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Miss Marple

Miss Marple, also called Jane Marple, is a fictional amateur detective created by Agatha Christie.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Miss Marple, also called Jane Marple, is a fictional amateur detective created by Agatha Christie. She lives in the village of St Mary Mead and appears in novels and short stories in which she solves crimes by observing human nature. Miss Marple is one of Christie’s best-known characters and has been widely adapted for screen and stage.

Creation and publication history

Miss Marple first appeared in 1927 in "The Tuesday Night Club" and later became the lead in a series of novels and short stories. Christie’s first Miss Marple novel, Murder at the Vicarage, was published in 1930.

Characterization

Miss Marple is usually depicted as an elderly spinster with sharp powers of observation and an extensive understanding of people. She solves crimes through careful attention to everyday behaviour and social relationships.

Appearances in Christie’s work

The character appears in 12 novels and 20 short stories according to Agatha Christie’s official site, though some secondary sources give slightly different short-story counts. She remains one of Christie’s most recognisable creations.

Adaptations

Miss Marple has been portrayed by numerous actors across film and television adaptations. These versions have helped keep the character popular with audiences beyond the original books.

Key facts

  • Miss Marple is a fictional character in Agatha Christie’s detective fiction.
  • She is portrayed as an elderly, unmarried woman who solves mysteries as an amateur sleuth.
  • The character first appeared in the short story "The Tuesday Night Club" in 1927.
  • Her first full-length novel was Murder at the Vicarage in 1930.
  • She has been adapted many times for film, television, radio, and stage.
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Canadian context

Miss Marple is familiar to Canadian readers through Agatha Christie’s enduring popularity, school and library collections, and frequent television adaptations broadcast in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Who created Miss Marple?
Miss Marple was created by Agatha Christie.
What kind of detective is Miss Marple?
She is an amateur detective, not a professional police investigator.
Where does Miss Marple live?
She lives in the fictional English village of St Mary Mead.
When did Miss Marple first appear?
She first appeared in the 1927 short story "The Tuesday Night Club".
What was Miss Marple’s first novel?
Her first novel was Murder at the Vicarage, published in 1930.

References

  1. Agatha Christie — https://www.agathachristie.com/characters/miss-marple
    Supports: First appearance in 1927; character overview; publication history.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Miss-Marple
    Supports: Character description; St Mary Mead setting; first novel.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Marple
    Supports: General overview; character identity; adaptation history.