Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Mysterious Affair at Styles

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The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

35 reviews

oceanwriter's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I’m pretty sure this was my first Agatha Christie book (how bad is it that I don’t remember…) and my expectations were high after a lifetime of hearing about her and her mysteries. It’s easy to see how she became an original master of the genre, but as someone who’s read so many other mysteries and prefers more thrill to the plot, I ended up feeling underwhelmed.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles is the book that started it all — Agatha Christie’s debut as well as the first introduction to Hercule Poirot. When a wealthy and elderly woman is poisoned, there are a number of suspects in the household. It’s up to Hercule Poirot to deduce who the killer is.

The book was good. I love the fine details of everything and it was a great setting. I just struggled to get excited or really into the plot. The problem when you read a lot of mysteries is that the formulas become ingrained. I was more in the mood for a short audiobook at the time rather than a mystery itself, so I’m sure that was part of the problem. I will definitely be returning to Agatha Christie though, particularly Murder on the Orient Express.

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adyn's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A bit slow getting started, but once Poirot shows up it’s a page turner! I love Agatha Christie so it was great to read her first Poirot book. The ending was perfect.

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drumpenguin's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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nlarson's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

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clsl's review against another edition

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mysterious relaxing medium-paced

3.5

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kory_is's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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natcat's review against another edition

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funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A well-plotted mystery with a very entertaining cast of characters, and Hastings's narration and perspective is particularly entertaining, because he never has any idea what is going on! Particular highlights are when Poirot comments that his very nature will help the case, as it will convince the murderer that they have no idea what is going on, and Hastings takes this as a compliment. Delightful, I really do enjoy Christie's very wryly funny style. This book has th absolute classic 'Poirot gathers everyone into a room and explains the case to them, much to their amazement', and I love it, what a great trope, and 10/10 for creating it here, Christie.

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