Summary
The Mysterious Affair at Styles marks the debut of Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie's brilliant Belgian detective, in a classic country house murder mystery.
Set during World War I in the quiet English countryside, the story unfolds at Styles Court, a manor where the wealthy matriarch Emily Inglethorp is suddenly found dead—poisoned in her locked bedroom.
Suspicion falls on several members of the household, including her much younger husband, stepsons, and even close friends.
Poirot, who happens to be staying nearby as a wartime refugee, is called in to investigate by his friend Captain Hastings.
With his meticulous logic, keen eye for detail, and flair for the dramatic, Poirot navigates a maze of secrets, lies, and red herrings to uncover the truth behind the crime.
This novel introduced many hallmarks of Christie’s later work: the closed-circle of suspects, the unexpected twist, and the grand reveal by the detective in the final chapter.