This was Agatha Christie's first detective novel. Published in 1920, it was a true product of the times which frequently refers to the First World War, in which the author herself has served as a nurse. We are introduced to the favourite partners in detection among all Christie's work, Captain Hastings and Hercule Poirot, perhaps the most famous partners since Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes. And in the style of the reliable Dr. Watson, Captain Hastings begins the narrative as a record of the events after all the questions are answered. The narrative is thus to be read as an inside story of what is known as “The Styles Case” in the papers.
Hastings has been granted a month's sick leave after being invalided from the Front and having spent months at a convalescent home. He meets with
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Citation: Lee, Amy. "The Mysterious Affair at Styles". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 October 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=111, accessed 25 November 2024.]
