No genre is as popular at the moment thanthe murder mystery. With shows likeOnly Murders in the BuildingandThe Afterpartyas well as the trio of films based on Agatha Christie’s iconic detective Hercule Poirot, the “who done it” is a proven narrative concept that continues to succeed on the big and small screen. While Poirot novels haveno shortage of film adaptations.Murder on the Orient Express,Death on the Nile, andA Haunting in Veniceare three Christie novels that have been adapted into modern-day theatrical successesby brilliant directorKenneth Branagh and with a treasure trove of Poirot stories available. Here are ten Hercule Poirot books that should be made into movies next.
The Agatha Christie creation, Ariadne Oliver, a fictionalized version of herself in many respects, makes her big screen debut in 2023’sA Haunting in Venice.Played by Tina Fey, Oliver is a long-time friend of Hercule Poirot, a man she no doubt draws inspiration from for her own murderous novels. The author becomes a focal point once again in the 1956 novel,Dead Man’s Folly, as she is hired to put on a Murder Hunt (murder mystery party) to which she invites Detective Poirot. Fun and games ensue until a real murder thrusts Poirot into action.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
What makesThe Mysterious Affair at Stylessuch a great choice for movie adaptation is that it is Agatha Christie’sfirst detective noveland serves as the introduction of Hercule Poirot to the world. A suspicious murder and the prospects of a property inheritance lead Poirot on a whirlwind investigation. A movie adaptation could serve as a prequel-type film and potentially feature a younger Poirot played by someone other than Branagh.
Evil Under the Sun
Evil Under the Sunis a Poirot novel that sees the detective roped into an investigation while on holiday in an English village when a young, attractive woman is murdered. It is also one of the novels on this list that has previously received the movie treatment, as in 1982 Guy Hamilton directed an adaptation of the story. The interesting story makes it ripe picking for a remake under the Kenneth Branagh umbrella.
Cat Among the Pigeons
What makesCat Among the Pigeonsstand out from the other novels on this list is that Poirot himself does not make an appearance until the final third of the story. A story filled with espionage and intrigue. The circumstances of the story find the famous detective in a wholly unfamiliar world while he investigates. Tonally, an adaptation of the novel would differ from the other films that Branagh has already made.
Five Little Pigs
While most of the murders and crimes in which Poirot investigates occur in the story itself, that is not the case with the 1942 novel,Five Little Pigs. This particular story sees the detective investigating the sixteen-year-old cold case of the murder of a self-proclaimed wrongly convicted murderer while in prison. The investigation places five suspects in Poirot’s view as he attempts to solve the murder and clear the name of an innocent woman.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
The famous detective Hercule Poirot made a fictional living from solving the seemingly impossible of crimes, and inHercule Poirot’s Christmas, finds himself yet again investigating a murder that on the surface appears unsolvable. With the third Christie adapted film, A Haunting in Venice, serving as a Halloween-themed film, another holiday such as Christmas could expand the Poirot Cinematic Universe to even fresher corners.
The A.B.C. Murders
The ABC Murdersfinds Poirot on the trail of a serial killer set on murdering those with alliterative names (quite the specific crime). The novel itself utilizes first-person and third-person narrative, something that could translate to an incredibly interesting film adaptation. As in most Christie novels, all is not what it seems, and Poirot is sure to crack the case.
Related:Fans of A Haunting in Venice Should Check Out This 1970s Agatha Christie Mystery
Three Act Tragedy
Similar to Ariadne Oliver, Poirot has another supportive character who occasionally assists in investigations. Mr. Satterthwaite acts as a John Watson-type character while investigating with Poirot in the 1934 novel,Three Act Tragedy. Featuring an uncertain method of death and almost no motives to support the murder, Poirot finds himself investigating one of his toughest cases yet. The uncertainty and twists and turns have all the makings of the next great thriller movie.
Cards on the Table
Cards on the Tablemarks the first appearance of Poirot’s friend Ariadne Oliver. Following a game of Bridge, and, of course, a murder, Poirot must learn and understand the psychology of the suspects to solve the case. While a film adaptation of this particular novel would be a slower burn than others, it is ripe for dialogue and character study.
Related:Kenneth Branagh’s 10 Best Acting Performances
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
The Murder of Roger Ackroydis considered by many literary scholars to beAgatha Christie’s defining masterpieceof detective writing and is her most popular novel featuring Detective Hercule Poirot. Roger Ackroyd is the classic example of a man who knew too much, so much so that he needed to be killed by someone.
The novel is heralded for its shocking ending, one which would be spoiled by revealing too much in this short summary. In the hands of Kenneth Branagh, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd could be just as big of a cinematic masterpiece as it was a literary one, extending the future of theHercule Poirot franchise.
