The Mysterious Affair At Styles By Agatha Christie

Publication Date: February 1921

ISBN: 0007265131

The first Christie book stars her most famous character, Hercule Poirot. Narrated by Hastings, the small neat Belgian detective engages his “little grey cells” to solve a classic poisoning case at Styles Court.  Mrs Inglethorp is newly married, and her new husband seems to have brought an air of foreboding and mistrust to the English country house.  Arguments ensue and a member of the household leaves. Mrs Inglethorp is found dead, poisoned by strychnine and everyone seems to believe her husband is guilty.   Nothing is ever straight forward in Christie’s world, and the revelation as to how the murderer committed their crime was so clever as to be bordering on genius.  Mrs Christie's time spent in a dispensing chemist shows through clearly in the plotting of this book.

Poirot’s arrogance is truly staggering in this book, and Hasting’s frustration is palpable. Poirot always was a bit of a know-it-all, but I had not appreciated just how large his ego was at the start of the series. It will be interesting to see how he mellows over coming books.