Agatha Christie Books in Order with Summaries

Below is the comprehensive list of Agatha Christie books in orderarranged by first publication. Note: Some stories are part of Short Story Collections (SSC)and some were written under her pseudonym Mary Westmacott (MW).)

Agatha Christie Books in Order from 1920-1929: The Early Years

• 1920: The Mysterious Affair at Styles
  Debut novel introducing Hercule Poirot. Set in a stately manor amid World War Iit’s a masterclass in deception and deduction.
• 1922: The Secret Adversary
  An espionage thriller featuring Tommy and Tuppence as they unravel a dangerous plot in post-WWI England.
• 1923: Murder on the Links
  Poirot’s second casewhere a murder on a French golf course unveils secrets behind a tragic family history.
• 1924: The Man in the Brown Suit
  A standalone adventure following Anne Beddingfield on a journey of mystery and international intrigue.
• 1924: Poirot Investigates (SSC)
  A collection of short cases showcasing Poirot’s unique deductive skills in various puzzling scenarios.
• 1925: The Secret of Chimneys
  A captivating tale of political intriguehidden identitiesand murder at the stately Chimneys estate.
• 1926: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
  One of Christie’s most famous worksfamous for its innovative twist and brilliant construction.
• 1927: The Big Four
  Poirot faces an international criminal conspiracy that challenges his detective prowess.
• 1928: The Mystery of the Blue Train
  A glamorous murder mystery on a luxurious trainbrimming with intrigue and red herrings.
• 1929: The Seven Dials Mystery
  An adventure set in an English manorwhere a group of friends must thwart a sinister plot.
• 1929: Partners in Crime (SSC)
  Tommy and Tuppence tackle cases under the guise of the “International Detective Agency.”

Agatha Christie Books in Order from 1930-1939: Establishing a Legacy

• 1930: Giant’s Bread (MW)
  A departure from her mystery genreexploring themes of survival and human resilience.
• 1930: The Mysterious Mr Quin (SSC)
  Short stories featuring the enigmatic Mr. Quinwho brings an otherworldly element to mystery.
• 1930: The Murder at the Vicarage
  The first appearance of Miss Marple in a quaint village mystery filled with subtle clues and character insights.
• 1931: The Sittaford Mystery
  A gripping tale of a murder announced by a spirit during a séancechallenging traditional detective norms.
• 1932: Peril at End House
  Poirot unravels a series of “accidents” that turn out to be premeditated attempts on a young woman’s life.
• 1932: The Thirteen Problems (SSC)
  Miss Marple short stories that reveal her uncanny ability to deduce hidden truths.
• 1933: Lord Edgware Dies
  A seemingly straightforward case of murder turns into a web of deceit and red herrings.
• 1933: The Hound of Death (SSC)
  Short stories blending mystery with supernatural elementsshowcasing Christie’s versatility.
• 1934: Murder on the Orient Express
  A classic in which Poirot’s brilliance shines as he unravels a murder on a snow-bound train.
• 1934: Unfinished Portrait (MW)
  A personalintrospective work exploring romance and inner turmoil under a pseudonym.
• 1934: The Listerdale Mystery (SSC)
  A collection of mysteries highlighting ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
• 1934: Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?
  A thrilling quest sparked by a mysterious final wordblending suspense with witty dialogue.
• 1934: Parker Pyne Investigates (SSC)
  Short stories featuring Parker Pynea “heart specialist” solving a variety of intriguing cases.
• 1934: Three-Act Tragedy
  A dramatic murder mystery where a death at a cocktail party sets off a series of unexpected twists.
• 1935: Death in the Clouds
  Poirot faces a baffling murder mid-flightunraveling clues that defy expectations.
• 1936: The ABC Murders
  A serial killer’s cryptic challenge forces Poirot to solve murders occurring in alphabetical order.
• 1936: Murder in Mesopotamia
  A gripping case set on an archaeological expeditionwhere cultural clashes and personal vendettas intertwine.
• 1936: Cards on the Table
  A murder at a bridge game forces Poirot to navigate a maze of motives among a small group of players.
• 1937: Dumb Witness
  A wealthy woman’s mysterious death and the ensuing investigation that reveals family secrets.
• 1937: Death on the Nile
  A honeymoon cruise turns deadly as jealousy and deceit unfold on the majestic Nile River.
• 1937: Murder in the Mews (NC)
  A novella that transforms a seemingly self-inflicted death into a cleverly orchestrated murder.
• 1938: Appointment with Death
  Poirot’s investigation into the murder of a controversial matriarch in the ancient city of Petra.
• 1938: Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
  A festive yet suspenseful mystery that unravels dark family secrets during the holiday season.
• 1939: Murder is Easy
  A small-town mystery where apparent natural deaths hide a sinister plotshowcasing Christie’s ingenuity.
• 1939: And Then There Were None
  Ten strangersone isolated islandand a death list dictated by a nursery rhyme—arguably Christie’s masterpiece.
• 1939: The Regatta Mystery (SSC)
  Short stories that blend charm with mysteryfeaturing a mix of familiar and new characters.

