Hercule Poirot Books in Order

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Hercule Poirot books in order, from the very first to the latest, so you won’t miss anything!

About the Hercule Poirot Series

Hercule Poirot is one of the most famous fictional detectives in the world. Created by the great British author Agatha Christie, Poirot first appeared in The Mysterious Affair at Styles in 1920. From that moment on, readers were hooked on this small, neat Belgian detective with his famous moustache, piercing eyes and razor sharp mind. Poirot relies on logic, observation and psychology not brute force. He believes every clue, no matter how small, has a meaning and human nature always reveals the truth in the end.

Over the years Poirot appeared in more than 30 novels and over 50 short stories. He went from quiet English villages to luxurious trains, glamorous hotels and even exotic islands. Each story showcases Christie’s ability to build suspense and surprise the reader with clever twists. Poirot’s last appearance was in Curtain (1975) a book that marked the end of an era and even got an obituary in The New York Times—a rare honour for a fictional character.

The origins of Poirot’s character are as fascinating as his cases. Christie was inspired by earlier literary detectives such as Sherlock Holmes, Monsieur Poiret and Inspector Hanaud. But she made Poirot unique—a brilliant and charmingly eccentric character. His Belgian nationality was a thoughtful choice, reflecting the times when World War I had made refugees a common sight in England. This explained why a skilled detective like Poirot would find himself solving mysteries far from home.

Over the decades Poirot has been played by many great actors including Albert Finney, Peter Ustinov and David Suchet whose portrayal is iconic for millions of fans. Despite Christie’s own mixed feelings about him in later years the public’s love for Poirot never wavered. Readers around the world continue to follow his “little grey cells” as they unravel the most puzzling crimes in fiction.Whether you are new to Hercule Poirot or back for more, these books have it all—style, humour and mystery. Agatha Christie is the Queen of Crime and Hercule Poirot—fastidious, vain and brilliant—is one of literature’s greatest detectives.