Agatha Christie certainly created a character that is instantly recognisable, even if you’ve never opened a Hercule Poirot book: a neat moustache, an immaculate suit and a deep faith in the “little grey cells”.
But with decades of mysteries, first-time readers can be confused about where to start. The most obvious answer is “at the beginning” with The Mysterious Affair at Styles. It introduces Poirot and Captain Hastings and shows how Agatha Christie builds a mystery from ordinary conversations. From there, you can work through the novels in publication order, or pick a case that catches your eye.
Table of Contents
Who is Hercule Poirot?
Poirot is a former Belgian police officer who arrives in England as a refugee during World War I. He is courteous, particular about order and quite aware of his own brilliance. While his friend, Captain Arthur Hastings, often wants to chase a suspect, Poirot would rather ask why someone said exactly what they said at dinner.
His focus on behaviour is where the pleasure in reading these books lies. People lie to protect a lover, preserve a reputation or conceal a tiny embarrassment. Poirot listens until he can tell those motives apart from murder. Christie places him among wealthy families, holidaymakers, archaeologists, schoolgirls and fellow passengers, but the real aim is to place him amongst human nature.
Should you read Poirot in publication order?
Reading in publication order is rewarding because you can see Agatha Christie experiment over time. The early books establish Poirot and Hastings; the 1930s bring some of the most celebrated set pieces; and later novels focus more on old memories and a changing society. You will also recognise returning figures such as Ariadne Oliver when they reappear.
The Poirot books are usually self-contained mysteries, so if someone hands you a copy of Death on the Nile, there’s no reason you cannot enjoy it without reading the others.
If you don’t want to read the full list of books, or aren’t ready to commit to reading 33 books in order, read The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and then whichever story appeals to you next – a train, a Nile cruise, a village secret or an old murder. After you’ve read the novels, move on to the short stories and Sophie Hannah’s continuation novels.
Hercule Poirot books in order
Below are the 33 Agatha Christie novels in publication order.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920)
Written during the First World War and published in 1920, The Mysterious Affair at Styles introduces Hercule Poirot, Arthur Hastings and Inspector Japp. While Hastings is staying at Styles Court on leave from the Western Front, its owner, Emily Inglethorp, is poisoned. Hastings turns to his friend Poirot to investigate.
The Murder on the Links (1923)
Poirot and Hastings travel to Merlinville-sur-Mer after Paul Renauld asks for their help, but arrive too late: he has been found stabbed in a shallow grave beside a golf course. As Poirot investigates, he uncovers striking similarities to a case from 22 years earlier involving Renauld’s neighbour.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926)
When wealthy Roger Ackroyd is murdered in his study, the quiet village of King’s Abbot becomes a tangle of secrets and suspicion. Retired detective Hercule Poirot is persuaded to investigate, with the local doctor recounting the case. As Poirot questions the household, every clue seems to point in a new direction.
The Big Four (1927)
Poirot encounters a man covered from head to foot in dust in the doorway to his bedroom. He sways, then falls. No one knows who he is, where he is from, whether he is in shock or just exhausted, or what the significance of the number four is, scribbled over and over again on a sheet of paper.
The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928)
A wealthy American heiress is murdered aboard the luxurious Blue Train as it travels through France. Poirot joins the investigation, questioning fellow passengers and piecing together their secrets to discover who had a reason to kill her.
Peril at End House (1932)
While holidaying on the Cornish Riviera, Poirot meets Nick Buckley, who has survived several apparent accidents. Her car breaks failing on a treacherous Cornish hillside, a falling boulder missing her by mere inches on a coastal path, and an oil painting falling on her bed, almost crushing her. When he spots a bullet hole in her hat, he realises someone is trying to kill her. Can he identify the culprit before they try again?
Lord Edgware Dies (1933)
Lord Edgware has been found murdered, and the police are baffled. His estranged actress wife was spotted visiting him just before his death, and Poirot had heard her bragging of a plan to get rid of him, but she has an ironclad alibi. Poirot, alongside Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp, unravel a complex web of impersonations and false leads involving American impressionist Carlotta Adams
Murder on the Orient Express (1934)
Poirot secures a berth on the unexpectedly full Orient Express with help from his friend Bouc, director of the luxury train company Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. On board are a shady American businessman named Ratchett, his secretary and translator Hector MacQueen, and Ratchett’s English valet Edward Masterman. Overnight, a snowdrift stops the train, and Ratchett is found stabbed to death in a compartment locked from the inside. With the killer still aboard, Poirot begins his investigation.
Three-Act Tragedy (1934)
When a guest dies after sipping a cocktail at Sir Charles Cartwright’s dinner party, no poison is found in his glass. Months later, another guest dies under similarly puzzling circumstances. With many of the same people present at both gatherings, Cartwright and his friends turn to Poirot for help.
