Which Christie Detective? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tommy and Tuppence

In 1920, childhood friends Tommy Beresford and Prudence "Tuppence" Cowley meet again in London. Both unemployed, they form Young Adventurers, Ltd. and are hired to find Jane Finn, a British agent who disappeared. Once they find her, can they rescue her - and save themselves?

Answer: Tommy and Tuppence

"Partners in Crime" is a collection of 12 short stories, following the now married Tommy and Tuppence after they've been installed in The International Detective Agency. Their main purpose is to intercept messages meant for the spies who previously ran the agency, but can they solve the 12 crimes, ranging from missing persons to murder?

Answer: Tommy and Tuppence

During WWII, the now middle aged Beresfords once again find themselves chasing spies. Tommy is recruited to go undercover to find two German spies, and when he reaches the seaside hotel where they're suspected to be, he finds a "widow" named Prudence ready to help him. Will they uncover the plot?

Answer: Tommy and Tuppence

Now in her 60s, Tuppence investigates the disappearance of a woman from the retirement home where her Aunt Ada had lived. When she doesn't come home, Tommy searches for her. Will he find her in time to save her?

Answer: Tommy and Tuppence

"Postern of Fate" is the last novel written by Agatha Christie (although published later, "Curtain" and "Sleeping Murder" were written during WWII and put away for later publication). Tommy and Tuppence have retired to a resort town. When Tuppence finds a note in an old book uncovering a 60 year old murder, will the couple be able to solve the mystery?

Analysis of Christie's later novels, including "Postern of Fate" and "Elephants Can Remember" show that she may have been in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease while writing them.

Answer: Hercule Poirot

A thirteen year old girl named Joyce at a Halloween party brags that she's witnessed a murder; a few hours later she herself is murdered. Ariadne Oliver, who'd been helping at the party, calls her friend Hercule Poirot to solve the murder. Which of three recent suspicious deaths led to Joyce's murder - or was she lying, leaving the real witness in danger?

Answer: Hercule Poirot

When someone murders the unpopular wife of an archaeologist while they're on an active dig, the site's doctor calls his friend Hercule Poirot to investigate. After another woman dies, Poirot realizes that someone on the expedition is not who they claim to be - but are they the killer?

Agatha Christie used her experiences accompanying her husband Max Mallowan on arch archaeologic digs of the Ur site and the victim of "Murder in Mesopotamia" is allegedly based on the wife of one of his colleagues.

Answer: Hercule Poirot

A vacationing Poirot meets a young woman named Nick who may be the target of a killer. When her cousin dies at a house party, was Nick the target or was it mistaken identity?

Answer: Hercule Poirot

When Norma Restarick approaches Hercule Poirot for help, she dismisses him as "too old." With the help of his friend Ariadne Oliver, he finds Norma and discovers the girl thinks she witnessed a murder. Did she, and of whom?

Answer: Hercule Poirot

Poirot's last case, "Curtain" was actually written during World War II and placed in a vault until its publication in 1975, a few months before Christie's death. In the book, Poirot reunites with Captain Hastings at Styles Court, where they first met. Poirot is looking for a person responsible for five deaths - deaths for which another person has been blamed. Can the frail, wheelchair bound detective bring the killer to justice?

Answer: Miss Marple

Someone has dumped the body of a young girl with bleached hair in the library of Grossington Hall in St. Mary Mead. About the same time, a Girl Guide is reported missing. Will Miss Marple make the connection between the two in time to prevent another murder?

Answer: Miss Marple

The vicar of St. Mary Mead finds his wealthiest and most unpleasant parishioner dead in the vicarage office. Fortunately, Jane Marple is among the "gossipy old ladies" in the village. Can she determine which of the many suspects is the actual killer?

"The Murder at the Vicarage" was the first novel featuring Miss Marple, and unlike most of the later Miss Marple books, she was not the central character. Christie based the character on her grandmother and her grandmother's friends.

Answer: Miss Marple

The residents of a village in Devon are being plagued by poison pen letters, falsely accusing them of various crimes. When one resident is found dead with a letter at her side, can Miss Marple determine the culprit?

As in "The Murder at the Vicarage", Miss Marple is a minor character in "The Moving Finger", only appearing in the last quarter of the book.

Answer: Miss Marple

Miss Marple is vacationing at a Caribbean resort, thanks to the generosity of her nephew. One night, a fellow vacationer tells her he once got away with murder and later that night is himself killed. Soon, another resort resident is killed. Can Miss Marple solve the case before anyone else dies?

Answer: Miss Marple

When a young woman moves to St. Mary Mead, odd memories lead her to believe that she witnessed a murder as a young child. Did she, and if so, can Miss Marple solve it 18 years later?

"Sleeping Murder" was published in 1976, a few months after Christie's death, but like "Curtain" was written during World War II and put away for later publication. Unlike "Curtain", it is not explicitly Miss Marple's last case - in fact, some recurring characters (such as the Vicar's wife and son) appear as much younger than they did in later books.

Answer: Other

Also known as "Sparkling Cyanide", "Remembered Death" is a murder in retrospect and the expansion of an earlier Christie short story, "Yellow Iris", which featured Hercule Poirot. A year after Rosemary Barton died by suicide by drinking poisoned champagne, her widower dies the same way. Was it suicide or murder, and is Rosemary's sister now in danger?

"Remembered Death" features Col. Race, one of Christie's recurring characters (he appears solo in this book and "The Man in the Brown Suit" and assisted Poirot "Death on the Nile" and "Cards on the Table".

Answer: Other

"And Then There Were None" is the ultimate locked room mystery - ten people on an island, all invited by the mysterious Mr. Owen, all having caused in some way the death of another. One by one, they die. Who among them is responsible?

Answer: Other

"The Pale Horse" starts with a woman's final confession, after which the priest is murdered. Writer Mark Easterbrook recognizes some of the names on the list found on the priest's body as recently deceased acquaintances. He then learns of rituals held at the Pale Horse inn which can be used to eliminate "inconvenient" people. Can he bait a trap and solve the mystery?

Although "The Pale Horse" doesn't feature one of Christie's main detectives, it does include her avatar and friend of Hercule Poirot, mystery writer Ariadne Oliver. It has been adapted for TV three times as of 2025 and one version features Miss Marple as the detective.

Answer: Other

Two years after the murder of Rachel Argyle and 18 months after the death in prison of her son Jocko, geologist Arthur Calgary arrives at the Argyle household confirming Jocko's alibi. But if Jocko didn't kill his mother, who did, and will they kill again to keep their secret?

A film adaptation of "Ordeal by Innocence" starring Donald Sutherland and Faye Dunaway was released in 1985. It featured a score by Dave Brubeck. There is also a TV adaptation which has Miss Marple as the detective.

Answer: Other

"Endless Night" features an unreliable narrator. Mike Rogers was a chauffeur who fell in love with an heiress and married her. Shortly after they move into the house they had designed by a famous architect, Ellie Rogers dies in a tragic riding accent...but was it an accident?

A film version of "Endless Night" starring Haley Mills, Hywel Bennett, and Britt Ekland was released in 1972. The novel is an expansion of a Miss Marple story, "The Case of the Caretaker", and was adapted for TV as part of the "Agatha Christie's Marple" series.