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The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot, Bk 1)
The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Hercule Poirot, Bk 1 Author:Agatha Christie Who poisoned the wealthy Emily Inglethorpe, and how did the murderer penetrate and escape from her locked bedroom? Suspects abound in the quaint village of Styles St. Mary, just outside Essex. Among those basking in the shadow of doubt are the heiress's fawning new husband, her two aimless stepsons, her volatile housekeeper, and a pretty nur... more »se who works in a hospital dispensary. And though the identity of the culprit will prove as shocking as the crime, nothing gets past the calm logic and cool head of Hercule Poirot.« less
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Much as I enjoyed this, I have to say that I didn't think this was among Christie's best. I found the plot a little convoluted and hard to follow sometimes. I found some of the characters difficult to tell apart at times (although I think that's something that I sometimes struggle with, since I am terrible at remembering names). Perhaps it's because I haven't read a Christie for a while, and need to "acclimatize" myself to the style. But perhaps, it's simply that this was Agatha's first book.
here is the official Agatha Christie website. There are lots of fan-based sites too, as a search will reveal. here is one of the better ones.
This is the book that introduces the world to Hercule Poirot, the world famous Belgian detective and Capt. Hastings as well. It is typical Christie....unexpected and full of red herrings...Gotta love Agatha Christie.....
This is the first Christie book to feature Poirot. If you don't already like Poirot, this book will make you fall in love with everyone's favorite Belgium Detective.
This is the book that introduces the world to Hercule Poirot, the world famous Belgian detective and Capt. Hastings as well. It is typical Christie....unexpected and full of red herrings...Gotta love Agatha Christie.....
This is the book that not only launched Dame Agatha's career, but introduced Belgian detective Hercule Poirot to the world.
The heiress of Styles has been murdered, dying in agony from strychnine slipped into her coffee. And there are plenty who would gain from her death: the financially strapped stepson, the gold digging younger husband, and an embittered daughter-in-law.
This is Poirots first case: a locked room murder. He is brought in to solve a probable murder by his old acquaintance, Captain Hastings. A rich, elderly woman has been poisoned. The rather dysfunctional household is in general turmoil. The reader is led through a series of probable suspects, each in turn supposedly cleared to make way for the next. Alas, poor Hastings! Poirot will not disclose anything until the very end. But, finally Hastings inadvertently leads Poirot to the case-breaking clue and he springs to action to denounce the mastermind. Read this one before you read Curtain, his last case.
This is a hardback edition that has footnotes explaining some of the more obscure references in the book. It also has a ribbon bookmark, not to mention that it is a very good mystery!
In 1920 (literally 100 years ago), Agatha Christie started her long and illustrious career with Hercule Poirot and THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES. Over her career, she wrote literally hundreds of books, short stories, plays, and even an autobiography.
This book is set during World War I with an elderly, retired Belgian detective taking refuge in England. An older woman, married to a man 20-years younger, is found in the throes of death. Poirot, living outside the estate, is summoned by Captain Hastings, a visitor at the estate. Mrs. Christie flings red herrings about with abandon and it takes considerable time to wade through the clues and false leads to a solution. I thought it was a bit contrived; obviously, this was the author's early work.
I listened to an audio version of this book with the voice of Penelope Dellaporte. I thought this reader struggled with the Belgian/French accent and that was distracting to the story.
Hercule Poirot
** 1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles(1920)
2. The Murder on the Links(1923)
3.Poirot Investigates (1924)
Graham G. (Foucault) reviewed The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot, Bk 1) on + 27 more book reviews 
