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A review by thereadingmum
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
5.0
This is the second time I've read this and I think it's aged well with me because I increased my rating from 4 to 5 stars.
This was not only Christie's first Poirot novel but it was her first ever novel. You can tell she is setting Poirot's character up with all his little quirks, which obviously charmed her at first then grated on her about halfway through the series until the last few where she came to terms with his popularity and begrudgingly gave him his due. I honestly love Poirot. I love all his idiosyncracies or maybe I just relate to them? 🤔
My second reading took place on holiday and perhaps this helped me to enjoy it more. It had all the hallmarks of a cosy murder mystery, big house, dodgy family, telltale signs leading up to the murder of the obvious victim. Then the investigation began. We are also introduced to Inspector Japp, Poirot's helpmeet at Scotland Yard and Arthur Hastings, his spunkier, but no less clueless, Watson. Their dynamic is at times comic, but it works and while Hastings makes many wrong deductions, he is a good counterpoint to Poirot's enigmatic arrogant intelligence.
And I loved the ending. It was unexpected yet completely believable and the only solution I would be happy with.
This was not only Christie's first Poirot novel but it was her first ever novel. You can tell she is setting Poirot's character up with all his little quirks, which obviously charmed her at first then grated on her about halfway through the series until the last few where she came to terms with his popularity and begrudgingly gave him his due. I honestly love Poirot. I love all his idiosyncracies or maybe I just relate to them? 🤔
My second reading took place on holiday and perhaps this helped me to enjoy it more. It had all the hallmarks of a cosy murder mystery, big house, dodgy family, telltale signs leading up to the murder of the obvious victim. Then the investigation began. We are also introduced to Inspector Japp, Poirot's helpmeet at Scotland Yard and Arthur Hastings, his spunkier, but no less clueless, Watson. Their dynamic is at times comic, but it works and while Hastings makes many wrong deductions, he is a good counterpoint to Poirot's enigmatic arrogant intelligence.
And I loved the ending. It was unexpected yet completely believable and the only solution I would be happy with.