The Mysterious Affair at Styles

5 stars for all Agatha Cristie!

In "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie, an intriguing tale of murder and deception is brought to life by the first appearance of Christie's most renowned detective Hercule Poirot. Taking place in 1916 during World War I, Poirot is a Belgium detective who is aided in escaping Belgium by Mrs. Inglethorpe. (It is interesting to note that the character of Hercule Poirot was inspired from Christie's personal experience with Belgium refugees during WWI) Poirot finds himself being called upon by Mr. Hastings when it is found that Mrs. Inglethorpe has passed away due to what is believed to be foul play. Christie outlines over a handful of characters that could be possible murder suspects, and continually adds to the initial details she gives for each character concerning their actions leading up to and after the murder. Christie carefully gives clues and information away a piece at a time which culminate into many surprises and twists that keeps the pages turning and the suspense level high as there is not a foresee-ably predictable end in sight. Hercule Poirot is a cunningly humorous and wise detective who garners support from both the reader and characters in the book as it is easy to want to root for him to bring it all together in the end. Overall, this novel not only represents the first appearance of Hercule Poirot, it also represents Agatha Christie's first published work which was in production for over five years before its first publication in 1920. Mystery novel fans and non-fans alike owe it to themselves to read this gem of a story that stands the test of time in providing an entertaining and engaging story which introduces the beloved character of Hercule Poirot in Christie's debut success.

As one of Ms. Christie's beginning novels, this was very well-written. However it was a bit long and the result of the mystery did not reflect upon the amount of work Poirot put in. Still enjoyed the book and love Agatha Christie!

I made a commitment to read all of Christie's Poirot novels in chronological order. This being the first in the series, as well as the only Christie novel I have ever read, here is my takeaway:

CONS:
--There is a very large and often times confusing cast of characters. While they are all given brief introductions in the beginning, I actually had to pull up a list of their names and descriptions online in order to keep them straight.
--The same could be said for the massive layout of the interior of Style as well as the town. Christie was kind enough to include a map of Styles, but I disliked having to constantly flip back several pages in order to understand a reference that was made later in the book.
--Poirot uses French words and phrases continually in his dialogue, and I constantly had to use Google Translate in order to discern what he meant.
--On top of the French language, several old, European, and medical terms are used throughout the entire novel, and I would not have been able to understand or enjoy the book as much without the help of the internet.
--Poirot's over observance and ability to deduce every minute detail comes off as ridiculous and unrealistic at times. While I understand that he is a fictional character, I wish that Christie had made him more human and relatable.
--The novel being told from the viewpoint of Hastings versus Poirot was frustrating at times, as I did not always understand Poirot's reasonings and reactions until the VERY end of the novel. Instead of being suspenseful, I found it drawn out and annoying to be left in the dark for so long.

PROS:
--The overall storyline is fantastic and memorable. As a huge fan of murder mysteries, the many twists and turns did not disappoint.
--I learned several new French words and phrases.
--Poirot is thorough and explains in great detail every twist and turn. You are not left to wonder why certain characters could not have committed the crime or how every piece of evidence fits before moving onto another theory. When it is finally revealed whodunnit, no stone is left unturned.
--Usually when watching mystery TV Shows/Movies or reading suspense novels, I am able to deduce early on whom the culprit(s) is. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of this novel, as I was completely off base--but overall satisfied and happier with Christie's ending.
--A quick read, one that I would enjoy reading again in the future and seeing live action adaptions.

Having read a few novels with Poirot I had recently decided to try and read all of them starting at the beginning. Poirot makes a delightful debut to the readers of the series. Although you may have your own suspicions as to the guilty party Agatha always leaves you wondering to the end if you are in fact correct. Very enjoyable whether you have read none of the series or if you have read a few. Very enjoyable.

A good mystery with delightful characters. Poirot is beyond absurd and Hastings is as stuffy as can be. It made me smile.

Remarkable work for a novice writer. Was very curious to read the two endings and see the difference between thrm.

This is my second Christie novel, and I really enjoyed it. With many plot twists, new discoveries, and an unsuspected reveal at the end, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat. The detective, Hercule Poirot, is a quirky, charming, and immensely likable character that provides a much needed change to the monotonous english detectives that I so often find in other mystery novels. Truly a great book!

This story introduces Poirot and it's no disappointment with its full characterizations and a complicated plot entailing surprises and a twist ending. Having picked up random copies of Christie, it was fun to recognize how much Poirot has evolved in later novels.

The great aspects of this book are that it's a fast read and keeps you guessing until the end. The problem is it bumbles a lot, and knowing the answer to the mystery makes Poirot seem incredibly erratic. If his actions fit a lot better with the explanation later, I could have accepted it more. That said, it's not a bad debut book. Some of the cultural references were lost on me (and likely most modern readers, since it was written almost a century ago), but it didn't hold me up.