Agatha Christie’s First Miss Marple Mystery Enters Public Domain in 2026

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In 2026, a wealth of creative works will become freely available for anyone to use, including some beloved classics. On January 1st, movies, books, and music published in 1928 will enter the public domain. This exciting change means stories like the first four Nancy Drew novels and the famous detective novel, The Maltese Falcon, will be accessible to all.

I was so excited to learn that the very first Agatha Christie novel starring Miss Marple is now in the public domain! As a huge fan, it’s amazing to think that anyone – really, anyone – can now use the character in their own stories without needing permission. Considering Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist of all time, this feels like a really big deal this year, much bigger than some other works entering the public domain.

Agatha Christie’s First Miss Marple Mystery Is Now Public Domain

Miss Marple is considered one of Agatha Christie’s most brilliant detectives, perhaps even her best. While her other famous detective, Hercule Poirot, was known for his complex methods, Miss Marple was a seemingly ordinary elderly woman who solved crimes as a hobby in a quiet English village. In fact, Miss Marple paved the way for popular detective shows like Murder, She Wrote.

Interestingly, Angela Lansbury, famous for her role in Murder, She Wrote, actually played Miss Marple in the film The Mirror Crack’d. Miss Marple, in Agatha Christie’s books, was typically depicted as an older, unmarried woman, which made her a more approachable character than the more serious and determined Hercule Poirot, and arguably more well-liked by readers.

Although many films now feature Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple novels are still a delight to read. There are twelve Miss Marple books in total, starting with The Murder at the Vicarage, which was first published in 1930 and is now freely available to the public.

While you can now use the name Miss Marple freely, it’s important to understand that not everything about the character is public domain. Only the details presented in the very first novel are available for use; any traits or developments added in subsequent books are still protected by copyright.

Even though the rights to Agatha Christie’s original Miss Marple novels are protected, filmmakers and authors are still free to create their own stories featuring the character, as long as they don’t contradict the personality traits established in her later books.

Is Hercule Poirot In The Public Domain?

Hercule Poirot, the famous detective created by Agatha Christie, is now freely available for anyone to use. Christie first introduced him in her 1920 novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, which is no longer protected by copyright. Because the first six Poirot novels, including that first book, have entered the public domain this year, the character himself is now open for adaptation and creative use.

For years, writers have been able to create new books and stories featuring Hercule Poirot without getting permission from the Agatha Christie estate. However, some of his famous mysteries, like Murder on the Orient Express, are still protected by copyright and won’t be freely available for another four years.

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2026-01-02 05:10