From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

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

Agatha Christie

Start date: January 1, 2025

Finish date: January 31, 2025

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* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie
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* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) - SPOILER Thread
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What Members Thought

Jan 23, 2016 BrokenTune rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

The Mysterious Affair at Styles was Christies first published book and is most notable for one thing: it is the first of the Poirot books and explains the background between the famous friendship between the Belgian detective and Captain Hasting.

Hastings is on medical leave in Essex during the First World War and by chance bumps into an old friend of his - Poirot. Poirot is a refugee and managed to settle near his friend, Emily Inglethorp, who owns Styles Court where Hastings is a guest.

Shortly ...more

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Sep 16, 2013 Dipanjan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Agatha Christie introduced Hercule Poirot in this book in 1920. Murder through poisoning has always been the favorite setting of many an Agatha Christie novel. The characters are few and the plot is kept pretty tight throughout the book. Add to that the usual quirkiness of the Little Belgian detective and his extraordinary powers of deduction while piecing the most intricate puzzle together. As always, the climax is what one looks for. The simple explanations to the most complicated questions.

T ...more

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Mar 23, 2018 Marina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What can I say? I love it! It's a short & sweet book. I've been looking forward to get to know Poirot and Hastings and I'm glad I've decided to read it in order.

Eventhough, I find that this book isn't one of those insane page turning books, I like how easy and comfortable it is to read. I also thoroughly enjoyed the twists and all the red-herrings in this book. I know some people might not enjoy this but I love it, that’s what I want in murder mysteries. It kept me guessing until the end! I mus ...more

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Aug 24, 2014 Ann rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Our book club was assigned the task of reading an Agatha Christie novel in honor of her birthday. I chose this one because it began her reign as the Queen of Mystery. In this very intricate mystery, she introduces Hercule Poirot and Colonel Hastings as well as the ever present Inspector Japp. You can never read a Christie mystery casually. There are so many twists and turns and even the smallest clue can be the one that will solve the case. It was great to re-read this book even knowing who the ...more

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