Ode to The Queen of Mystery: Agatha Christie - With a Complete Book List (In Chronological Order!)

glasses-book-education-1052010-768x576 Ode to 'The Queen of Mystery': Agatha Christie

Detective Stories That Are Still as Popular as Ever!

Anyone who knows me well, knows that my love of British literature runs deep, and even deeper with British female authors. My obsession with the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen is widely known, and it is understood that no one ever speaks against Mr. Rochester, Mr. Darcy, or Colonel Brandon in my presence. But, if I think back to my early teen years, the first female writer that I admired wrote detective stories. Can we hear it from the cheap seats for the QUEEN of mystery, AGATHA CHRISTIE?!

Celebrating over 100 years of detectives Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple

In her long career, Christie wrote 66 detective novels (listed later in this post) and 14 short story collections (and we are STILL reading them!), some of which were published over 100 years ago! 

Like I said earlier, mysteries like And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express were on my nightstand at a pretty young age. Throughout my life, I have cleared my calendar Sunday nights for Masterpiece Theatre TV versions of her notable works, as my Irish parents and grandparents did before me. The twists and turns in Christie’s mysteries always have me guessing until the very end. 

But, it was not until recent years that I began to look at the woman herself. Agatha Christie lived a fascinating life!

letter-handwriting-ink-761653-768x512 Ode to 'The Queen of Mystery': Agatha Christie

Here are some fun (some not so fun) facts about Agatha Christie’s life:

  • Christie’s first detective story, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, was born from a bet with her sister.
  • She wrote six semi-autobiographical books under the pseudonym of Mary Westmacott; her real identity stayed a secret from the public for twenty years.
  • After finding out that her first husband was having an affair, Christie mysteriously disappeared. She was found, checked into a hotel under the name of her husband’s mistress. She appeared to be suffering from amnesia. 
  • During the first World War, Christie trained as an apothecary’s assistant, giving her intimate first hand knowledge of various poisons, which she used in her novels for decades. More on that here.
  • When Hercule Poirot’s character died, the New York Times printed a full page obituary, found here.

Agatha Christie is one of the most well-known and beloved mystery writers in the world. Born in 1890 in Torquay, England, Christie began writing at a young age and published her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, in 1920.

Over the course of her career, Christie wrote more than 70 detective novels and over 150 short stories, featuring iconic characters like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

Her works have been translated into over 100 languages and have sold over two billion copies, making her one of the best-selling authors of all time.

In addition to her writing, Christie was also a playwright and created several successful stage adaptations of her novels. One of her most famous works, The Mousetrap, has been running continuously in London’s West End since 1952 and is the longest-running play in history.

One of the most well-known scandals involving Christie was her sudden disappearance in 1926. On December 3 of that year, Christie left her home in Berkshire and was not seen for 11 days. Her car was later found abandoned near a lake, and a massive search was launched to find her. She was eventually discovered at a hotel in Harrogate, Yorkshire, suffering from amnesia and unable to remember anything about the previous two weeks. The incident caused widespread media attention and speculation, with many speculating that Christie had fled to escape her unhappy marriage or was suffering from mental illness.

Another scandal in Christie’s personal life was her affair with the archaeologist Max Mallowan. Mallowan was married when he and Christie first met, and the two began a relationship while he was still married.  Despite the scandal, Mallowan and Christie eventually married in 1930 and remained together until Christie’s death in 1976.

In addition to these personal scandals, Christie’s works were also the subject of controversy on occasion. Some critics accused her of promoting outdated and stereotypical gender roles in her works, and her portrayal of racial and ethnic minorities was also called into question.

Despite these scandals, Christie’s reputation as a talented and successful author has remained largely untarnished. Her works continue to be popular and widely read, and she is often referred to as the “Queen of Crime.”

Can you see why I am so fascinated by Agatha Christie? For more information, and to see where I learned the fun facts above, check out this site: The Home of Agatha Christie 

How to Teach Christie's Mysteries

I have recently begun teaching a mystery unit focused on Christie’s novels! 

I start by introducing the author and her works, a brief overview of Christie’s life and career, and providing some context.

As students read, I ask them questions about the plot, characters, and themes of the novel. I encourage them to make predictions and try to solve the mystery along with the detective.

I live for class discussions and debate. Christie’s novels often raise interesting themes and issues, so I press students to share their thoughts and opinions.

I am currently working on creating a project that will allow students to explore different aspects of the novels in more depth. This will be in the form of an investigation of a crime – complete with evidence logs, pinboards, etc. My students will LOVE this!