Agatha Christie Books in Order from 1940-1949: Expanding the Universe

• 1940: Sad Cypress
  A courtroom drama in which Poirot must solve a murder involving a young woman with a tragic past.
• 1940: OneTwoBuckle My Shoe
  A seemingly straightforward case turns complex as hidden conspiracies emerge in a small English town.
• 1941: Evil Under the Sun
  Set on an isolated island resortthis mystery sees Poirot uncovering motives behind a murder of a seemingly despised woman.
• 1941: N or M?
  Tommy and Tuppence Beresford embark on a secret mission during WWIIblending espionage with mystery.
• 1942: The Body in the Library
  Miss Marple returns in a classic whodunit where a young woman’s body in a library raises countless questions.
• 1942: Five Little Pigs
  Poirot revisits a cold case from sixteen years earlierpiecing together fragmented memories to reveal the truth.
• 1942: The Moving Finger
  A series of poison pen letters lead Miss Marple to uncover a sinister plot in a seemingly tranquil village.
• 1944: Towards Zero
  A suspenseful standalone novel set in a seaside resort where each character’s secret slowly unravels.
• 1944: Absent in the Spring (MW)
  A departure under the pseudonym Mary Westmacottexploring themes of lossintrospectionand self-deception.
• 1944: Death Comes as the End
  Set in ancient Egyptthis historical mystery combines family drama with Christie’s signature suspense.
• 1945: Sparking Cyanide
  A murder at a dinner party unfolds into a complex web of deceit and hidden motives.
• 1946: The Hollow
  A murder at a country house forces Poirot to untangle the intricate relationships and secrets of the guests.
• 1947: The Labours of Hercules (SSC)
  Poirot tackles twelve cases inspired by the mythological labors of Hercules in this engaging short story collection.
• 1948: Taken at the Flood
  A murder in post-war England exposes dark family secrets and greedwith Poirot at the helm of the investigation.
• 1948: Witness for the Prosecution (SSC)
  A riveting short story that transitions into a celebrated courtroom dramarich with Christie’s trademark twists.
• 1948: The Rose and the Yew Tree (MW)
  A novel under Mary Westmacott exploring love and ambition in a small town—a departure from her typical mystery genre.
• 1949: Crooked House
  A standalone novel that examines a suspicious death within a seemingly perfect familyrevealing a tangle of secrets.

