The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Title: The Mysterious Affair at Styles


Author: Agatha Christie aka Mary Westmacott

Publisher: HarperCollins PerfectBound

Copyright: 1920 (ePub edition March 2008)

ISBN: 9780061750083

Series: First of the Hercule Poirot mysteries

Synopsis (from agathachristie.com):

Invalided home from the First World War, Lieutenant Hastings finds himself in a convalescent home very much to his disliking. Thankfully his old friend John Cavendish invites him to spend the rest of his sick leave at his family home. The beautiful Styles Court is home to John’s step mother Mrs Inglethorpe, and her new husband Alfred. Despite the tranquil surroundings Hastings begins to realise that all is not right. When Mrs Inglethorpe is found poisoned a murder investigation begins, and who better to investigate than war refugee Hercule Poirot, a retired Belgian detective.

Comments:

This was the last of my reads for the Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge, and I enjoyed it.  My strongest impressions are about the character telling the story, Hastings.  I liked him at first but as it went on... I marvel he could still walk about with such a big head.  And he could be so dense too.  Poirot was cool as a charming and amusing observer and, well, detective.  I'm glad I included an Agatha Christie story in my challenge (my first!), and I certainly must read more of the Hercule Poirot series at least.  I didn't get past the first few chapters of the first Miss Marple mystery (an earlier e-book vintage mystery attempt), but I'm going to try that in audio.