The Mysterious Affair At Styles (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Hercule Poirot Debut of Poison, Red Herrings, and Golden Age Country-House DetectionBy Agatha Christie
Length17h 15m
About this audiobook
Agatha Christie's The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) inaugurates one of detective fiction's most enduring careers with a rigorously constructed country-house mystery. Set amid the tensions of wartime England, the novel follows the poisoning of Emily Inglethorp at Styles Court and introduces Hercule Poirot, whose "little grey cells" transform domestic disorder into logical pattern. Its crisp prose, fair-play clues, red herrings, and theatrical misdirection place it firmly within the emerging Golden Age of detective fiction. Christie, who had worked in a hospital dispensary during the First World War, drew directly on her knowledge of poisons and pharmaceutical procedures, giving the plot an unusual technical precision. Her fascination with social surfaces, inheritance anxieties, and the concealed motives of respectable households reflects both her Edwardian upbringing and the disruptions of modernity that followed the war. This first novel already reveals her genius for making ordinary rooms morally charged. Readers seeking the origins of the classic puzzle mystery will find this book indispensable. It is especially recommended to admirers of elegant plotting, forensic ingenuity, and psychologically acute observation. Though an early work, it displays the narrative discipline and imaginative confidence that would make Christie a defining figure of crime literature.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.3 (49)
Includes Amazon, Goodreads
GenreMystery and Thriller, Literary Classics
Length17 hrs 15 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJun 5, 2018
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Mysterious Affair At Styles (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Author Biography
4Historical Context
5Synopsis (Selection)
Show all chaptersShow less
6The Mysterious Affair At Styles: Detective Hercule Poirot Adventure
7The Mysterious Affair at Styles (The First Hercule Poirot novel)
8Chapter 1 I GO TO STYLES
9Chapter 2 THE 16TH AND 17TH OF JULY
10Chapter 3 THE NIGHT OF THE TRAGEDY
11Chapter 4 POIROT INVESTIGATES
12Chapter 5 “IT ISN’T STRYCHNINE, IS IT?”
13Chapter 6 THE INQUEST
14Chapter 7 POIROT PAYS HIS DEBTS
15Chapter 8 FRESH SUSPICIONS
16Chapter 9 DR. BAUERSTEIN
17Chapter 10 THE ARREST
18Chapter 11 THE CASE FOR THE PROSECUTION
19Chapter 12 THE LAST LINK
20Chapter 13 POIROT EXPLAINS
21The Secret Adversary
22Prologue
23Chapter 1 The Young Adventurers, Ltd.
24Chapter 2 Mr. Whittington’s Offer
25Chapter 3 A Set Back
26Chapter 4 Who Is Jane Finn?
27Chapter 5 Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer
28Chapter 6 A Plan of Campaign
29Chapter 7 The House in Soho
30Chapter 8 The Adventures of Tommy
31Chapter 9 Tuppence Enters Domestic Service
32Chapter 10 Enter Sir James Peel Edgerton
33Chapter 11 Julius Tells a Story
34Chapter 12 A Friend in Need
35Chapter 13 The Vigil
36Chapter 14 A Consultation
37Chapter 15 Tuppence Receives a Proposal
38Chapter 16 Further Adventures of Tommy
39Chapter 17 Annette
40Chapter 18 The Telegram
41Chapter 19 Jane Finn
42Chapter 20 Too Late
43Chapter 21 Tommy Makes a Discovery
44Chapter 22 In Downing Street
45Chapter 23 A Race Against Time
46Chapter 24 Julius Takes a Hand
47Chapter 25 Jane’s Story
48Chapter 26 Mr. Brown
49Chapter 27 A Supper Party at the Savoy
50Chapter 28 And After
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