Death on the Nile (1937)

by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie wrote dozens of mysteries with twisty plots, but Death on the Nile must rank as among her best. It’s a touching story, almost believable, and the setting on the Nile in Egypt atmospheric. She herself stayed at the Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan, the starting point, in the book, for the paddleboat cruise down the Nile which inevitably ends in murder. The audiobook version, narrated by David Suchet—who played Hercule Poirot in many BBC adaptations and so for many people is Hercule Poirot—is just under 8 hours and ideal listening for family car journeys.