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karlijnvc's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
kingabrit's review against another edition
5.0
I have started to re-read Agatha Christie's all works, in the order they were published. In the past I think I finished almost all her mysteries (definitely all the Poirots and Miss Marples), but not her other works (the romances and poems(!), and some Tommy & Tuppence novels). Now I am planning to read (or re-read) everything by her. As for ratings, I am probably going to rate most of them 5/5 as I just love her; even her weaker works entertain me immensely - so the 5 stars don't necessarily mean they are 'perfect' books, but rather, they are perfect for me as they bring back some wonderful memories and also, they are among the very few books that I can read so easily in one sitting, without any particular effort. I cannot predict the ones I haven't read of course, but we'll see.
As for this one, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920), first I read it a long time ago (at least 30 years or so or even more?), although I saw the David Suchet episode much later (somewhere about in the past 5-8 years maybe). While I remembered Poirot's circumstances (how he got to Great Britain and why, and what his past was in Belgium) I completely forgot the plot not to speak of the murderer. So yes, yay!
Trying to fit this in her mystery novel oeuvre, I think it is somewhere on the top shelf for sure. It also has all the features I love about Agatha Christie: her dialogues are definitely plausible (albeit not necessarily 'realistic' - which is OK), her humor (mostly about Hasting's complete blindness with women and of course his emotional bursts), her creation of a never-existed bucolic English countryside, her clever way of making the readers believe they should know every clue in order to solve the mystery (not!), etc, etc.
I am looking forward to the second published Agatha Christie, which is The Secret Adversary (1922) with Tommy & Tuppence Beresford which, if I am not mistaken I have never ever read!
As for this one, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920), first I read it a long time ago (at least 30 years or so or even more?), although I saw the David Suchet episode much later (somewhere about in the past 5-8 years maybe). While I remembered Poirot's circumstances (how he got to Great Britain and why, and what his past was in Belgium) I completely forgot the plot not to speak of the murderer. So yes, yay!
Trying to fit this in her mystery novel oeuvre, I think it is somewhere on the top shelf for sure. It also has all the features I love about Agatha Christie: her dialogues are definitely plausible (albeit not necessarily 'realistic' - which is OK), her humor (mostly about Hasting's complete blindness with women and of course his emotional bursts), her creation of a never-existed bucolic English countryside, her clever way of making the readers believe they should know every clue in order to solve the mystery (not!), etc, etc.
I am looking forward to the second published Agatha Christie, which is The Secret Adversary (1922) with Tommy & Tuppence Beresford which, if I am not mistaken I have never ever read!
rebecca_oneil's review against another edition
4.0
2019 Read Harder Challenge: A cozy mystery. Still chipping away at last year's reading challenge, because that's where I am right now.
This was another book I read for FaceTime book club with my grandma, and it was a great pick for that purpose. I'd never read an Agatha Christie book before! I was really drawn in by the witty dialogue, which reminded me of two personal favorites, L.M. Montgomery and James Thurber. I can see why people like Hercule Poirot -- he's a scene-stealer for sure. However, I did give him some side-eye when he revealed some things at the end that were a surprise to the reader, who'd been made to feel informed all along. Realizing you never had all the info kind of takes away the fun of guessing "whodunit" yourself.
(It was also interesting to read this in such close proximity with "The Splendid and the Vile" -- both involved English country houses and a rotating cast of guests. Such a different world -- the wealth, the leisure, and the isolation. The things privileged people got up to before TV and internet!)
Favorite Poirot quotes:
"Beware! Peril to the detective who says: 'It is so small -- it does not matter. It will not agree. I will forget it.' That way lies confusion! Everything matters."
"Ah, triple pig!"
"You gave too much rein to your imagination. Imagination is a good servant, and a bad master. The simplest explanation is always the most likely."
"Yes, yes, too conclusive...Real evidence is usually vague and unsatisfactory. It has to be examined -- sifted. But here the whole thing is cut and dried."
This was another book I read for FaceTime book club with my grandma, and it was a great pick for that purpose. I'd never read an Agatha Christie book before! I was really drawn in by the witty dialogue, which reminded me of two personal favorites, L.M. Montgomery and James Thurber. I can see why people like Hercule Poirot -- he's a scene-stealer for sure. However, I did give him some side-eye when he revealed some things at the end that were a surprise to the reader, who'd been made to feel informed all along. Realizing you never had all the info kind of takes away the fun of guessing "whodunit" yourself.
(It was also interesting to read this in such close proximity with "The Splendid and the Vile" -- both involved English country houses and a rotating cast of guests. Such a different world -- the wealth, the leisure, and the isolation. The things privileged people got up to before TV and internet!)
Favorite Poirot quotes:
"Beware! Peril to the detective who says: 'It is so small -- it does not matter. It will not agree. I will forget it.' That way lies confusion! Everything matters."
"Ah, triple pig!"
"You gave too much rein to your imagination. Imagination is a good servant, and a bad master. The simplest explanation is always the most likely."
"Yes, yes, too conclusive...Real evidence is usually vague and unsatisfactory. It has to be examined -- sifted. But here the whole thing is cut and dried."
katieellenf's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
3.0
patriciareads's review against another edition
5.0
Great fun! Enjoyed returning to the first time I met the wonderful Poirot in this clever, entertaining country house mystery. A light choice for a "reread" reading challenge. Poirot still fascinates.
angelfireeast24's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Incest, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
coycaw's review against another edition
4.0
The story is wonderful. This edition, however, was riddled with typos.
clanghetee's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0