Death in the Clouds (1935)
On a flight from Paris to London, Poirot observes his fellow passengers but misses the most important detail: a woman seated behind him has been murdered. With the killer seemingly among those on board, Poirot must work out how the crime happened under everyone’s noses, including his own.
The ABC Murders (1936)
A killer is targeting victims in alphabetical order, leaving an ABC railway guide beside each body. The murders begin in Andover, Bexhill and Churston, while taunting letters challenge Poirot to stop the next one. But what connects the victims, and why has the killer drawn Poirot into the case?
Murder in Mesopotamia (1936)
Amy Leatheram arrives at an archaeological dig in the Iraqi desert to care for an archaeologist’s wife, whose strange visions and growing fear unsettle the camp. When murder follows, Poirot has just one clue, a spot of blood, to help him uncover the truth behind the woman’s terror.
Cards on the Table (1936)
At a dinner party, Mr Shaitana brings together four crime experts and four guests he believes have committed murder. After taunting his guests, Shaitana is stabbed with a weapon from his own collection while the others play bridge. Poirot studies the bridge scores, looking for clues to the killer’s personality.
Dumb Witness (1937)
When Emily Arundell falls down the stairs, everyone blames a rubber ball left by her terrier. Emily suspects someone in her family meant to kill her. She writes to Poirot on 17 April, but her letter does not reach him until 28 June. By then, Emily is dead.
Death on the Nile (1937)
A luxurious Nile cruise turns deadly when Linnet Ridgeway is found shot in the head. Young, beautiful and wealthy, she seemed to have everything, including an enemy among her fellow passengers. Poirot remembers hearing a chilling threat against her, but finding the killer will take more than identifying who made it.
Appointment with Death (1938)
Among the towering red cliffs of Petra, Mrs Boynton is found dead with a tiny puncture mark on her wrist. Poirot has just 24 hours to uncover who injected her with a fatal dose, and a chance remark he overheard in Jerusalem may be the clue that leads him to the killer.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (1938)
On Christmas Eve, a scream and the crash of furniture interrupt the Lee family reunion. Simeon Lee is found with his throat slashed, but grief is in short supply. As suspicion spreads through the house, Poirot discovers that nearly everyone had a reason to want the tyrannical patriarch dead.
Sad Cypress (1940)
Elinor Carlisle stands accused of poisoning her romantic rival Mary Gerrard. The evidence seems overwhelming, with even Elinor struggling to explain her actions. As her trial approaches, Poirot looks beyond the obvious motive to find out what really happened and whether an innocent woman is about to be condemned.
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (1940)
Poirot’s visit to the dentist takes a sinister turn when the man is found dead later that day, apparently by suicide. Then another patient dies from a lethal dose of anaesthetic. Poirot doubts the obvious explanation, and a small clue, a shoe buckle, may help him unravel what happened.
Evil Under the Sun (1941)
Arlena Stuart is used to attracting attention on the beach, but one afternoon she is found strangled in a secluded cove. Tensions run high among the holidaymakers, and several have reason to resent her. Poirot must untangle their relationships to discover whether her death was a crime of passion or a carefully planned murder.
Five Little Pigs (1942)
Sixteen years after Caroline Crale was convicted of poisoning her husband, her daughter asks Poirot to prove she was innocent. No crime scene remains to examine, only the memories of five people who were there. As Poirot listens to their conflicting accounts, a different picture of the murder emerges.
The Hollow (1946)
Poirot arrives for lunch at The Hollow to find what looks like a murder scene staged for his benefit. Dr John Christow is dying beside the swimming pool, and the gun has vanished into the water. Surrounded by his wife, his lover, and an old flame, Poirot has plenty to untangle.
Taken at the Flood (1948)
Gordon Cloade dies in a wartime bombing, leaving his fortune to his new wife, Rosaleen. His relatives are furious, particularly when there are rumours that Rosaleen’s first husband may still be alive. Poirot is drawn into the family’s bitter dispute, which takes a deadly turn.
Mrs McGinty’s Dead (1952)
Mrs McGinty has been murdered for what appears to be a mere £30, and her lodger has been convicted of the crime. But Superintendent Spence has his doubts and asks Poirot to investigate. In a village full of secrets, a newspaper clipping might just hold the key to the real killer.
After the Funeral (1953)
At Richard Abernethie’s funeral, his sister Cora shocks the family by suggesting he was murdered. The next day, Cora is killed. With a sizeable inheritance at stake and suspicion falling on Richard’s relatives, the family solicitor asks Poirot to discover whether Cora knew something or simply said too much.
Hickory Dickory Dock (1955)
When a string of odd thefts unsettles a London student hostel, Poirot agrees to help the warden, who is Miss Lemon’s sister. The missing items seem unrelated, and the residents are frightened. Poirot suspects the disturbances involve more than a petty thief.
