The Mysterious Affair at Styles Review

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

The Mysterious Affair (3/5 stars) at Styles marks the debut of Agatha Christie’s legendary detective, Hercule Poirot, and while it’s a notable introduction to one of the most iconic figures in detective fiction, I personally struggled to get into this one.

I probably stopped and started this book three or four times before finally finishing it. I’m not sure exactly why—it has all the hallmarks of classic Christie: a locked-room mystery, a cast of suspicious characters, and the meticulous unraveling of clues. But for some reason, it just didn’t fully grip me the way I hoped it would.

The pacing felt a bit uneven, especially in the early chapters. While Poirot’s brilliance eventually shines through, and the final solution is impressively crafted, the build-up lacked the tension and urgency that usually makes Christie’s mysteries so engaging. I also found the narration by Hastings a bit dry at times, which may have contributed to my slow start.

That said, it’s fascinating to see the origin of Poirot’s character—the little grey cells, the eccentric mannerisms, the sharp attention to detail. It’s clear why he went on to become such a beloved figure in crime fiction.

Overall, The Mysterious Affair at Styles is worth reading for its historical significance in the Christie canon, but it didn’t quite capture me the way some of her later, more polished works do. A solid, if slightly underwhelming, introduction to the Queen of Mystery.