Author: Agatha
Christie | Title: The Mysterious Affair at Styles | Genre:
Mystery
Publication
Date: October 1920 | Number of Pages:
296 | Series: Hercule Poirot Mysteries (#1)
Geographical
Setting: Essex, England | Time Period: Summer of
1917
Plot Summary:
Arthur Hastings, wounded captain and aspiring amateur
detective, is invited to Emily Inglethorp’s estate while he is on leave. After
introductions (and many suspicious conversations about poisons), Mrs.
Inglethorp mysteriously dies of a heart attack- or was she poisoned? Enter
Hercule Poirot- an eccentric, arrogant, and brilliant ex-police detective. As
Poirot digs through the last hours of Inglethorp's life, Hastings is convinced
that signs point to her widower, but is he as guilty as he seems?
Characteristics
for Mystery:
Private/Police/Amateur
Detective- Poirot is an ex-police detective who now works as a private
detective. His characterization is much more like a private detective, as he is
a “self-reliant loner who operate[s] independently” (Saricks 59). Hastings is
an amateur detective, which, like private detectives, “can devote all their
time to a single case” (59).
Characterization-
Hastings (the protagonist) and Poirot (the detective) are both dedicated to
this case "whether they're paid or not, whether they're on the job or
off" (54). Saricks also adds that "Captain Hastings ably aided
Hercule Poirot in a number of his investigations" (54). While Hastings is
the narrator (and arguably the protagonist), he provides a balance against Poirot
as a novice to his expert.
Pacing-
Like Saricks warned, "the investigative details... necessarily slow the
story and make all of them progress at a more leisurely pace" (57). While
many clues are found, ample time is taken to deliberate over them.
Series-
This is the first of 39 Poirot mysteries (according to Agatha Christie's
website). While series is not unique to the mystery genre, Saricks listed it as
the first thing fans expect (62).
Read-alikes:
Nonfiction-
Poisons:
from Hemlock to Botox to the Killer Bean of Calabar (Peter Macinnis)
If I
Die—(Michael Fleeman)
Arsenic
and Clam Chowder: Murder in Gilded Age New York (James D. Livingston)
Fiction-
Unnatural
Death (Dorothy L. Sayers)
The
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Alan Bradley)
Missing
Joseph (Elizabeth George)
The
Hunting Party (Lucy Foley)
Suddenly
at His Residence (Christianna Brand)
Similar
Authors: Louise Penny, M.C. Beaton, Ngiao Marsh, Emma
Lathen
You did a great job drawing me into the book- I certainly want to know more. Could you have shared anything else about other characters or the plot of the book without giving away the ending? I assume there was a power struggle, maybe banter between the private detective and the amateur detective?
ReplyDeleteWell, the book was essentially the amateur detective following the private detective around and making "deductions," which the private detective tore apart every time. I know I'd be offended if I was the amateur detective, but it seems more like a teacher/student relationship. As for the characters, since it's so Hastings and Poirot-heavy, the other characters came off more like plot devices than actual people, so it was difficult to pay them much mind. Is that sort of what you were asking?
DeleteThanks!
DeleteYes was just curious to know a bit more about the book.
I think it is the typical "leisurely pace" of this genre is what keeps me from reading Agatha Christie; I could watch movie adaptations of her books all day, but so far I haven't gotten into reading her books. Your summary was great; you were able to explain the basic plot, but also show glimpses of the mystery. And from your description, would you say Poirot has a similar personality to Sherlock Holmes? It seems like Poirot could possibly have more personality than Holmes; what do you think?
ReplyDeletePoirot reminds me a lot of Sherlock Holmes! He's a bit more of a jerk, though- I remember book Holmes being fairly polite when he'd correct wrong assumptions, and Poirot seems to be playing a game at Hasting's expense (or at least that was the impression I got). Maybe it's more like how movies and TV like to portray Holmes? Also Poirot (in this book at least) doesn't really show a lot about his personal life, whereas you see all kinds of things about Holmes's hobbies/interests/vices/etc. Their deductive styles are very similar, though, so if you like the Sherlock Holmes books I think you'd like these as well.
DeleteThis is an Agatha Christie novel that I haven't read! Great job on your summary and expanding on the characteristics. Full points!
ReplyDelete