THE MOVING FINGER

5 ~ ORDEAL BY INNOCENCE

6 ~ CARDS ON THE TABLE

7~ THE THIRTEEN PROBLEMS

8 ~ THREE ACT TRAGEDY

9~ CURTAIN

10~ THE HOLLOW

WindowsNT 16 Jan 10 at 5:24 p.m. GMT

My top ten Poirot:

1. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

2. Murder @ orient express

3. Lord Edgware Dies

4. Big Four

5. Mysterious Affair @ styles

6. ABC Murders

7. Three act tragedy

8. Dumb Witness

9. Murder @ Nile

10. Evil Under the Sun

MissQuin 10 Jan 10 at 11:12 a.m. GMT

I have to confess, I'm not a huge fan of Mrs Oliver in the books. I didn't dislike her or like her. When I read Cards on the Table, I didnt see the point of her being there. Then I read Dead mans folly and Elephants can remember, which didn't alter my opinon. When I read Mrs McGinty's dead, I warmed towards her. Her role in the book seems more crucial. When I read Third Girl, I read terribly sorry for Mrs Oliver. Her and Poirot were trapped in a time that they couldn't understand. The young people in the book alientated them for being "old". When Mrs Oliver goes down an alley after The Peacock, I felt scared for her.

So, because I'm not a fan of Mrs Oliver, thats probably why I'm not  choosy who plays her. If it was one of my favourites, like Mr Satterthwaite, I'd watch the actor like a hawk! My friend say's I watch the dramatiations, just so that I can pick them to pieces! Thats not true, I'd love to sit back and enjoy them. It's just I can't always switch off.

When Mrs O first appears, isnt she only middle aged? I didnt think she was an old lady? I always picture her looking somwhat like Agatha Christie.

vansittart 09 Jan 10 at 3:27 p.m. GMT

I'm a bit mixed about Zoe Wanamaker as Mrs O too but I do think she's getting better as she goes along. In a way, its a pity that Julia McKenzie is now playing Miss Marple as I think she's very good as the voice of Mrs Oliver on some of the BBC Radio Adaptations of the Poirot novels. I think she's just spot on in 'Dead Man's Folly' and pretty good in 'Elephants Can Remember' too. I hope they record 'Third Girl' some time!

Also, I used to think the English actress Margaret Courtenay would have been an excellent Mrs Oliver but she's passed away now - you can see her as Mrs Bantry in the Liz Taylor 'Mirror Crack'd' and Miss Knight in the Joan Hickson version.

Bundle_ 09 Jan 10 at 3:16 p.m. GMT

Glad to see someone feels the same way! I was beginning to think that I was the only one.

Do you know who reminds me of Ms. Oliver? Eileen Brennan: the lady who played Mrs. Peacock in Clue. She looks exactly how I imagined her! Of course, I think she is a bit too old for the part now. :-(

Puffinjill 09 Jan 10 at 7:36 a.m. GMT

I always feel very divided about Zoe Wannamaker as Ariadne Oliver. I like her as an actress and want to like her work but I just feel she is miscast in this particular role. To me, the character of Mrs O is just AC herself in fictional form - a nice gentle bit of fun at her own expense - and Ms Wannamaker does not fit this at all. They have cast the role too young (hardly Zoe's fault) and her relationship with Poirot doesn't translate well from page to screen. True, some of this will be down to those who write the scripts, but I still feel Ms Wannamaker doesn't make the most of the part. Her Mrs O is a bit weak to me and comes across as someone trying to be eccentric and falling a bit short.

Such a shame as it is a marvellous character, when written by Christie. However, her star isn't allowed to shine too bright in any of the adaptations I've seen. perhaps a really strong, convincingly eccentric performance would take away some of the lime light from those in other leading roles.....Just a thought.

Bundle_ 08 Jan 10 at 7:25 p.m. GMT

Hello, Miss Quinn!

I've never cared for Zoe Wannamaker as Ms. Oliver: I find that she looks nothing like the character or Agatha Christie in anyway shape or form, and I find that her portrayl of Ms. Oliver is rather stiff and not very memorable. I was just wondering if someone else felt the same way.

MissQuin 08 Jan 10 at 3:46 p.m. GMT

Hello Bundle, I havnt seen 3rd Girl (Thanks, I forgot that one Tommy) or Cards on the table yet.

