summary, publication history, genre, quotes and book review of The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie on Njkinny's Blog

The Mysterious Affair at Styles | Agatha Christie | Book Review | Hercule Poirot Book 1 | Book Quotes

January 20, 2021February 27, 2023 Njkinny 0 Comments 5 stars, classics, hercule poirot, locked room mystery

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie was her debut book as well as the very first mystery that introduced the famous Belgian Detective, Hercule Poirot. Written during the first World War, it was first published in 1920 in the United States and then a year later on 21st January 1921 in the United Kingdom. A mind boggling murder mystery, read the summary, publication history, genre, quotes and book review of The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie in this post below.

The very first #HerculePoirot #Mystery #Book, read the #BookQuotes and #BookReview of "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" by @AgathaChristie on #NjkinnysBlog #NjkinnyRecommends #readchristie2021 #100YearsofChristie #BookRecommendation Share on X

About the book:

Title and Author: The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

Publication Date: 1920

No. of Pages: 121

Series: Hercule Poirot #1

Genre: Novel, Mystery, Crime novel, Reference work, Crime Fiction, Murder Mystery, Classics

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie Review:

The Mysterious Affair at Styles was Agatha Christie’s first book that introduced the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. First published in 1920, this book was an instant hit and garnered Christie much fame and acclaim.

Book Summary:

Hercule Poirot has just arrived in England as a refugee when he meets Captain Hastings whom he had once met in Belgium while on a case. Poirot had been in the Belgian police force then. Captain Hastings is recovering from a war injury and recuperating in a small rural village of Styles St. Mary as a guest at the Styles Manor. Emily Inglethorp is the mistress of the manor and when one day she is suddenly found dead with suspicions of foul play, the Belgian Detective is called in to investigate.

Now it’s up to Hercule Poirot with his “well groomed mustache” and an “egg- shaped head” to apply his famous “little grey cells” and solve the puzzling murder of the mistress of the manor. As in many of Agatha Christie’s successive novels, here too everyone has a motive to do away with the old woman and everyone from the wealthy old woman’s much younger husband to her stepsons to her embittered daughter-in-law are hiding something or the other. The crime is not evident at first and subtle methods like poisoning are used to commit a crime.

But can Poirot solve this murder?
Who poisoned the wealthy Emily Inglethorp and how did he enter and escape from her locked room with no one witnessing him?

Things I loved:

A legendary introduction to the equally legendary Belgian detective, this mystery is a masterpiece from the “Queen of Crime” where the crime is almost perfect and seemingly so impossible that it keeps the readers at the edge of their seats. So, no amount of guessing and brainstorming could help in solving or even coming close to a solution to this mystery and when the solution did unfold I was stunned and at a loss of words. In the words of Poirot,

You gave too much rein to your imagination. Imagination is a good servant, and a bad master. The simplest explanation is always the most likely.”
The Mysterious affair at styles by agatha christie book quote

The country house of Styles is huge and magnificent but its inhabitants are deceivingly happy. So, the descriptions of the characters and the places are lively and well depicted. The

“… one may live in a big house and yet have no comfort.”
The Mysterious affair at styles by agatha christie book quote

Christie expertly handles all the clues and the red herrings and gives every opportunity to the reader to solve the mystery on his own but in spite of it all, she always keeps one step ahead of our reasoning.

Real evidence is usually vague and unsatisfactory. It has to be examined—sifted. But here the whole thing is cut and dried. No, my friend, this evidence has been very cleverly manufactured—so cleverly that it has defeated its own ends.”
The Mysterious affair at styles by agatha christie book quote

Conclusion:

A great story, expertly planned scenarios, balanced and admirably developed characters and a mystery that will stump you, I give The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie 5 super shiny stars out of 5 and Njkinny recommends this book to all mystery lovers. This is also a best book to start with if you are new to Poirot. While all the books featuring Poirot are standalone and can be read in any order, reading this one first will introduce you to the Belgian Detective as he handles his first case in England.

Buy From:

AMAZON.IN

Best Quotes from The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie:

"Instinct is a marvelous thing. It can neither be explained nor ignored.” – @AgathaChristie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles #BookQuotes and #BookReview on #NjkinnysBlog Share on X "You gave too much rein to your imagination. Imagination is a good servant, and a bad master. The simplest explanation is always the most likely.”- @AgathaChristie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles #BookQuotes and #BookReview on… Share on X "Everything must be taken into account. If the fact will not fit the theory- let the theory go."- @AgathaChristie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles #BookQuotes and #BookReview on #NjkinnysBlog Share on X "Every murderer is probably somebody's old friend." – @AgathaChristie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles #BookQuotes and #BookReview on #NjkinnysBlog Share on X "When you find that people are not telling you the truth—look out!" – @AgathaChristie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles #BookQuotes and #BookReview on #NjkinnysBlog Share on X "Sometimes I feel sure he is as mad as a hatter and then, just as he is at his maddest, I find there is a method in his madness.” – @AgathaChristie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles #BookQuotes and #BookReview on #NjkinnysBlog Share on X "They tried to be too clever—and that was their undoing." – @AgathaChristie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles #BookQuotes and #BookReview on #NjkinnysBlog Share on X "Real evidence is usually vague and unsatisfactory. It has to be examined—sifted. But here the whole thing is cut and dried. No, my friend, this evidence has been very cleverly manufactured—so cleverly that it has defeated its own… Share on X

After reading The Mysterious Affair at Styles, read the next one, The Murder on the Links:

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