The Body in the Library
The Body in the Library is an Agatha Christie detective novel featuring Miss Marple, first published by Dodd, Mead in New York in February 1942 and by the Collins Crime Club in London in May 1942. A young woman is found dead in the library of Gossington Hall, home of the Bantrys.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First edition
- Dodd, Mead, 1942
- First published
- Dodd, Mead and Company, New York, 1942
- First UK edition
- Collins Crime Club, 1942
- Worth
- Not yet valued
- Series
- Miss Marple
Which edition do you have?
First edition
- 1st Dodd, Mead1942 Hardback · Miss Marple 2 Not yet valued I own The Body in the Library, Dodd, Mead 1942 Log in to want this
Later and other editions
- Pan Books1959 Paperback · Miss Marple 2 Not yet valued I own The Body in the Library, Pan Books 1959 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
On screen
- The Body in the Library Film, 1984
From Wikidata. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by Agatha Christie
Questions about The Body in the Library
No questions yet. Not sure which edition you have, or whether a detail matters? Ask, and collectors will help.
Reviews of The Body in the Library
No reviews yet. Members can say what this book is like to read or collect.
Read it or own it? Share what The Body in the Library is like to read or collect.
Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Body in the Library?
The first edition of The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie was published in New York by Dodd, Mead in 1942.
How many editions of The Body in the Library are there?
We track 2 editions of The Body in the Library, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Has The Body in the Library been adapted for film or television?
Yes, including The Body in the Library (film, 1984).
How can I tell if my copy of The Body in the Library is a first edition?
Check the title page and its reverse (the copyright page) against the edition: publisher, place and date should match, with no later printing or edition stated. Where we know the issue points, they are listed on the edition's page.
Where these facts come from
- The Body in the Library, Wikipedia, 2026 (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Body in the Library, Agatha Christie (agathachristie.com)
- The Body in the Library editions, Open Library (openlibrary.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 17 October 2026.