Farshore is thrilled to announce its role as the publisher of a new partnership between Sanrio and Agatha Christie Limited, uniting two classic British brands, which will see Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple introduced to the world of Mr. Men Little Miss in a charming and amusing re-telling of a handful of Agatha Christie’s most famous stories featuring these two characters.
English language rights were secured by Emily Campan, Publisher, Farshore. This is the first time that Agatha Christie’s mysteries have been reimagined for pre-school and primary age children in an illustrated book format.
The first titles will be published on 23 October 2025, with a further two titles following in February 2026, set to be a delightful celebration of two much-loved and best-selling literary brands, sure to delight readers of all ages.
Publisher Emily Campan, Farshore, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Agatha Christie Limited and Sanrio to bring a charming collaboration between two legendary literary estates – Mr. Men Little Miss and Agatha Christie – to life. Our heartwarming and funny takes on classic Christie stories will have huge appeal to new and established fans of Mr. Men Little Miss and Agatha Christie alike.”
Little Miss Marple: Muddle at the Vicarage
Little Miss Marple lives in St Mary Mead, where she counts Mr. Nosey and Little Miss Chatterbox among her friends and she herself just takes a keen interest in the goings on in the village! So, when Reverend Muddle suspects there’s been a theft at the vicarage, and there are further mysteries of the rather muddled kind, Little Miss Marple is sure she can help Inspector Nonsense and Constable Silly uncover the truth…
Mr. Poirot: Mischief on the Nile
Mr Poirot is escaping the winter gloom with a sunny cruise on the River Nile when he meets his friend Colonel Rush, who travels the world tracking down criminals. His relaxing holiday soon includes much mischief and a mystery to solve, with many Mr. Men and Little Miss suspects, including Mr. Tickle with his extraordinarily long arms! Can Mr. Poirot use his little grey cells to solve this most mischievous mystery?
Adam Hargreaves said:
“My father, Roger Hargreaves, created the Mr. Men in 1971. His books met with near immediate success and since then the Mr. Men and Little Miss have entertained generations of children. I have had the privilege from 1988 to continue to draw and write for the series. It has been a real pleasure and an intriguing challenge to bring together the timeless mysteries of Agatha Christie with the playful world of the Mr. Men and Little Miss. Agatha Christie’s iconic stories now have a new twist that neither she nor my father might have imagined!”
Silvia Figini, Chief Operating Officer Sanrio (EMEA, India and Oceania), Mr Men (Worldwide) said: “For many of us, reading is a habit that begins in childhood, often nurtured by the books shared with us by parents and grandparents. That’s why it’s so rewarding to see our Mr. Men and Little Miss characters play a part in introducing Agatha Christie’s iconic mysteries to a new generation. This collaboration brings together two beloved storytelling worlds in a playful and engaging way, and we’re thrilled for fans to discover these fresh takes on her classic tales.”
James Prichard, CEO and Chairman of Agatha Christie Limited and Agatha Christie’s great-grandson), said: “As a lifelong fan of the Mr. Men Little Miss books, it has always been a wish of mine to put our beloved detectives, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, into their universe. These clever and very funny re-imaginings of my great grandmother’s stories, which include some of my favourite characters (in rather suspicious circumstances!), are bound to delight fans of both authors. This is absolutely a dream collaboration.”
David Brawn, HarperFiction’s Publisher of Estates, said: “I’ve been working on Agatha Christie at HarperCollins for 30 years, always looking for ways to innovate and to expand the author’s already unrivalled popularity. In all that time, nothing has come close to the joy of seeing these cherished characters so painstakingly transformed by Adam Hargreaves into stories that will capture the hearts and minds of children everywhere. And Agatha Christie’s adult fans will adore them, too. He’s an absolute genius.”
The publication in autumn 2025 will be supported by a major Marketing and PR campaign led by Farshore, working closely with Sanrio, Agatha Christie Limited and HarperFiction colleagues, who lead on HarperCollins’ Agatha Christie publishing. To celebrate the launch of the brand-new titles, Sanrio is bringing The Great Little Mystery Book Hunt to London and Manchester from 27 October 2025, kicking off half-term week. The free city-wide book hunt will see hundreds of copies of the new stories hidden across the streets for families and book lovers of all ages to discover.
Additionally, the partnership will form part of Agatha Christie Limited’s anniversary programme in 2026 – which marks 50 years since Agatha Christie’s death, 100 years since the publication of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and 50 years since the publication of Sleeping Murder – with celebrations of Agatha Christie’s legacy throughout the year.
Agatha Christie signed a three-book contract with William Collins in 1924 and began their lifelong author/publisher relationship by writing her seminal The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Published in 1926, its shocking twist revolutionised the emerging crime genre and made detective Hercule Poirot a household name. ‘My most successful to date,’ she later wrote, and Christie and Collins published another 70 books together in her lifetime. Fifty years since she died, HarperCollins continues to be her exclusive book publisher in the English language, having also acquired all US rights to her works in 2010.
THE GREAT LITTLE MYSTERY BOOK HUNT LOCATIONS REVEALED
London
- Battersea – Turnchapel Mews
- Kensington & Chelsea – Warwick Road
- City of London – Charterhouse Square, Barbican
- Greenwich – Aldeburgh Street
- Lambeth – St Anselms Church, Kennington Road
- Camden – Lyndhurst Road
- Streatham – Pathfield Road
- Wimbledon – Dupont Road
- Twickenham – Staines Road
Manchester
- The Corn Exchange
