Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - The Mysterious Affair at Styles

The first AC novel I have read that I could predict the killer correctly.

While still written in the classic whodunnit style, the narrator, Hastings, is not very likeable and the descriptions of Poirot are more simplistic and less favourable than they are in other of his books.

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soozevp's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

It was a bit slow in the middle. I was actually surprised by the ending which I usually guess!

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roseleaf24's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this mystery! It kept me guessing and engaged. I look forward to seeing more of some of the characters in future books.

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edwardian_girl_next_door's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

My umpteenth read of this particular Christie (for my wip retelling it from Mary Cavendish's point of view!). A rollicking read on the surface, the flaws appear upon closer inspection -- too many red herrings, too many side plots, too many coincidences and pieces of convenient timing. (The forward in my edition notes that, despite this, Christie went on to master the art of false clues, and I'm inclined to agree.) The influence of Sherlock Holmes is particularly marked as Christie tries to find her own voice in the genre; Hastings fits Dr. Watson almost to a tee, from his veteran status to his overall rather clueless demeanor. This novel also introduces archetypes which Christie continued to use in her later writing, such as "the wealthy old matriarch" and "the proud, aloof, and deeply emotional woman character." On top of that, it provides a fascinating glimpse into WWI England, a world engulfed in ration cards, spies, convalescent homes, and Red Cross charity fêtes. With all its quirks, it's a book near and dear to my heart, and a must-read for anyone interested in Christie or the cosy mystery genre.

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theluckysix's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

The jumpscare of the N-word really knocks this down a few pegs

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bluereads99's review against another edition

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mysterious tense

3.0

seeing the n word was a jump scare ngl

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sarah_zaffiro's review against another edition

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Christie’s work, although well-written, is often littered with racial slurs & casual racism. I’ve never come across the n-word in her work until I started reading this book though. I’m not going to read anything else of hers at this point. very disappointing.

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