Agatha Christie Reading Order: Poirot, Marple, and Where to Begin

Agatha Christie published 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections between 1920 and 1976. She created two of the most recognisable detectives in literary history. And she wrote several books so well-crafted that knowing the solution in advance changes the experience permanently.

Here’s how to approach her work.

The Two Series You Need to Know

Hercule Poirot — the Belgian detective with the “little grey cells.” Christie’s most famous creation, appearing in 33 novels and 50+ short stories. Poirot is fastidious, theatrical, and — crucially — always right.

Miss Marple — the amateur detective from the village of St. Mary Mead. Twelve novels, several short story collections. Underestimated constantly and devastatingly perceptive. The character Christie said she preferred personally.

Poirot: Where to Start

Start with The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) — it’s Poirot’s debut and Christie’s first published novel. It’s not her best, but it introduces the character correctly.

Alternatively, start with Murder on the Orient Express (1934) or Death on the Nile (1937) — the two most famous Poirot novels and both extraordinary, self-contained puzzles. Just know that starting here means going backwards; neither depends on prior knowledge.

Do not start with Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case — it was written during World War II and sealed in a bank vault for 30 years. It contains a twist that retroactively reframes the entire series. Only read it last.

The complete Hercule Poirot reading order is on the series page.

Miss Marple: Where to Start

Start with The Murder at the Vicarage (1930) — her debut novel. Follow with A Murder is Announced (1950), which many readers consider the best Marple novel.

The complete Miss Marple reading order is on the series page.

Do You Need to Read in Publication Order?

Mostly no. Christie’s detective novels are almost entirely standalone — each presents a self-contained mystery. There’s no ongoing plot, no developing relationships (beyond Poirot’s evolving friendship with Hastings, which matters most in the early books and in Curtain).

The exception: read Curtain last. This is non-negotiable. It’s Poirot’s final case and Christie designed it to be read at the end of his story.

The Books That Should Come With a Warning

Several Christie novels contain solutions so surprising that knowing them in advance reduces the experience significantly. The internet is full of spoilers for these — if you want the full Christie experience, avoid plot summaries for:

• The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926) — possibly the most famous plot twist in mystery fiction
• And Then There Were None (1939) — the best-selling mystery novel ever written
• Curtain (1975) — Poirot’s last case

Tommy and Tuppence

Don’t overlook the Tommy and Tuppence series — four novels and a short story collection following a married couple who solve mysteries together. The series spans their entire life from young adventurers to elderly sleuths. N or M? (1941) is their wartime adventure and perhaps the most fun Christie novel outside the Poirot and Marple books.

The Adaptations

Christie has been adapted more times than almost any other writer. David Suchet’s ITV Poirot (1989–2013) is the definitive screen version, following the full novel sequence and completing with Curtain. The BBC’s Miss Marple with Joan Hickson is similarly definitive. Both are worth watching alongside the books.