Agatha Christie’s Marple

A new investigation from Dr Mark Aldridge, exploring a lifetime of Agatha Christie’s Miss Jane Marple.

Winner of the 2025 H.R.F Keating Award for the best 2024 biography or critical book related to crime fiction.

In Agatha Christie’s Marple: Expert on Wickedness,‘Agathologist’ Dr Mark Aldridge looks at nearly a century of St Mary Mead’s most famous resident and uses his own detective skills to uncover new information about Miss Jane Marple’s appearances on page, stage, screen and beyond.

Drawing on a range of material, some of which is newly discovered and previously unpublished, this book explores everything about Miss Marple, from her origins in a series of short stories penned by Christie, to the recent bestselling HarperCollins collection Marple: Twelve New Stories.

This accessible, entertaining and illustrated guide to the world of Miss Marple pieces together the evidence in order to tell you everything you need to know about the world’s favourite female detective.

Reviews

PRAISE FOR AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MARPLE

‘This book is the greatest of treats for any Marple fan. An indispensable companion … full of amusing asides and anecdotes.’ LUCY FOLEY'

‘As bright, engaging and irresistible as the old girl herself. I devoured it!’ MARK GATISS

This is a book that will not only thrill existing super-fans but which also has the power to create more of them.’ SOPHIE HANNAH

'This accessible, entertaining and illustrated guide to the world of Miss Marple pieces together the evidence in order to tell you everything you need to know about the world’s favourite female detective.’ AYO ONATADE, SHOTSMAG

PRAISE FOR AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT: The Greatest Detective in the World

‘Delightful, detailed and compulsively readable.’ MARK GATISS

‘What a magnificent book! An essential component of every Poirot fan's book collection. I couldn't put it down.’ SOPHIE HANNAH

‘Exhaustively and entertainingly surveys the book, stage, radio, magazine and film appearances of that fussy little Belgian.’ MICHAEL DIRDA, WASHINGTON POST

'This quirky, trivia-filled look at a touchstone of detective fiction will have Christie fans young and old in heaven.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

About the author

Dr Mark Aldridge is Associate Professor of Screen Histories at Solent University, Southampton. His previous publications include Agatha Christie's Poirot and Agatha Christie on Screen. Originally from Devon, he now lives in Hampshire with his partner, James.