The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

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The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Agatha Christie

(#1 - Hercule Poirot)

October 1, 1920 / 196 pages / Fiction

This is the book that introduced the world to Hercule Poirot. This intricate novel revolutionized the mystery form and helped launch Agatha Christie's illustrious career.

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Mystery

Hercule Poirot

Mystery fiction

British Detectives

Literature

Poisoning

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1920

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This is the first Agatha Christie book I've read and what better place to start than her first published book and the first Hercule Poirot book. I never knew what to expect from her books but I've been pleasantly surprised. Many would say that the writing style is very old fashioned but what is one to expect from a novel that is almost 100 years old. This is an easy read, told in the first person from the point of view of Hastings and is a nice introduction to the author and characters.

Grade: B / Balthazar / Apr 7, 2018

I've been told that Agatha Christie is an awesome writer and she is overall celebrated a lot. But her first book I found really confusing. At the end I found the solution unbelievable and unsatisfactory. Poirot couldn't have possible known that, come on... I'll read more to check if her later book are better, but this was hard to follow and weird... But I did like the characters and the old fashioned writing style!

Grade: C– / IljaRianca / Nov 13, 2018

This is a fast-paced and engaging read. Poirot is quite a character and, really, each suspect in Styles was distinct. I think the book is great for younger and older audiences alike.

Grade: C / monochrome / Aug 24, 2019

I like Christie's style, and I liked the characters. She's an expert at introducing a sizable cast that you can actually follow. Unlike the first book I read by her, Cat Among the Pigeons, I actually tried guessing the murderer this time. Spoilerish? I disliked how Poirot would "notice" a clue, but there'd be no hint of what that clue was until much later, though perhaps this is just a trope of the genre. The ultimate reveal of the murderer felt like a let down after all the bait-and-switc

Grade: C / Meribiaa / Apr 3, 2021

A classic mystery novel. I enjoy following Poirot and trying to work out which clues lead to what. It's always fun when I pick up on something that turns out to be significant later in the book.

Grade: C / Bug

/ Jul 30, 2021

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