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: det-agatha-christie, zz-paper-books, 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

Dec 28, 2024 Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-murder-crime-20th-century

Agatha Christie is a bit like Georgette Heyer for me - in that they are favourite authors, I've read most of their books, so I have to rate them against each other - & this is Christie's first novel & so she isn't quite at the top of her game here - but I probably would have rated it a bit higher if it had been written by anyone else.

This novel is part murder mystery, part humour and above all an affectionate tribute to Arthur Conan Doyle In personality, with the touch of vanity & obtuseness, Ha ...more

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Dec 02, 2017 Jazz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: golden-age-mystery-pre-1950, mystery-british, series, mystery-country-house

Fascinating to read the first novel published by Agatha Christie and meet Hercule Poirot fresh off the author's pen. He would develop further, but all his tics and humor are here already. And Christie's extensive research into poisons is evident in her very first effort. I wonder if she had any idea of the career she would have ahead of her. I'm tempted to give this 5 stars, but where would that leave me to go in reviewing her other novels? I felt she was already in top form in this one, and tho ...more

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Sep 14, 2022 Jess Penhallow rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: uk, 1920s

This is my first Poirot book so I decided to start at the beginning. However, I found (to my slight disappointment) that it didn't do much to introduce Poirot as a character which I think means that these books act as standalones and can be read in any order.

With this in mind, I really enjoyed this mystery. It was a quick read with some great characters, all who I suspected at some point. Poirot is just a joy to see on the page with how excited he gets about sleuthing and he keeps you guessing u ...more

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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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