Book review: the mysterious affair at styles

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie is a compelling and accomplished debut that not only introduces one of the most iconic detectives in literary history, Hercule Poirot, but also establishes many of the conventions that would come to define the Golden Age of detective fiction. Set against the backdrop of World War I, we find ourselves in the peaceful English countryside at the English country estate known as Styles Court, where a sudden and suspicious death throws the place into chaos with the murder of its wealthy owner, Emily Inglethorp. Through the character of Captain Arthur Hastings, we are led on a journey into a well-crafted mystery that combines observation and investigation in a masterly way.