I was surprised when I heard Zoe Wannamaker would play Mrs Oliver. I have seen Zoe Wannamaker in so many roles, but didn't connect her to Mrs O for some reason.

In Mrs McGinty's Dead, theres a scene where she and Poirot complain whose having the worst time of it. Poirot thinks HE is, as he's living with an untidy woman with a moulting dog. Mrs Oliver thinks SHES got it worst, she has to put up with Robin Upwood making drastic changes to her books for a play. The exchange between the two characaters made me like her as Mrs Oliver. The feeling of friendship felt right between her and Poirot.

What do you think Bundle?

Tommy_A_Jones 08 Jan 10 at 3:37 p.m. GMT

Miss Quin, Zoe Wanemaker was also in 3rd Girl, the other 3 are yet to be done by ITV

Bundle_ 08 Jan 10 at 2:38 p.m. GMT

Miss Quinn, what do you think of Zoe Wannamaker as Ms. Oliver. I'm just curious, is all.

Inspector_Kelly 08 Jan 10 at 11:42 a.m. GMT

1. The ABC Murders

2. Hercule Poirot's Christmas

3. The murder Of Roger Ackroyd

4. Cards On The Table

5. Evil Under The sun

6. Murder On The Orient Express

7. Three Act Tragerdy

8. Lord Edgware Dies

9. Dead Man's Folly

10. Murder In Mesopotamia

MissQuin 07 Jan 10 at 10:19 a.m. GMT

Puffinjill, I think it was great how AC managed to find modern situations to fit the Ancient Greek legends. Miss Carnaby is a great character, The Flock of Geryon is a great story, Miss Carnaby plays her part in the cult.

Kristas510: Zoe Wannamaker is currently playing Mrs Oliver in the current ITV series. She has been in Mrs McGinty's dead, Cards on the table and possibly more.

kristas510 07 Jan 10 at 8:09 a.m. GMT

It's so difficult to narrow the list down to 10 but here goes:

1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles

2. Dumb Witness

3. Murder on the Orient Express

4. The Hollow

5. Evil Under the Sun

6. Hickory Dickory Dock

7. Mrs. McGinty's Dead

8. Dead Man's Folly

9. Murder on the Links

10. Appointment With Death

There are some of the best characters in these books, for example Evelyn Howard in Styles, Mrs. Caroline Peabody in Dumb Witness, Lucy Angatell (sp?) in the Hollow, and of course Ariadne Oliver in McGinty and Dead Man's Folly.

I've never seen an actress' portrayal of Ariadne Oliver. Has anyone a specific version/actress to look for on video?

Puffinjill 07 Jan 10 at 7:03 a.m. GMT

I'm glad to finally find someone else who really likes The Labours Of Hercules! It always seems to be rather a forgotten book by most people. I'm a huge fan of short stories and this collection is one of my favourite. I can name you two reasons (and there are more but I won't bore you for long!) why I love this book.

1) It was a clever idea of AC's, to take the premise of each of the labours of the mythical Hercules and turn them into 'modern' problems for a very different Hercules! And the stories are so very different from each other, some with a serious tone and others much more light-hearted and I love having this blend (a story for every mood and occasion!!) in one volume.

And 2) It introduces us the Miss Carnaby, who is a wonderful character, who's brain has a marvellous capacity for crime and, later on in the book, becomes a great ally to Poirot. Wish we had more of her.

MissQuin 06 Jan 10 at 6:09 p.m. GMT

I love the Poirot's so much I cant pick an all time favorite. My top ten would be in random order:

The Labours of Hercules

Sad Cypress

Death on the Nile

The ABC murders

Death in the Clouds

Murder on the Orient Express

of Rodger Ackroyd

Murder is Mesopotamia

The Hollow

Mrs McGinty's Dead

A also LOVE the short stories. I think I'm the only one with Labour's of Hercules in their top ten. I have no idea why I love it so much, except it always makes me laugh and is very clever. Though maybe far fetched, but enjoyable all the same!

jane_delawney 07 Dec 09 at 3:31 a.m. GMT

1)  Murder on the Orient Express

2)  Curtain

3)  The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

4)  Murder in Mesopotamia

5) Death on the Nile

6) Appointment with Death

7) Evil under the Sun

8) Death in the Clouds

9)  The Hollow

10) The A.B.C. Murders

HarleyBarley 07 Jul 09 at 1:44 a.m. GMT

I have not yet ten Poirot books - on my way there, though - but these are the ones I own, in their respective positions:

1. Evil Under the Sun

2. Appointment with Death

3. Three Act Tragedy

4. The Big Four (Which, coincidentally, places fourth favourite in my list)

5. The Mysterious Affair at Styles

6. The Mystery of the Blue Train

7. Elephants Can Remember

Those are the seven HP novels I currently have. I might edit this list if I were to own more. I am quite sure that Murder on the Orient Express will be my next target.

mirror 05 Jul 09 at 9:49 a.m. GMT

1. The ABC Murders

2. Death on the Nile

3. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

4. Five Little Pigs

5.Evil under the Sun

6. Appointment with Death

7.Cards on the Table

8.  Merder in Mesopotamia

9. Curtain

10. Lord Edgware Dies

Christopher_Wren 18 Jun 09 at 11:11 a.m. GMT

1. Murder on the Orient Express

2. Death on the Nile

3. The ABC Murders

4. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

5. Five little Pigs

6. The Hollow

7. Hercule Poirot's Christmas

8. The mysterious Affair at Styles

9. Evil under the Sun

10. After the Funeral

Frndorfoe 12 Jun 09 at 5:53 p.m. GMT

Although I am a Miss Marple fan I have read most of the Hercule Poirot stories. My top ten favorite HP novels are,

1. Mrs McGinty's Dead

2. Cat among the Pigeons

3. Hickory Dickory Dock

4. Cards on the Table

5. One, Two, Buckle my Shoe

6. Evil under the Sun

7. Dumb Witness

8. Dead Man's Folly

9. Peril at the End House

10. Taken at the Flood

TheMole 27 Apr 09 at 12:36 p.m. GMT

Hello apm! And thank you! It's nice to hear from you too!

ariadnepoirotmarple 26 Apr 09 at 3:53 p.m. GMT

Hey, Mole, you're back! I really missed your contributions!

TheMole 26 Apr 09 at 1:02 p.m. GMT

Hello nunu!

agatha_nunu 26 Apr 09 at 3:17 a.m. GMT

Death on The Nile Three acts tragedy Curtain Five little pigs Lord Edware dies Poirot´s christmas Dead man´s folly Murder of Roger Ackroyd Dumb witness Murder at the links

TheMole 20 Apr 09 at 2:49 p.m. GMT

1. Lord Edgeware Dies

2. Sad Cypress

3. Peril at End House

4. Taken at the Flood

5. Death on the Nile

6. Mrs. McGinty's Dead

7. Cards on the Table

8. The Murder of Roger Ackryod

9. Hickory Dickory Dock

10. The Mysterious Affair At Styles

I am surprised to see Third Girl on so many of these lists! Death on the Nile seems to be a universal favorite. And Lord Edgware dies too. I see that there aren't that many Cards on the Table listed; I love that book!

ArlenaSMarshall 09 Apr 09 at 12:05 a.m. GMT

1. Evil Under the Sun

2. Five Little Pigs

3. Lord Edgware Dies

4. The ABC Murderers

5. Cat Among the Pigeons

6. Third Girl

7. Death on the Nile

8. Cards on the Table

9. Murder on the Orient Express

10.  Taken at the Flood

I've just started reading, so my list will probably change shortly.

robreid 06 Apr 09 at 2:06 p.m. GMT

1) The Murder of Roger Ackroyd 2) The Mysterious Affair at Styles 3) The Murder on the Orient Express 4) The ABC Murders 5) Peril at End House 6) The Big Four 7) Murder on the Links 8) Lord Edgware Dies 9) Mystery on the Blue Train 10)Poirot Investigates

devilgal19 21 Mar 09 at 7:26 p.m. GMT

Agathasmykid

This often depends on what type of mood or situation I am in. For example, at Christmas time I always read HP's CHristmas and Christmas pudding....Death on the Nile is a great read in the summer, etc.

I quite agree Agathasmykid!  I always bring out the Christmas pudding and the HP Christmas during that time!