Marple: 12 New Mysteries - New Miss Marple Mysteries From Contemporary Famous Writers!

Marple Ode to 'The Queen of Mystery': Agatha Christie

This beautiful book is currently sitting on my bedside table, waiting to be read, so I cannot personally recommend it. However,  with this list of amazing female authors, I have all the faith that it will be a worthwhile read. I personally cannot wait to spend more time in St. Mary Mead. Purchase your copy of Marple: 12 New Mysteries right now!

New Historical Fiction about Agatha Christie's Life!

the-christie-affair-198x300 Ode to 'The Queen of Mystery': Agatha Christie

 I just finished reading a historical fiction novel called The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont, based on Agatha’s Christie’s disappearance and told from the perspective of her HUSBAND’S MISTRESS! It was a fun read. Unfortunately, the sex scenes might be a little too graphic for me to recommend this to my students, but it is perfect for any adults who are interested in the life of Agatha Christie. Purchase your copy here so we can talk about it!

Highly recommended: The Agatha Three Part series on PBS

My husband and I binged these episodes. They span decades and each includes a little mystery of its own, while telling us about the woman behind the pen. 

Check out the linked previews below:

 – PBS: Agatha and the Truth of Murder

* PBS: Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar

~ PBS: Agatha and the Midnight Murders

Here is the trailer for the Miss Marple series on Acorn or BBC:

a chronological list of Agatha Christie’s novels

Poirot and Marple mysteries have been noted. They do not need to be read in order. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.

1920s

1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles – 1920 – POIROT – Amazon

2. The Secret Adversary – 1922 – Amazon

3. Murder on the Links – 1923 – POIROT – Amazon

4. The Man in the Brown Suit – 1924 – Amazon

5. The Secret of Chimneys – 1925 – Amazon

*This is one of my favorites!

6. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd – 1925 – POIROT – Amazon

*See here for my post on using The Murder of Roger Ackroyd  in the English classroom!*

7. The Big Four – 1927 – POIROT – Amazon

8. The Mystery of the Blue Train – 1928 – POIROT – Amazon

9. – The Seven Dials Mystery – 1929 – Amazon 

*Another favorite!

1930s

10. The Murder at the Vicarage – 1930 – MARPLE – Amazon

11. The Sittaford Mystery – 1931 – Amazon

12. Peril at End House – 1932 – POIROT – Amazon

13. Lord Edgware Dies – 1933 – POIROT – Amazon

14. Murder on the Orient Express – 1934 – POIROT – Amazon

15. Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? – 1935 – Amazon

16. Three Act Tragedy – 1935 – POIROT – Amazon

17. Death in the Clouds – 1935 – POIROT – Amazon

18. The A.B.C. Murders – 1936 – POIROT – Amazon

19. Murder in Mesopotamia – 1936 – POIROT – Amazon

20. Cards on the Table – 1936 – POIROT – Amazon

21. Death on the Nile – 1937 – POIROT – Amazon

22. Dumb Witness – 1937 – POIROT – Amazon

23. Appointment with Death – 1938 – POIROT – Amazon

24. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas – 1938 – POIROT – Amazon

25. And Then There Were None – 1939 – Amazon 

1940s

26. Sad Cypress – 1940 – POIROT – Amazon

27. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe -1940 – POIROT – Amazon

