The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Hi, this is Hamako.
I'd like to write a book report.


The Mysterious Affair at Styles / by Agatha Christie / 50,000words YL9 ★★★★☆(4.5)

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During the World War I, Hastings had been invalided home and run across his old friend, John Cavendish.
He was invited to Styles where John's step-mother's Court.
Hastings heard that John's step-mother has remarried with Alfred Inglethorp
who is at least twenty years younger than she. (She is about seventy.)
The whole family suspected him that he is a bare-faced fortune hunting.

While Hastings is staying at Styles, Mrs. Inglethorp is murdered by poisoning in a locked room.
Hastings asked Hercule Poirot, who is his old friend and a very famous detective, for help.
At that time, Poirot was refugee with few friends from Belgium and stay at a little house by the kindness of Mrs. Inglethorp.
He launched an investigation at once.

Poirot regarded all family members with suspition.
Mr. Inglethorp, of course. Her step-son's, John and Lawrence Cavendish are in financial difficulites.
Mary, John's wife, quarreled with Mrs. Inglethorp for something reason before the tragedy.
Cynthia, who is under the guardianship of Mrs. Inglethorp, didn't get provided for, and she works in a pharmacy.
Evelyn Howard (40 years old) who is the mater’s factotum, companion for Mrs. Inglethorp.
And Dr. Bauerstein who is staying in the village doing a rest cure and he is one of the greatest living experts on poisons. Also he is a Mary’s great friend.

Who is the criminal?
The room was locked from the inside.
What was the way that the criminal got out of there?
The poison was Strychnine and it’s believed that it was contained in her coffee.
The coffee served half-past eight after dinner.
Strychnine is a fairly rapid poison. Its effects would be felt very soon.
But Mrs. Inglethorp died early next morning….
How does Poirot solve the affair?

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I thought this book has a light air and just not good enough.
Because I’ve already read “The ABC Murders” and “And Then There Were None.”
In those books, I had a complexity feelings that there were something wrongs, dangers, traps, and a grave air.
But this book hasn’t any horror even though there’re a murder.
I thought its plot is rather too simple.
I guessed this book is her debut one and that’s the explanation for the concept isn’t well-formed.

And one more thing, I can see that Poirot’s extremely famous appearance in this book.
Such as “Poirot was an extraordinary looking little man, but carried himself with great dignity.
His head was exactly the shape of an egg. His moustache was very stiff and military.
He had been in his time one of the most celebrated members of the Belgian. etc, etc…”
But it’s disappointed me that he didn’t say that his extremely famous line, “the little grey cells.”
Once again, this is her debut book….

Then, when I came to that scene where Poirot explained the case and the material evidence,
I really regret that I made such a big misjudge.
I was shocked. And I was surprised. Really, really surprised.
I howled, “No, way!!!” “You got me…” I groaned.

Before I got up to that scene, there were an explanation about an action of medicine for a while,
and I have little knowledge about medicine, so I worked very hard on trying to understand.
I thought I’ve finally got it…maybe.
I felt “What a relief. I passed a hardest part. Well, well….”

Then, that scene suddenly caught me.

Afterwards, I was impressed by Poirot’s tremendous commentary on the affair.
And he said that he gave you(Hastings) several hints.
Every time he said “Did I not, on the contrary, tell you that 〜, “
Hastings (and I) said “No, it was not plain to me!”

Oh, there was a murder case.
But the murder case leads to cleared up some couple's misunderstandings and there were awakening of loves.
I’ve never guessed when the end of the story I felt quite refreshed.
Yeah, in “The ABC Murders”, Poirot taught me that romance can be a by-product of crime.
Well, well, I gave ★★★★☆, or ★★★★★
Fu fu fu.