Agatha Christie Books in Order from 1950-1976: The Later Works

• 1950: A Murder is Announced
  Miss Marple tackles a case forewarned by a local newspaperunraveling clues that reveal a shocking truth.
• 1950: Three Blind Mice (SSC)
  The short story that inspired the world-famous play, The Mousetrapinvolving strangers trapped in a boarding house.
• 1951: They Came to Baghdad
  A standalone adventure blending mystery with international intrigueset against the backdrop of the Middle East.
• 1951: The Under Dog (SSC)
  A collection that showcases Poirot’s brilliance in solving seemingly unsolvable cases.
• 1952: Mrs McGinty’s Dead
  A perplexing murder in a small village sets the stage for Poirot’s intricate investigation.
• 1952: They Do It with Mirrors
  Miss Marple unravels a mystery set in a rehabilitation homewhere clues defy expectations.
• 1952: A Daughter’s A Daughter (MW)
  A Mary Westmacott novel exploring the complex dynamics of mother-daughter relationships.
• 1953: After the Funeral
  A murder following a wealthy man’s funeral unveils hidden family secrets in this gripping case.
• 1953: A Pocket Full of Rye
  Miss Marple deciphers a mystery where clues eerily align with a popular nursery rhyme.
• 1954: Destination Unknown
  A standalone espionage thriller that mixes mystery with international adventure.
• 1955: Hickory Dickory Dock
  Poirot is drawn into a web of theft and murder in a student hostelwith twists that will surprise you.
• 1956: Dead Man’s Folly
  A summer fête murder hunt game turns deadlyshowcasing Poirot’s keen detective skills in a playful setting.
• 1956: The Burden (MW)
  A Mary Westmacott novel exploring the deep bonds and burdens between two sisters.
• 1957: 4.50 from Paddington
  Miss Marple investigates a murder she glimpses from a train window in this atmospheric mystery.
• 1958: Ordeal by Innocence
  A standalone tale of wrongful accusation that forces characters to confront painful truths from their past.
• 1959: Cat Among the Pigeons
  A Poirot mystery set in a girls’ school that intertwines international espionage with local intrigue.
• 1960: The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (SSC)
  Festive short stories featuring Poirot solving mysteries during the holiday season.
• 1961: The Pale Horse
  A standalone novel that blends mystery with supernatural elements and eerie hints of witchcraft.
• 1961: Double Sin (SSC)
  A collection where both Poirot and Miss Marple join forces to solve particularly complex cases.
• 1962: The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side
  Miss Marple investigates a murder intertwined with a tragic Hollywood scandal at a local fête.
• 1963: The Clocks
  Poirot pieces together a puzzling case involving a series of seemingly unrelated clocks found at a murder scene.
• 1964: A Caribbean Mystery
  Miss Marple on holiday uncovers a murder in paradiseproving that even in idyllic settingscrime lurks beneath the surface.
• 1965: Star Over Bethlehem (SSC)
  A collection of Christmas-themed stories and poems that celebrate the festive spirit with a twist of mystery.
• 1965: At Bertram’s Hotel
  Miss Marple navigates a labyrinth of deception in a luxurious London hoteluncovering hidden truths beneath a veneer of elegance.
• 1966: Third Girl
  Poirot assists a young woman who suspects she might have committed a murderdelving deep into the psychology of guilt and self-doubt.
• 1967: Endless Night
  A psychological thriller that explores loveobsessionand the inevitability of fate in a haunting narrative.
• 1968: By the Pricking of My Thumbs
  Tommy and Tuppence Beresford uncover a chilling mystery in a haunted houseblending supernatural hints with classic suspense.
• 1969: Hallowe’en Party
  A festivemacabre mystery unfolds at a Halloween partywhere Poirot unearths dark secrets beneath the celebrations.
• 1970: Passenger to Frankfurt
  A standalone novel involving a passport mix-up that plunges its protagonist into an international conspiracy.
• 1971: Nemesis
  Miss Marple faces one of her most challenging casesunraveling a mystery left unresolved by a late millionaire’s death.
• 1971: The Golden Ball (SSC)
  A short story collection exploring themes ranging from romance to the supernaturalshowcasing Christie’s narrative range.
• 1972: Elephants Can Remember
  Poirot revisits a cold case involving a mysterious double suicideexploring the long shadows of memory and loss.
• 1973: Postern of Fate
  Tommy and Tuppence solve a mystery sparked by a cryptic message found in an old booklinking the past with the present.
• 1974: Poirot’s Early Cases (SSC)
  A collection featuring some of Poirot’s first caseshighlighting the early development of his iconic deductive methods.
• 1975: Curtain
  Poirot’s final case—a poignantmasterfully constructed mystery that brings his remarkable journey full circle.
• 1976: Sleeping Murder
  Miss Marple investigates a cold case that resurfaces with disturbing claritymerging past secrets with present dangers.