Dead Man’s Folly (1956)
Crime writer Ariadne Oliver is planning a mock murder hunt for a village fete when she senses something is wrong. She asks Poirot to come to the Devon country house, but her fears prove justified when the girl playing the victim is found dead. Poirot must uncover who turned the game into a real murder.
Cat Among the Pigeons (1959)
At Meadownbank, an exclusive girls’ school, a teacher is found shot to death in the sports pavilion. More deaths follow, and student Julia Upjohn begins to suspect the danger is tied to something brought back from overseas. When she turns to Poirot, he must discover how a school murder connects to missing jewels and international intrigue.
The Clocks (1963)
Sent to a stranger’s house for a typing job, Sheila Webb finds a dead man in the sitting room. The room is full of clocks, but not a single one shows a time that matches the hour Sheila heard strike. Poirot must discover who arranged the scene and why.
Third Girl (1966)
A young woman arrives at Poirot’s flat claiming she may have committed a murder, but vanishes before he can find out more. With Ariadne Oliver’s help, Poirot traces her to a Long flat shared by three women. He must first, however, find out if anyone has actually been killed.
Hallowe’en Party (1969)
At a Hallowe’en party, thirteen-year-old Joyce claims she once witnessed a murder. Hours later, she is found drowned in the apple-bobbing tub. Most people dismissed her story, but Poirot and Ariadne Oliver want to find whether she was telling the truth, and whether the killer has struck again.
Elephants Can Remember (1972)
Years ago, a husband and wife were found shot dead near a cliff. Their daughter seeks answers on whether it was a suicide pact or if one had murdered the other. Ariadne Oliver and Poirot revisit the case, piecing together memories and stories from people who knew the couple.
Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case (1975)
Poirot and Hastings return to Styles, where they solved their first case together. Now frail, but still as sharp-minded as ever, Poirot believes a killer he called “X” is among the guests. He knows who “X” is, but refuses to tell Hastings. Can they prevent a murder before it is too late?
What about the Poirot short stories?
The original Poirot novels are only part of the pleasure in reading this Agatha Christie series. The short stories let you watch Poirot solve cases in just a few pages, often while Hastings is still looking in the wrong direction. They are ideal between longer books, and you do not need to read every story to understand the novels.
Start with Poirot Investigates (1924) for early cases involving Poirot and Hastings, and then Murder in the Mews (1937) for longer, more developed mysteries. In The Labours of Hercules (1947), Poirot takes on twelve cases inspired by the mythical labours of his namesake. Poirot’s Early Cases (1974) gathers eighteen earlier investigations and is another good read if you enjoy Poirot and Hastings’s relationship.
Sophie Hannah’s Poirot books in order
If you finish reading the original Christie novels and want more, Sophie Hannah has written six authorised Poirot continuation novels. These are new stories by Hannah where Inspector Edward Catchpool accompanies Poirot in the continuation series. These books are best read in publication order.
The Monogram Murders (2014)
A woman fears she is about to be murdered, and a disturbing discovery at a London hotel gives Poirot and Catchpool their first case together.
Closed Casket (2016)
An invitation to an Irish country house puts Poirot among guests unsettled by an unexpected announcement.
The Mystery of Three Quarters (2018)
Letters accusing strangers of murder arrive bearing Poirot’s signature, although he has sent none of them.
The Killings of Kingfisher Hill (2020)
A coach journey and a murder at a family home leave Poirot to sort through contradictory stories
Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night (2023)
Poirot faces a case with Christmas approaching and a seriously ill man convinced his own death is imminent.
The Last Death of the Year (2025)
A New Year’s gathering on a Greek island becomes the setting for another complicated investigation.
Frequently asked questions
How many Hercule Poirot books are there?
Agatha Christie wrote 33 Poirot novels, plus several short story collections, including Poirot Investigates and The Labours of Hercules, which contain over 50 short stories. Sophie Hannah also wrote six authorised novels approved by the Agatha Christie Estate.
How many Hercule Poirot books has Sophie Hannah written?
Sophie Hannah wrote six Hercule Poirot continuation novels, which, in order, are:
- The Monogram Murders (2014)
- Closed Casket (2016)
- The Mystery of Three Quarters (2018)
- The Killings at Kingfisher Hill (2020)
- Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night (2023)
- The Last Death of the Year (2025)
In what order should I read Hercule Poirot books?
Many Poirot fans believe reading the books in publication order is best because later novels can reference or spoil earlier plots; for example, Curtain was written during WWII but intentionally published last as the final case.
What is the most famous Hercule Poirot book?
The most famous Hercule Poirot book is Murder on the Orient Express, alongside The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Other famous books include Death on the Nile and The ABC Murders.