Who poisoned the wealthy Emily Inglethorpe, and how did the murderer penetrate and escape from her locked bedroom? Sus-pects abound in the quaint village of Styles St. Mary—from the heiress’s fawning new husband to her two stepsons, her volatile housekeeper, and a pretty nurse who works in a hospital dispensary. Making his unforgettable debut, the brilliant Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is on … on the case.
“The key to the success of this style of detective novel,” writes Elizabeth George in her Introduction, “lies in how the author deals with both the clues and the red herrings, and it has to be said that no one bettered Agatha Christie at this game.”
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I love all the Agatha Christie mysteries … am so glad she wrote so much!
Agatha’s very first novel. Poirot may not be able to help because the disguise is too good! Just wait and see what happens!
I have always loved Agatha Christy books and I think I read most everyone about 25 years ago. The characters are always well written especially Poiret and Miss Marple. The mystery is always decent but I think the draw is that the book contain a new mystery but the writing and characters are the same in,each book which I find comforting. I also …
You just cannot beat an Agatha/Poirot mystery. I read all of them. It is so refreshing to read a good mystery story without blood and guts and nasty words. I always try to figure it out, but seldom do I achieve this goal.
It’s hard to believe this classic whodunit was first published one hundred years ago. The story is narrated in a fresh and direct style that feels more modern than the language and idioms of the time.
The whole story is full of life and energy as Hercule Poirot beavers away to uncover who poisoned old Mrs Inglethorpe in her bedroom and how. With a large cast of suspects, many of whom had good motives to want her out of the way, the story is filled with twists, red herrings and lies as Poirot and Hastings struggles to make sense of what they learn.
When Poirot gathers everyone together at the end to reveal the identity of the killer and how the poisoning was carried out, the level of detail and deduction is so immense, it takes two chapters to fully explain. Much of this is down to Poirot revealing little to Hastings, which of course keeps the reader guessing.
While I fully understood who killed Mrs Inglethorpe and how, there was so much detail involved, I struggled to fully connect and understand it all. It didn’t stop me marvelling at the author’s mastery of the murder mystery and complex plotting. She seemed to have covered every angle with great skill and confidence.
The main characters were believable and well-drawn, particularly Hercule Poirot. I wasn’t always sure who the female characters were, as there were quite a few of them. The story was well-paced and filled with intrigue, suspense and tension, lightened with humour and social commentary. The swipes at the press for descending on the family in search of a scandal show some things never change.
I’m looking forward to reading many more of Agatha Christie’s novels and mysteries.
A body is found. A weird Belgian take it personally. It wasn’t the butler.
Well done…and still a great read even though it was published in 1916!
After just completing Hercule Poirot’s Early Cases collection, I had the desire to go back to the very first Poirot story which, incidentally, is the first of Christie’s mysteries that was published. It has been many years since I read this one and I had the additional enjoyment to my re-reading experience of getting it in audiobook edition with Huge Fraser narrating.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles takes place in the English countryside during WWI. It was a delightful slice of life at home during the war, but also a clever country house mystery. Styles Court. A benevolent old woman murdered. Her husband the first suspect, but not the last and a plethora of odd facts and curious incidents. Captain Hastings is home on medical leave and finishing his month away from the front with an old friend and his family at Styles. The drama is palpable and then the death. Hastings is relieved that an old friend- a former member of the Belgium police is a refugee along with other Belgians, in the village. Hercule Poirot is on the scene and collecting clues and witnesses before Scotland Yard arrives.
Going back to the story, I was struck by my enjoyment of amiable Hastings, soft-hearted for the ladies, noticing things, but not noticing the significance. Because he sees and shares what he sees with Poirot- who does understand significances- they find their way to the startling reveal. I forgot how much I adore Hastings and I can definitely see why he wanted to swat his detective friend a few times when Poirot keeps him in the dark and a little frustrated. However, Poirot knows that his friend is lousy at circumspection and has a very readable face.
I’ve always enjoyed the country house party and small village settings the best in Christie’s mysteries, but it was also neat that she carefully tucked in WWI Homefront details as well like Mary Cavendish working in the Land Girls and Cynthia in the dispensary. That the household couldn’t just toss out paper or waste it. And, that Captain Hastings is recovering while on leave and Poirot and his fellow Belgians had to be evacuated because their nation was being destroyed by war.
But, the characters were as sparkling as ever from the family to the staff and even the characters like Inspector Japp who show up frequently. Poirot is amusing and his quirks are more so, but they do help him solve a clever murder.
Hugh Fraser played Captain Hastings in the A&E Poirot series so it was bliss having him narrate this book told entirely from Hasting’s perspective. That said, he does well voicing so many characters even the women. He’s a little iffy on Poirot’s French accent, but it is distinct.
All in all it was a stellar mystery and full of nostalgia. Still a gem that stands the test of time.
Anything Agatha wrote instantly becomes my favorite
This was Christie’s first! A triumph! However, if you have read a lot of Christie, it will seem formulaic. You must keep in mind that this is how it all came to be! A young English woman using the knowledge of chemicals she learned in a pharmacy in World War I and the ways of the English gentry that she grew up with to create her first novel.
A mystery from one of the best — the twists at the end are never what you expect them to be.
One of the best mysteries I’ve ever read, tight, well thought out, with great characters!
Wonderful mystery.