The First Poirot: The Mysterious Affair at Styles

The Mysterious Affair at Styles is Agatha Christie's first published book and it is also the first time the world met Belgian Inspector Hercule Poirot. Several years ago, an original, handwritten ending to the  novel was unearthed by the Agatha Christie trust. In 2012 the book was re-issued with both conclusions and a forward by Christie historian John Curran.

From movies and TV, I've never been a big Poirot fan. I find him pompous and condescending. This was on the new book shelf at my library and the librarian spoke to me about it. I told her my aversion for Poirot, and she said he was different in print, so I gave it a try, and I'm glad I did. While the Poirot in print did have some annoying mannerisms, they were all for the benefit of the mystery and there were few signs of pomposity.
The premise is classic Christie: murder at a country house with a group tied by loose family relationships some friendships. The year is 1917 and the narrator, Lieutenant Hastings, is ending his convalescence from a wartime injury by visiting an old school friend, John Cavendish, at his family home, Styles.

While there, he comes across an old acquaintance, Hercule Poirot, who is part of a group of Belgian war refugees staying in the village. This comes in handy when Hastings' hostess, Mrs. Emily Inglethorp is found having violent convulsions. The family believe what they saw were death throws from a heart condition, but Hastings, a wanna-be detective, suggests bringing in Poirot in case foul play is found at the inquest.

Now the detection begins. Hastings follows Poirot around the estate and the village in his quest for information. I was greatly amused by Hastings' foolishness and lack of imagination in ferreting out clues. He would become greatly insulted when Poirot knocked holes in his theories, even going so far as to not speak to him. Of course Poirot is pretty sure who murdered Mrs. Inglethorpe with strychnine very early in his investigation, but he doesn't reveal until the end.

While reading I had to keep reminding myself that this is the first of this now classic type of mystery. If I were reading this as a newly published book I would say it followed a formula, but in this case it IS the formula created by Christie and followed by many others who came later.

I greatly enjoyed The Mysterious Affair at Styles and it may be the beginning of a little Agatha Christie binge for me. I checked it out of the library and it works for three of my challenges: Snagged @ the Library, Women Authors and Cloak & Dagger.