From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot, #1)

Agatha Christie

Start date: January 1, 2018

Finish date: January 31, 2018

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: A buddy read of the first Poirot book
[close] A buddy read of the first Poirot book

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Buddy reads

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What Members Thought

Feb 11, 2018 Adrian rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: zz-paper-books, det-agatha-christie, detectives-challenge-hp-2018-20

I joined the Poirot challenge really late, so am already a month behind, that said I felt no urge to rush my read, and ambled through it at an enjoyable pace, making the most of Christie's characters.

I had a vague memory of the story from seeing the Suchet TV version some years ago (I am lucky in that I have the complete Suchet boxed set in my library) but luckily did not remember the denoument.

This is Christie's first Poirot but its almost as if he is an established character the way Christie w ...more

41 likes · Like · see review

Aug 10, 2019 John rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: agatha-christie

Poiret’s introduction and first case. Hasting at the end of WW1 goes to his friends stepmothers house called Styles. This first novel launched Christie with 67 Poiret novels to follow.

The stepmother Mrs Inglewood is poisoned and who did it. One of her Stepsons John or Lawerence Cavendish, her husband Alfred 20 years younger and loathed by everyone except his wife, Cynthia a charity relative case who works in a dispensary with poisons, Evelyn Howard a companion friend, John’s wife Mary or the my ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Oct 05, 2020 Tania rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, agatha-christie

Beginning at the beginning. Not as polished as later books, but pretty fantastic as a debut.

6 likes · Like · see review

Sep 28, 2021 Marcus Vinicius rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mysteries, agatha-christie, hercule-poirot

Poirot's Intelligence

An unexpected murder. Evidences pointing to more than one direction. A family business. Poirot gives to his companion, Mr Hastings, all the necessary details to solve this mystery. The dialogues in this story are compelling and drive the reader to the scene of the crime. An entertaining reading! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 11, 2016 Abrar Nasser rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I always feel stupid when i read Poirot's books
At first nothing makes sense but then everything makes perfect sense.

This book was enjoyable and it was fun to read it. However, I got the feeling that Poirot is kind of different. His personality is slightly different in his other books. ...more

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Apr 09, 2020 Vijay Kerji rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is one of the best Poirot story with complex plot and N number of clues planted in it. It is surprising that this book is the first one in Poirot series because it is written with utmost care and highly engaging plot.

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Jan 22, 2020 Kara rated it liked it

Shelves: agatha-christie

Easy to see why this is such a popular Poirot. Very clever, very quotable (use the little grey cells). Full on science from Christie clearly deploying her poison dispenser knowledge. Brilliant mystery.

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Apr 27, 2018 Frank rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

here is where it all began with Poirot, a quick and interesting little locked room mystery. If you follow the clues, you can figure it out.
A young Christie here, not as complex at this point.

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