Agatha Christie Books in Order Post-1976: The Posthumous Publications and Collections

• 1979: Miss Marple’s Final Cases (SSC)
  A collection marking the end of Miss Marple’s illustrious career as an amateur detective.
• 1991: Problem at Pollensa Bay (SSC)
  Short stories featuring mysteries in exotic localesshowcasing Christie’s enduring creativity.
• 1997: The Harlequin Tea Set (SSC)
  A collection of short stories that blend the peculiar with the paranormalhighlighting Christie’s ability to surprise readers.
• 1997: While the Light Lasts (SSC)
  Early short stories that reveal the embryonic stages of Christie’s mastery in crafting compelling mysteries.
• 2013: Hercule Poirot and the Greenshore Folly
  A novella where Poirot tackles a chilling murder mysteryunderscoring the timeless appeal of his deductive skills.
• 2019: The Last Seance (SSC)
  A collection exploring supernatural elements alongside classic detective workoffering a fresh twist on Christie’s .
• 2020: Midwinter Murder (SSC)
  Winter-themed mysteries that captivate with atmospheric tension and clever plotting.
• 2021: Midsummer Mysteries (SSC)
  A collection of summer-set short stories that continue to engage readers with Christie’s signature suspense.
• 2022: A Deadly Affair (SSC)
  Gripping narratives of fatal love affairs and high-stakes intrigueshowcasing the dynamic range of Christie’s storytelling.

Reading Agatha Christie by Detective

While the full timeline above is helpfulmany readers prefer to follow her famous detectives. For dedicated breakdownsI’ve created full companion guides you can explore:

• Hercule Poirot Books in Order – Christie’s meticulous Belgian detective in all his brilliance.
• Miss Marple Books in Order – the sharp-eyed spinster who proves village gossip solves more than small talk.
• Tommy & Tuppence Books in Order – Christie’s lively duo who grow and age across their adventures.

Standalone Novels Worth Prioritizing

Not every Christie story belongs to a seriesand some of her very best work stands alone. I’ve highlighted my personal picks herebut I’ve also created a full list in a separate guide.

• And Then There Were None – the closed-circle mystery to end all mysteries.
• Death Comes as the End – ancient Egypt plus family intrigue.
• Endless Night – a gothic psychological tale with a devastating twist.
• The Pale Horse – chillingmodernwith a touch of the supernatural.
• Crooked House – one of Christie’s darkest and most shocking conclusions.

FAQs About Reading Agatha Christie

What’s the best first Agatha Christie book?
It depends on what you’re after: And Then There Were None for pure suspenseMurder on the Orient Express for classic Poirotor The Murder at the Vicarage for Miss Marple.

Do I need to read her books in order?
Not necessarily. You can read them in publication orderby detectiveor simply dip into the ones that intrigue you most.

What’s the difference between Poirot and Miss Marple?
Poirot stories are puzzle-box mysteriesoften set internationally. Miss Marple stories are rooted in human psychology and English village life.

Are the Mary Westmacott novels mysteries?
No. They’re Christie’s more introspective novels under a pseudonymoften about love and relationships.

Keep Reading About Agatha Christie

If you’d like to keep goinghere are some other guides you’ll enjoy:

• The 5 Best Agatha Christie Books Every Mystery Fan Should Read
• Beginner’s Guide to Agatha Christie: Your Ultimate Starting Point
• Agatha Christie Miss Marple Books in Order: The Ultimate List
• Why And Then There Were None Is Christie’s Best Mystery
• Murder on the Orient Express: A Deep Dive into Christie’s Masterpiece
• The Mousetrap: Agatha Christie’s Legendary Play and Its Enduring Appeal
• 15 Modern Authors Like Agatha Christie (And the Exact Book to Start With)

Final Thoughts

My hope is that this guide makes Christie’s enormous body of work feel approachable and exciting rather than overwhelming. Whether you plan to read everything in publication orderstick to Poirotor sample a few standalonesthere’s a Christie for every mood.