28. Evil Under the Sun – 1941 – POIROT – Amazon

29. N or M? – 1941 – Amazon

30. The Body in the Library – 1942 – MARPLE – Amazon

31. Five Little Pigs – 1942 – POIROT – Amazon

32. The Moving Finger – 1942 – MARPLE – Amazon

33. Towards Zero – 1944 – Amazon

34. Death Comes as the End – 1944 – Amazon

35. Sparkling Cyanide – 1945 – Amazon

36. The Hollow – 1946 – POIROT – Amazon

37. Taken at the Flood – 1948 – POIROT – Amazon

38. Crooked House – 1949 – Amazon 

1950s

39. A Murder is Announced – 1950 – MARPLE – Amazon

40. They Came to Baghdad – 1951 – Amazon

41. Mrs. McGinty’s Dead – 1952 – POIROT – Amazon

42. They Do It with Mirrors – 1952 – MARPLE – Amazon

43. A Pocket Full of Rye – 1953 – MARPLE – Amazon

44. After the Funeral -1953 – POIROT – Amazon

45. Destination Unknown – 1954 – Amazon

46. Hickory, Dickory, Dock – 1955 – POIROT – Amazon

47. Dead Man’s Folly – 1956 – POIROT – Amazon

48. 4.50 From Paddington – 1957 – MARPLE – Amazon

49. Ordeal by Innocence – 1958 – Amazon

50. Cat Among the Pigeons – 1959 – POIROT – Amazon 

1960s

51. The Pale Horse – 1961 – Amazon

52. The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side – 1962 – MARPLE – Amazon 

53. The Clocks – 1963 – POIROT – Amazon

54. A Caribbean Mystery – 1964 – MARPLE – Amazon

55. At Bertram’s Hotel – 1965 – MARPLE – Amazon

56. Third Girl – 1966 – POIROT – Amazon

57. Endless Night – 1967 – Amazon

58. By the Pricking of My Thumbs – 1968 – Amazon

59. Hallowe’en Party – 1969 – POIROT – Amazon

1970s

60. Passenger to Frankfurt – 1970 – Amazon

61. Nemesis – 1971 – MARPLE – Amazon

62. Elephants Can Remember – 1972 – POIROT – Amazon

63. Postern of Fate – 1973 – Amazon

64. Curtain – 1975 – POIROT – Amazon

65. Sleeping Murder – 1976 – MARPLE – Amazon

Detective Hercule Poirot Books In Order

The Mysterious Affair at Styles – 1920 – Amazon

Murder on the Links – 1923 – Amazon

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd – 1925  – Amazon

-The Big Four – 1927 – Amazon

Mystery of the Blue Train – 1928 – Amazon

Peril at End House – 1932 – Amazon

Lord Edgware Dies – 1933 – Amazon

Murder on the Orient Express – 1934 – Amazon

Three Act Tragedy – 1935 – Amazon

Death in the Clouds – 1935 – Amazon

The A.B.C. Murders – 1936 – Amazon

Murder in Mesopotamia – 1936 – Amazon

Cards on the Table – 1936 – Amazon

Death on the Nile – 1937 – Amazon

Dumb Witness – 1937 – Amazon

Appointment with Death – 1938 – Amazon

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas – 1938 – Amazon

Sad Cypress – 1940 – Amazon

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe -1940 – Amazon

Evil Under the Sun – 1941 – Amazon

Five Little Pigs – 1942 – Amazon

The Hollow – 1946 – Amazon

Taken at the Flood – 1948 – Amazon

Mrs. McGinty’s Dead – 1952 – Amazon

After the Funeral -1953 – Amazon

Hickory, Dickory, Dock – 1955 – Amazon

Dead Man’s Folly – 1956 – Amazon

Cat Among the Pigeons – 1959 – Amazon

The Clocks – 1963 – Amazon

Third Girl – 1966 – Amazon

Hallowe’en Party – 1969 – Amazon

Elephants Can Remember – 1972 – Amazon

Curtain – 1975 – Amazon

Hercule Poirot Short Story Collections in Order

Poirot Investigates – 1924 – Amazon

Murder in the Mews – 1937 

The Labours of Hercules – 1947 – Amazon

Poirot’s Early Cases – 1974 – Amazon

Detective Miss Marple Books In Order

Murder at the Vicarage – 1930 – Amazon

-The Body in the Library – 1942 – Amazon

The Moving Finger – 1942 – Amazon

A Murder is Announced – 1950 – Amazon

They Do It with Mirrors – 1952 – Amazon

A Pocket Full of Rye – 1953 – Amazon

4.50 From Paddington – 1957 – Amazon

The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side – 1962 – Amazon

A Caribbean Mystery – 1964 – Amazon

At Bertram’s Hotel – 1965 – Amazon

Nemesis – 1971 – Amazon

Sleeping Murder – 1976 – Amazon

Miss Marple Short Story Collections In Order

The Thirteen Problems – 1932 – Amazon

13 Clues for Miss Marple – 1966

Miss Marple’s Final Cases – 1979 – Amazon

*Love this one!

-Miss Marple: The Complete Stories – 1985 – Amazon

Miss Marple Short Stories – 2005

Books Written Under the Pseudonym Mary Westmacott:

Giant’s Bread – 1930 – Amazon

Unfinished Portrait – 1934 – Amazon

Absent in the Spring – 1944 – Amazon

The Rose and the Yew Tree – 1947 – Amazon

A Daughter’s a Daughter – 1952

The Burden – 1956 – Amazon

village-houses-street-3735180-768x512 Ode to 'The Queen of Mystery': Agatha Christie

If you enjoyed this post, please check out my other book recommendations on my blog: The Lit Lady!

Check out the lesson planning template that I use for creating and organizing my lessons here!

I Hope You Enjoyed this Chronological List of Agatha Christie's Detective Novels!