Browse the shelves digitally. Many of the early novels are available as inexpensive ebooks. Download a sample chapter from three different eras. Read the first few pages of each. Which writing style pulls you in immediately? Is it the precise, clue-laden description of a crime scene in 'The French Powder Mystery'? Or the more introspective, character-driven opening of 'Calamity Town'? Let your immediate prose preference decide. In the end, you have to enjoy the sentence-by-sentence reading experience above all.
Honestly, I think the radio shows are a better adaptation medium for Queen than film or TV were for a long time. The 'Ellery Queen' radio program from the 1940s had the authors themselves involved sometimes, and it focused on the intricate plotting and the 'puzzle for the audience' format that defines the books.
For filmed versions, as others said, the early movies are very loose. The 1975 TV series is the standout visual adaptation because it understood the assignment: it was a period piece about puzzles, not action. It felt like a love letter to the Golden Age of detective fiction. I don't think any specific novel adaptation ever truly nailed the complexity of the books like 'Calamity Town' or 'The Greek Coffin Mystery'. The films simplified everything for a 70-minute runtime.
It's the lack of melodrama that I appreciate. They don't have shouting matches or tearful reconciliations. Their affection is shown through action: sharing information, covering for each other, making sure the other eats, debating a clue's significance. It's a very masculine, early-to-mid-20th-century depiction of love, expressed through shared duty and intellectual respect. That consistency is across nearly all the novels, so you can't go too wrong.
As a lifelong mystery enthusiast, Agatha Christie's works have always been my go-to for intricate plots and unforgettable characters. 'And Then There Were None' is a masterpiece of suspense, where ten strangers are lured to an island and picked off one by one—utterly chilling and impossible to put down. Another favorite is 'Murder on the Orient Express,' where Hercule Poirot solves a murder aboard a stranded train with a twist that still shocks readers today.
For those who love a classic whodunit, 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' redefined the genre with its groundbreaking narrative twist. 'Death on the Nile' combines exotic settings with a tightly woven mystery, perfect for fans of atmospheric crime stories. Christie’s ability to craft puzzles that keep you guessing until the last page is unmatched, making these books essential reads for any mystery lover.
Maybe the question is backwards. Instead of the 'best' to start with, consider which one not to start with. I'd avoid 'The Bounty Hunters' or 'The Law at Randado'—his very early Westerns. While they're good, they're not fully formed Leonard. His voice wasn't quite there yet. Also, maybe skip 'Djibouti' or 'Raylan' (his last novels) as first choices, as they can feel a bit thinner compared to his peak work.
Start in the sweet spot, from the late 70s through the 90s. That's where you'll find the untouchable run of classics that define his legacy.