Coming Soon
The legends still behind the copyright wall in the EU — and the New Year on which each one falls free. The clock is counting from today.
| Author | Died | Enters PD | Countdown | Notable work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E. C. Bentley | 1956 | 2027 | 2027 | Trent's Last Case |
| Dorothy L. Sayers | 1957 | 2028 | 2028 | Lord Peter Wimsey series |
| Freeman Wills Crofts | 1957 | 2028 | 2028 | Inspector French — the "unbreakable alibi" master |
| Raymond Chandler | 1959 | 2030 | 2030 | Philip Marlowe series |
| Agatha Christie | 1976 | 2047 | 2047 | Poirot · Miss Marple |
✦ Just over the line
The "Big Four" of the Golden Age — Christie, Sayers, Margery Allingham (d. 1966 → 2037) and Ngaio Marsh (d. 1982 → 2053) — are all still some way off. E. C. Bentley is the nearest prize: Trent's Last Case, the 1913 novel that helped invent the form, comes free on 1 January 2027.
Countdowns are calculated live in your browser, from the EU "death + 70 years" rule. Already free? Browse the authors who have crossed the line.