Are There Any Agatha Christie Books With Female Detectives?

Agatha Christie is a legend in the mystery genre, and while Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple might be her most iconic detectives, she did create other brilliant female sleuths who deserve way more spotlight! Let me gush about a few—because honestly, they’re criminally underrated.

First up, Tuppence Beresford from the Tommy and Tuppence series. She’s not your typical detective—more of a spirited adventurer with a sharp mind and a knack for getting into trouble. Books like 'The Secret Adversary' and 'N or M?' show her as equal parts witty and brave, often outsmarting her husband Tommy in their spy-adjacent escapades. Tuppence feels refreshingly modern for Christie’s era, with her humor and refusal to be sidelined.

Then there’s Ariadne Oliver, a recurring character who’s basically Christie’s self-insert (and a total delight). A mystery novelist herself, Oliver appears in stories like 'Cards on the Table' and 'Hallowe’en Party,' often teaming up with Poirot. She’s hilarious—constantly complaining about her fictional detective’s ridiculous quirks while stumbling into real-life crimes. Christie gave her so much meta charm, it’s hard not to adore her.

And of course, we can’ forget Miss Marple, the OG queen of 'harmless old lady who solves murders.' She’s in a league of her own, with titles like 'The Murder at the Vicarage' and 'Nemesis' showcasing her knack for connecting village gossip to cold-blooded killers. What I love about Christie’s female detectives is how they subvert expectations—no hardboiled tropes, just clever women using their unique perspectives to outthink everyone. Makes me wish she’d written even more of them!