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Scariest Agatha Christies?

HeiseiHolmes 01 Mar 10 at 5:54 p.m. GMT

What would you say are the scariest books by Agatha Christie? The thing is, I'm determined to convert my friend to Christie-ism but he really only likes horror. I gave him a copy of "And Then There Were None" to borrow, but what else would he be interested in?

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15 replies

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LouiseElizabeth 21 Jul 11 at 8:46 p.m. GMT

Hi Heiseil,

I think for an alternative Agatha Christie book and one which is very Sinister, I would recommend by the Pricking of My Thumbs or The Pale Horse.  One relates to children disappearing and the latter book is about Witchcraft.  Personally I think these are a little bit chilling.

Hope you take my advice.

Enjoy

NightRayDuck 24 Jun 11 at 2:59 a.m. GMT

That's interesting, christie_greece! I grew up in a part of town where I heard roosters every morning. I am glad I wasn't in the habit of late-night reading back then! :D

christie_greece 23 Jun 11 at 2:59 p.m. GMT

The scariest AC book I've ener read is Endless Night. I was reading it at 3:00 am and I heard a rooster from the near garden! I was totally frightened!!! However, when I think of that now, I can't stop laughing! :P

Nofret 23 Jun 11 at 11:31 a.m. GMT

What about the short stories in The Hound of Death? As well as the excellent title story, there's the spooky The Fourth Man, and the macabre The Last Seance.

Slightly off the point, but IMO Agatha didn't write anything as grisly and horrific as Dorothy L Sayers' short story Blood Sacrifice! I only got to the end by skipping out the ghastly events after the car accident! Try it and see if you agree with me!

NightRayDuck 21 Jun 11 at 11:10 p.m. GMT

Originally this thread was asking for a Christie story that would draw in someone who only read horror stories. I think that'd need a lot of blood / gore / fear, not disguised by a peaceful appearance of the neighborhood..

We still haven't heard back from the guy whether he had successfully converted his friend to Christie-ism.

LauraPoirot 21 Jun 11 at 10:05 a.m. GMT

For me Murder Is Easy was the scariest AC I've read yet!

NightRayDuck 15 Feb 11 at 7:51 a.m. GMT

In my view, Sittaford Mystery and Pale Horse, although starting with an apparently supernatural event, or a sleuth even continues to find out more about the supposedly supernatural event, it soon becomes heavily investigative, and even light-hearted with some of the sleuths. I don't think these would be particularly good starters for a reader who really only likes horror stories.

I think And Then There Were None is a very good idea. Sleeping Murder also, even though the facts of the crime are all in the past for the characters to figure out, the way that it's so puzzling and the characters going through about half the book thinking that there had been no crime committed - that is pretty scary.

Christie has several short stories that contain "real ghosts", I mean, not some trick by a criminal, but those tend to be very sentimental, rather than scary like a work in the horror genre.

Yes I know I am replying very late... Any success in converting your friend, Heisei? 

MissQuin 10 Mar 10 at 3:06 p.m. GMT

I live in Britian and no Why didnt they ask Evans hasnt been shown yet. It will probably be on the shelf at ITV for next couple of years, before it's dusted off and finally shown.

TheButlerDidIT 09 Mar 10 at 5:04 p.m. GMT

Has Why Didn't they ask Evans? been aired in the UK go leafs?

Puffinjill 08 Mar 10 at 7:51 a.m. GMT

Oh yes, go leafs, I am most definately talking about the book and not the recent adaptation featuring Miss Marple. I am glad to say I haven't seen it as a matter of principal, as I could see no good coming from shoehorning in a character who had no business being there in the first place. The book itself had long, long been a favourite of mine, being one of the first AC's I ever read and then owned, and I have no desire to see the plot ripped to shreds in the name of 'entertainment'.

go_leafs_nation 06 Mar 10 at 3:50 p.m. GMT

The Sittaford Mystery is something of a fan favourite; at least that was the case on the old site. Just to be clear, we ARE talking about the book, not the movie. The movie was an embrassment, and it remained the apex of the recent Marple films' silliness until Why Didn't They Ask Evans? came along.

The Pale Horse, The Sittaford Mystery, Sleeping Murder, and And Then There Were None are the obvious choices.

Puffinjill 05 Mar 10 at 8:19 a.m. GMT

I love it too, detective conan, so you aren't alone! Just waiting for my new BBC Dramatised audiobook of it to arrive.....can't wait!!

HeiseiHolmes 04 Mar 10 at 5:21 p.m. GMT

I loved Sittaford Mystery, but it seems to be quite unpopular on here...

TheButlerDidIT 04 Mar 10 at 5:19 p.m. GMT

The Sittaford Mystery has a seance scene but I haven't read it yet.

MissQuin 01 Mar 10 at 8:10 p.m. GMT

It's hard in a way as what some people find scary, other dont and vice versa. But I'm really creeped out by ventriloquist dummies, but not all people are!

Murder is Easy I found really tense. The Pale Horse has an element of fear in the unknown and supernatural. I like the way AC isn't gory, but can thrill and build the suspense without violence. But your friend might not see it that way!

The most blood let is Hercule Poirot's Christmas.