Agathasmykid 21 Mar 09 at 6:28 p.m. GMT

This often depends on what type of mood or situation I am in. For example, at Christmas time I always read HP's CHristmas and Christmas pudding....Death on the Nile is a great read in the summer, etc.

susandiane 20 Mar 09 at 7:12 p.m. GMT

these are the ones I enjoyed (they will change over time)

1) The ABC Murders

2) Murder on the Orient Express

3) Cat Among the Pigeons

4) Third Girl

5) Appointment with Death

6) Thirteen at Dinner (lord edgware dies)

7) The Labors of Hercules

8) Sad Cypress

9) Mrs. McGuinty's Dead (sp?)

10) Hercule Poirot's Christmas

devilgal19 20 Mar 09 at 12:24 a.m. GMT

1.  ABC Murders

2.  Mysterious Affair at Styles

3.  Murder On the Orient Express

4.  Evil Under the Sun

5.  Third Girl

6.  Hickory Dickory Dock

7.  Lord Edgeware Dies

8.  Cat Among the Pigeons

9.  After the Funeral

10.  Death on the Nile.

I also enjoy the short stories featuring Poirot and also Halloween Party, Mrs. McGinty is Dead and Elephants can remember.

sapphire_arisa 26 Feb 09 at 3:41 a.m. GMT

I haven't read so many HP books, but ...my top 6 will be;

1) Murder of the Roger Ackroyd

2)Murder on the Orient Express

3) ABC Murder

4) Murder at the Links

5) Death on the Nile

6) The Hollow

susandiane 14 Feb 09 at 9:55 p.m. GMT

Shoot, forgot Cat Among the Pigeons and Mrs McGinty's Dead! so there's 2 more... and then there's the Christmas one with the Simeons

susandiane 14 Feb 09 at 9:52 p.m. GMT

1) Murder on the Orient Express 2) Curtain 3) Appointment with Death 4) The ABC Murders 5) Cards on tha Table 6) Third Girl 7) Death on the Nile

Tommy_A_Jones 10 Feb 09 at 1:12 p.m. GMT

I haven't read Hickory Dickory Dock or 'Sad Cypress yet but as both have been on Television there is no rush and I started to read Dumb Witness but took it to a friend's House and lost it, I wouldn't put 'Lord Edgware Dies' in my Top 10, perhaps I shall read it again sometime and then I will see why people like it so much, I will wait until I have read all the Poirot's before I say what my top 10 are.

McGinty 24 Oct 08 at 10:41 a.m. GMT

Hard to decide on just ten, but if I were to name them then probably:-

1/ Taken At the Flood

2/After the Funeral

3/Mrs McGinty's Dead

4/The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

5/ Five Little Pigs

6/Dead Man's Folly

7/Death on the Nile

8/Evil Under the Sun

9/Sad Cypress

10/ The ABC Murders

But then I've missed outCat Among the Pigeons, Curtain, Peril at End House, Dumb Witness, The Hollow etc., etc. !! Perhaps it would be easier to name the Poirot novels I didn't care for ! (The Clocks, The Big Four and Elephants Can Remember easily spring to mind)

detectivepauljohn 18 Oct 08 at 2:08 a.m. GMT

=)

detectivepauljohn 18 Oct 08 at 2:08 a.m. GMT

1. Evil Under the Sun
2. Death On the Nile
3. Cards On the Table
4. Five Little Pigs

I only own 4 poirot books. the other book is Marple and the other is The Mysterious Mr. Quin

wellington 16 Oct 08 at 6:15 p.m. GMT

I'll look out for those two, I buy mine from a market trader on Fridays. Four for a pound, good value I'd say!

squatty 14 Oct 08 at 10:57 a.m. GMT

Here's My Top Ten: 1: Death On The Nile 2: The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd 3: Three Act Tragedy 4: Evil Under The Sun 5: Murder in Mesopotamia 6: After The Funeral 7: Five Little Pigs 8: Mrs McGinty's Dead 9: Taken At The Flood 10: Appointment With Death

ariadnepoirotmarple 13 Oct 08 at 9:34 p.m. GMT

I've never read "The Labours of Hercules", I'm afraid. Anyway, I think you should read Death on the Nile and The Hollow! They are simply delightful.

wellington 13 Oct 08 at 5:55 p.m. GMT

I read 'Lord Edgware Dies' quite recently - unusual ending I thought ... a letter from the killer!

That and 'Dumb Witness' are the only two on the list I have read, I've got some work to do I see.

How do you rate 'The Labours of Hercules?'