20 Best Whodunit Book-to-Movie Adaptations
The Hound of the Baskervilles – 1902 / 1939
Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel pits Sherlock Holmes against a supernatural hound and a family curse. The 1939 film, starring Basil Rathbone, captures the eerie Dartmoor setting and intricate clues. Its atmospheric tension and Holmes’ deductive brilliance shine, unraveling the killer’s identity in a gripping climax, making it a timeless whodunit.
The Maltese Falcon – 1930 / 1941
Dashiell Hammett’s noir novel follows Sam Spade through a deadly quest for a priceless statuette. John Huston’s 1941 film, with Humphrey Bogart, amplifies the gritty atmosphere and deceptive characters. The taut dialogue and suspenseful pacing culminate in a stunning killer reveal, making it a noir-whodunit hybrid that endures.
The Thin Man – 1934 / 1934
Dashiell Hammett’s witty novel tracks Nick and Nora Charles solving a scientist’s murder. The 1934 film, starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, blends humor and mystery with sparkling chemistry. Its clever clues and lively dinner-party reveal of the killer create a delightful, influential whodunit that balances charm and suspense.
The Nine Tailors – 1934 / 1974
Dorothy L. Sayers’ novel weaves a murder around church bell-ringing and Lord Peter Wimsey’s sleuthing. The 1974 TV adaptation, with Ian Carmichael, captures the intricate plot and rural charm. Its atmospheric setting and clever clues lead to a satisfying killer reveal, showcasing Sayers’ intellectual depth and engaging mystery craftsmanship.
Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? – 1934 / 1980
Agatha Christie’s novel follows Bobby Jones and Frankie Derwent unraveling a murder sparked by a dying man’s cryptic question. The 1980 TV film, with Francesca Annis and James Warwick, captures the witty sleuthing and twists. Its charming leads and clever clues build to a thrilling killer reveal, embodying Christie’s suspenseful brilliance.
Murder on the Orient Express – 1934 / 1974
Agatha Christie’s novel traps Hercule Poirot on a snowbound train with a murdered tycoon. Sidney Lumet’s 1974 film, with Albert Finney, boasts a stellar cast and lavish visuals. The intricate clues and Poirot’s brilliant deduction unravel a shocking killer reveal, making it a gold standard for whodunit adaptations.
The A.B.C. Murders – 1936 / 1992
Agatha Christie’s novel follows Hercule Poirot tackling a serial killer taunting him with alphabetical clues. The 1992 TV film, with David Suchet, captures the chilling suspense and intricate plot. Suchet’s brilliant Poirot navigates red herrings, leading to a shocking killer reveal, making this adaptation a masterful, gripping whodunit classic.
Death on the Nile – 1937 / 1978
Agatha Christie’s exotic novel follows Hercule Poirot solving a heiress’s murder on a Nile cruise. The 1978 film, with Peter Ustinov, dazzles with lush settings and a stellar ensemble. Its tangled motives and meticulous pacing build to a dramatic killer reveal, embodying Christie’s mastery of suspenseful, elegant whodunits.
Appointment with Death – 1938 / 1988
Agatha Christie’s novel sees Hercule Poirot probing a tyrannical matriarch’s murder in the Middle East. The 1988 film, with Peter Ustinov, captures the exotic locales and complex suspects. Its clever clues and Poirot’s sharp deductions lead to a satisfying killer reveal, delivering a suspenseful, faithful adaptation of Christie’s intricate plotting.
And Then There Were None – 1939 / 1945
Agatha Christie’s chilling novel isolates ten strangers on an island, killed off methodically. René Clair’s 1945 film retains the tense atmosphere and clever plotting. The suspense builds through layered clues, culminating in a shocking killer reveal via a written confession, making it a gripping, iconic whodunit adaptation.
Evil Under the Sun – 1941 / 1982
Agatha Christie’s novel places Hercule Poirot at a resort where a starlet is murdered. The 1982 film, with Peter Ustinov, shines with vibrant settings and witty dialogue. Its intricate motives and red herrings build to a classic Poirot reveal, showcasing the novel’s clever plotting in a delightful, suspenseful adaptation.
The Moving Finger – 1942 / 1985
Agatha Christie’s novel involves Miss Marple unraveling a village murder tied to poison-pen letters. The 1985 TV film, with Joan Hickson, captures the quaint setting and subtle clues. Hickson’s nuanced Marple shines, leading to a gripping killer reveal that highlights the book’s clever twists and small-town intrigue.
Towards Zero – 1944 / 2007
Agatha Christie’s novel builds to a coastal estate murder, solved by Miss Marple. The 2007 TV film, with Geraldine McEwan, captures the intricate timeline and motives. Its suspenseful pacing and layered suspects lead to a surprising killer reveal, reflecting Christie’s genius in crafting slow-burn, satisfying whodunits.
Crooked House – 1949 / 2017
Agatha Christie’s dark novel probes a patriarch’s poisoning in a twisted family. The 2017 film, with Max Irons, maintains the gothic atmosphere and complex motives. Its shocking killer reveal, driven by clever clues, delivers a chilling adaptation that captures the novel’s unsettling tone and unpredictable whodunit brilliance.
Green for Danger – 1944 / 1946
Christianna Brand’s novel sets a murder mystery in a wartime hospital, solved by Inspector Cockrill. The 1946 film, with Alastair Sim, blends dark humor and suspense. Its clever medical clues and tense reenacted operation scene unveil the killer, making it a standout for its sharp plotting and wartime atmosphere.
A Murder Is Announced – 1950 / 1985
Agatha Christie’s novel features Miss Marple solving a murder advertised in a newspaper. The 1985 TV film, with Joan Hickson, excels with its quaint village setting and intricate plot. Hickson’s sharp Marple unravels the killer in a tense climax, embodying the novel’s clever twists and suspenseful storytelling.
The Mirror Crack’d – 1962 / 1980
Agatha Christie’s novel follows Miss Marple probing a film-set murder with Hollywood intrigue. The 1980 film, with Angela Lansbury, blends glamour and mystery. Its layered clues and stellar cast lead to a poignant killer reveal, capturing the novel’s emotional depth and Christie’s knack for intricate, satisfying whodunits.
In the Heat of the Night – 1965 / 1967
John Ball’s novel pits detective Virgil Tibbs against a murder in a prejudiced town. The 1967 film, with Sidney Poitier, amplifies the racial tension and sharp investigation. Its gripping pacing and subtle clues culminate in a satisfying killer reveal, making it a socially charged, compelling whodunit adaptation.
The Name of the Rose – 1980 / 1986
Umberto Eco’s novel follows a monk solving abbey murders tied to a forbidden book. The 1986 film, with Sean Connery, captures the medieval intrigue and intellectual depth. Its atmospheric setting and complex clues lead to a gripping killer reveal, blending Eco’s dense narrative with cinematic suspense.
The Secret Window – 1990 / 2004
Stephen King’s novella, from Four Past Midnight, tracks a writer facing deadly accusations, unraveling a psychological mystery. The 2004 film, with Johnny Depp, enhances the eerie tone and suspense. Its clever twists and unreliable narrator hide the killer until a shocking final reveal, delivering a chilling, faithful adaptation of King’s mind-bending whodunit.
