Hercule Poirot solves his first case in the Agatha Christie novel that started it all, now in a fully restored edition that features a “missing chapter” along with commentary from Christie expert John Curran.
Who poisoned the wealthy Emily Inglethorp and how did the murderer penetrate and escape from her locked bedroom? Suspects abound in the quaint village of Styles St. Mary—from the heiress's fawning new husband to her two stepsons, her volatile housekeeper, and a pretty nurse who works in a hospital dispensary.
With impeccable timing, and making his unforgettable debut, the brilliant Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is on the case.
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"What a delightful read! I enjoyed every page, and could not wait for the mystery to be solved. I do not go out of my way to figure out the ending of mystery novels because I like to be surprised, but even if I had tried, I don't think I would have figured this one out. What a clever writer she was!"
— Katie (4 out of 5 stars)
“Though this may be the first published book of Miss Agatha Christie, she betrays the touch of an old hand…You may safely make a wager with yourself that until you have heard M. Poirot’s final word on the mysterious affair at Styles, you will be kept guessing at its solution and will most certainly never lay down this most entertaining book.”
— New York Times Book Review“The only fault this story has is that it is almost too ingenious…It is said to be the author’s first book, and the result of a bet about the possibility of writing a detective story in which the reader would not be able to spot the criminal. Every reader must admit that the bet was won.”
— Times Literary Supplement (London)" One of the best surprise endings ever! "
— Greta, 2/15/2014" Although I feel great having read my first Christie novel, and the first Poirot one at that, I can't say I was highly impressed. Poirot and Hastings had too many similar notes to Holmes and Watson, but one can't blame Christie for that. I intend on reading more of Christie and hope to expand to some Miss Marple. "
— Mike, 2/13/2014" Poirot's first case is a quick and entertaining read and it kept my interest. The clues were not obvious enough for me to solve the mystery before hand, and there were plenty of red herrings, but it was still a fun read. I would read more of this series if only for the challenge of exercising my deductive powers. The characters are believable and I enjoyed the relationship between Hastings and Poirot. It was not one of troubled genius and everyman simpleton (ala Holmes and Watson), but rather more dispassionate experienced Poirot and passionate young Hastings. It's more egalitarian. Also, as a side note, its also interesting to catch and observe some of the vocabulary used by Christie from the 1920's that you would never hear anyone using today. My favorite was the liberal use of the verb "ejaculate". Our book club had a good laugh about where we would be able to inject that word into modern conversations. Sadly, we couldn't find a acceptable example. "
— Benjamin, 2/12/2014" A delightful mystery. It had me stumped up until the last few pages. Poirot is a brilliant character, and Hastings makes a delightful, adorable side kick. "
— Elissa, 2/10/2014" I thought I had the ending figured out but I was SO WRONG. "
— Carolyn, 2/9/2014" GREAT BOOK! UNEXPECTED ENDING *thumbs up* :) :) :) "
— Sarah, 2/7/2014" The first of Agatha Christie's famous sleuth detective series introducing the infamous Hercule Poirot. With his order and method, and using those little grey cells Poirot uses wit and deduction to find the true criminal from what seems to be a harmless bunch of strangers. "
— Greg, 2/6/2014" Poirot's first case is a quick and entertaining read and it kept my interest. The clues were not obvious enough for me to solve the mystery before hand, and there were plenty of red herrings, but it was still a fun read. I would read more of this series if only for the challenge of exercising my deductive powers. The characters are believable and I enjoyed the relationship between Hastings and Poirot. It was not one of troubled genius and everyman simpleton (ala Holmes and Watson), but rather more dispassionate experienced Poirot and passionate young Hastings. It's more egalitarian. Also, as a side note, its also interesting to catch and observe some of the vocabulary used by Christie from the 1920's that you would never hear anyone using today. My favorite was the liberal use of the verb "ejaculate". Our book club had a good laugh about where we would be able to inject that word into modern conversations. Sadly, we couldn't find a acceptable example. "
— Benjamin, 2/3/2014" What can I say? I love Agatha Christie, with few exceptions and those are mostly when she tackles stories about world power and politics and her right wing political views come to the fore. This, fortunately, is not one of those books. It's stylish, tightly plotted and fun to read. Profound, it is not. "
— Elaine, 2/2/2014Dame Agatha Christie (1890–1976) was a British crime writer best known for her detective novels and short stories. According to Guinness World Records, she is the bestselling novelist of all time, her novels having sold over two billion copies and having been translated into more than one hundred languages. The Agatha Award for best mystery and crime writers was named in her honor.
Hugh Fraser, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, is an English actor and theater director who is best known for his portrayal of Captain Hastings in the television series Agatha Christie’s Poirot. He studied acting at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and is an associate tutor, director, and member of the audition panel at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, specializing in Shakespeare.