Hercule Poirot Books in Order

The short answer

Agatha Christie · 33 books

How many books?
There are 33 books in the Hercule Poirot series, published 1920–1975.
Is it finished?
Yes — the series is complete; it ends with Curtain: Poirot's Last Case (1975).
Where to start
Start with The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920).

About 7,700 pages — roughly 130 hours of reading

by Agatha Christie · 33 books · ★ 4.8 average rating · Updated

Mystery

The dapper Belgian detective with the famous 'little grey cells' solves ingenious murders in country houses, on trains, and across the globe.

Here is the complete Hercule Poirot reading order — all 33 books by Agatha Christie, in the order you should read them:

Reading order

  1. The Mysterious Affair at StylesPoirot's debut case finds him investigating the poisoning of a wealthy woman at her country estate, Styles Court.1920204 pages
  2. The Murder on the LinksPoirot travels to France to investigate the stabbing death of a businessman found in a freshly dug grave on a golf course.1923224 pages
  3. The Murder of Roger AckroydPoirot comes out of retirement in a quiet English village to solve the fatal stabbing of a wealthy man in his own study.1926256 pages
  4. The Big FourPoirot is drawn into a high-stakes battle against a secretive international criminal organization plotting world domination.1927223 pages
  5. The Mystery of the Blue TrainPoirot investigates the murder of a wealthy young heiress found strangled aboard a luxury train bound for the French Riviera.1928257 pages
  6. Peril at End HousePoirot sets out to protect a young woman who has narrowly survived a string of suspicious near-fatal accidents.1932224 pages
  7. Lord Edgware DiesPoirot investigates the stabbing of a nobleman despite the prime suspect appearing to have an unbreakable alibi.1933238 pages
  8. Murder on the Orient ExpressSnowbound aboard a luxury train, Poirot must identify a killer from among a car full of international passengers.1934240 pages
  9. Three Act TragedyPoirot investigates when a mild-mannered clergyman drops dead at a dinner party with no apparent motive or means.1935
  10. Death in the CloudsPoirot happens to be a passenger when a fellow traveler dies suddenly during a flight from Paris to London.1935251 pages
  11. The A.B.C. MurdersPoirot is taunted by a serial killer who announces each murder in advance following an alphabetical pattern.1936227 pages
  12. Murder in MesopotamiaPoirot investigates the murder of an archaeologist's anxious wife at a remote dig site in Iraq.1936248 pages
  13. Cards on the TableWhen a host is murdered mid-bridge-game in front of four guests each suspected of a past killing, Poirot must determine who struck this time.1936226 pages
  14. Dumb WitnessA letter arriving after a wealthy spinster's death, warning she feared for her life, pulls Poirot into investigating her household.1937256 pages
  15. Death on the NilePoirot investigates the murder of a glamorous young heiress during a cruise down the Nile.1937276 pages
  16. Appointment with DeathPoirot probes the death of a domineering matriarch during a family excursion to the ancient city of Petra.1938224 pages
  17. Hercule Poirot's ChristmasPoirot investigates the violent killing of a wealthy, manipulative patriarch during a tense family Christmas gathering.1938221 pages
  18. Sad CypressPoirot works to clear a young woman standing trial for poisoning her wealthy aunt and a romantic rival.1940239 pages
  19. One, Two, Buckle My ShoeThe murder of his own dentist pulls Poirot into a case entangled with international finance and espionage.1940208 pages
  20. Evil Under the SunPoirot investigates the strangling of a glamorous actress at a secluded seaside resort.1941224 pages
  21. Five Little PigsAt the request of a convicted killer's now-grown daughter, Poirot reopens a poisoning case from sixteen years earlier.1942234 pages
  22. The HollowAn unwitting weekend guest at a country house, Poirot is drawn into investigating a shooting there.1946252 pages
  23. Taken at the FloodPoirot investigates a death entangled with a wealthy family's inheritance and a mysterious stranger claiming a prior marriage.1948224 pages
  24. Mrs McGinty's DeadPoirot reinvestigates the killing of an elderly charwoman to determine whether the man convicted of it is truly guilty.1952234 pages
  25. After the FuneralAn offhand remark at a wealthy man's funeral leads to a second, deliberate murder that Poirot is called in to solve.1953237 pages
  26. Hickory Dickory DockPoirot investigates a string of petty thefts at a London student hostel that escalates into murder.1955128 pages
  27. Dead Man's FollyA staged murder-hunt game at a country fete turns real, drawing Poirot into the investigation.1956217 pages
  28. Cat Among the PigeonsPoirot investigates a case of espionage and murder connected to a prestigious girls' boarding school.1959256 pages
  29. The ClocksPoirot helps unravel the mystery of an unidentified body found surrounded by an inexplicable collection of stopped clocks.1963257 pages
  30. Third GirlPoirot investigates after a young woman claims she may have committed a murder but can recall none of the details.1966253 pages
  31. Hallowe'en PartyPoirot investigates the drowning of a girl at a Halloween party after she boasted of once witnessing a murder.1969244 pages
  32. Elephants Can RememberPoirot and novelist Ariadne Oliver dig into an old double death from years past to help a young woman understand her parents' fate.1972224 pages
  33. Curtain: Poirot's Last CaseAn aging Poirot returns to the scene of his first case for one final investigation that will prove to be his last.1975

Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.

On our lists: Long-running mystery series

Track your place in Hercule Poirot

BookBinge remembers which book you're on and writes a spoiler-safe recap before every sequel. Free on iOS.

Get BookBinge

Frequently asked questions

How many Hercule Poirot books are there?

There are 33 books in the Hercule Poirot series by Agatha Christie, from The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) to Curtain: Poirot's Last Case (1975). Together they run to about 7,700 pages.

Is the Hercule Poirot series finished?

Yes. Agatha Christie completed the series with Curtain: Poirot's Last Case in 1975; all 33 books are out now.

What is the first Hercule Poirot book?

The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) is book one, at 204 pages. Poirot's debut case finds him investigating the poisoning of a wealthy woman at her country estate, Styles Court.

Should I read the Hercule Poirot series in publication order?

Yes. For the Hercule Poirot series, reading order and publication order are the same — The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) through Curtain: Poirot's Last Case (1975).

How long does it take to read all Hercule Poirot books?

About 7,700 pages across 33 books — roughly 130 hours at a page a minute. The longest is Death on the Nile (276 pages); the shortest is Hickory Dickory Dock (128 pages).

More Mystery series in order