When you think of famous murder mystery authors, surely the most famous name that springs to mind would be Agatha Christie. But a far more difficult question would be to name your favourite novel penned by the celebrated writer. Her fans have made their choices and selected “And Then There Were None” as their top choice, ahead of what would have been the writer’s 125th birthday on 15th September.
Global vote
Fans were challenged to vote in the global poll called “World’s Favourite Christie”, with famous backers from the world of sport, stage, screen, cookery and (of course) literature attempting to sway their choice.
The celebrities likely to be happiest with the selection of “And Then There Were None” are Mark Curry and Verity Rushworth, who championed the book.
Grandson approved of the choice
Although perhaps not as obvious a choice as two of the novels that also made the top five list, “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Death on the Nile”, the number one was a fitting winner according to Mathew Prichard. As the chairman of Agatha Christie Limited and more poignantly the author’s grandson, he intimated that it was “the book my grandmother was proudest of.”
Biggest Christie seller
“And Then There Were None” is often viewed as Christie’s masterpiece according to connoisseurs of her work. The author herself referred to it as the most difficult of her novels to write.
It was certainly a hit with her fans, as estimates suggest that over 100 million copies have been sold around the world, making it the best-selling novel that she penned during her illustrious writing career.
New BBC production
It is also a timely choice, given that the BBC are currently producing a star-studded three-part series for television, starring Poldark star Aidan Turner and the veteran actor Charles Dance.
Further gravitas to the production, expected to be a jewel in the BBC’s Christmas schedule, should come from Sam Neill, Toby Stephens and Miranda Richardson. It forms part of an agreement between the BBC and Christie’s estate to bring more of her works to our television screens, as the anniversary of her 125th year is commemorated.
The top five selections in the fans’ poll were:
- And Then There Were None
- Murder on the Orient Express
- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
- Death on the Nile
- The ABC Murders
