The Mysterious Affair at Styles

2015 Reprint of 1920 Edition. Not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. This was Christie's first published novel. It introduced Hercule Poirot, a Belgian refugee of the Great War, who settled in England near the home of Emily Inglethorp. He is introduced to Hastings at her home. When a woman is killed, Poirot uses his detective skills to solve the mystery. The book includes maps of the house, the murder scene, and a drawing of a fragment of a will. The story is told in the first person by Hastings, and features many of the elements that have become icons of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, largely due to Christie's influence. It is set in a large, isolated country manor. There are half-a-dozen suspects, most of whom are hiding facts about themselves. The plot includes a number surprise twists.