The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

Please join Kate and Sheila as they meet a classic character, Hercule Poirot, in his first appearance as the Belgian detective in Agatha Christie’s, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The story is told from the viewpoint of Hastings, a soldier wounded in WW I who comes to his wealthy friend John Cavendish’s estate in need of a place to convalesce. During his visit, John’s stepmother, Emily Inglethorp is murdered with poison! Hastings seeks the help of Poirot, his acquaintance who is blessed with gifted insight which is greatly needed in this case where suspects abound. “You gave too much rein to your imagination. Imagination is a good servant, and a bad master” was the advice Poirot gave Hastings, who considers himself to be somewhat of a junior detective. Hastings would prefer that Poirot just tell him what he notices and concludes instead of making him figure things out on his own. Although this format is frustrating to Hastings it is intriguing for readers because we get to be sleuths too! “If the fact will not fit the theory–let the theory go.” Clues abound in this who-done-it, the trouble is some are important and some are red herrings. See if you can solve the case before Poirot! Don’t worry there are no spoilers in this episode, just a quick gist of the story. Put on your trench coat and get a magnifying glass and get ready to give your brain a workout!