User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
"Dear me, Poirot," I said with a sigh, "I think you have explained everything! And how wonderful of you to wait until page 230 to finally shed light on all your absurd behavior throughout the book, and to justify and the red herrings and narrative padding! But of course, it could only be so in the classic style of a fiendish murder mystery! Why, in fact, though this is but the first case we have solved together, I have no doubt we could do the exact same thing as many as 86 more times, depending on if you count the smaller cases!"
"Quite so,
mon ami," Poirot chuckled. "You make such a reliably dim-witted Watson!"
I looked at Poirot in silent amazement. The colossal cheek of the little man! Then we drank some tea and he kissed me passionately, on the mouth.
Rating: really liked it
Choose Your Own Adventure!
You are Captain Arthur Hastings, and you are slowly falling in love with a Belgian. The feelings are embarrassing at first; you find the Belgian himself to be quite an embarrassment. But there is just something about him. Could it be his suave, continental sense of humor... his keen sense of justice... his shapely, rubenesque figure? Or is it simply his hypnotic mustache, perhaps? The passion develops in fits and starts. You don’t want to love him, you really don’t. You don’t want to follow him around, adventure after adventure. You don’t want to be his little bitch, always at his beck and call, sniping and moaning at him but loving it nonetheless. You don’t like mysteries but you are about to fall victim to the greatest mystery of them all: the mystery of the human heart! Try as you may, the Belgian has hold of you, heart and soul. You will follow him forever.
If you decide that to love somebody, you must set them free... preferably in Iraq, choose
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
If you decide to follow the little Belgian to the ends of the earth, choose http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Rating: really liked it
If you've read my reviews before, you know I love mystery fiction, and in particular, the classics. Agatha Christie died in 1976, and I was born the following year. Two things come to mind... (1) It's a good thing I wasn't alive when she died because I would have been so miserable to be around. (2) Since I was born just about a year later, I'm wondering if maybe a small part of her lives on... as I love her genius and her works of literature... and I can re-read her books over and over again without ever getting bored.
There are tons of reviews of all her major works, and I don't need to be repetitive in my review. What I'd really try to get across is why you need to read ANY of her works, and then why I'd suggest this one:
1. This was one of her first books, and I believe the first published one, in 1920, which means she was probably writing it exactly 100 years ago. And though some of the language is a little different, and it takes place with a different cultural atmosphere, the crux of the story -- its plot, is appropriate at any point in time. People don't love Christie for her beautiful language or her great ideas... yeah, she had some of those... but it's her plots and characters that stand out. And those transcend time.
2. Who else can create such a puzzle that you are constantly trying to guess what's going on? True, tons of writers today, but not 100 years ago. And even with modern writers, it's often in a suspense and thriller type of novel, where it's all about the chase. Christie was all about the calm approach to solving a murder. She didn't try to end each chapter with a big WOW and heart-wrenching scare tactic. It's simple evolution of a timeline, collections of clues, conversations with people... and then you start to see the puzzle come together. But at the last minute, you get the unexpected twist.
3. With this first book, you meet Hercule Poirot, one of her two popular detectives. Poirot is annoying. He's painful. He will make you angry while you are laughing. And that's the cool part. Columbo is the best comparison I can come up with. And I'm certain Columbo was based on large part by Christie's Poirot.
So why this book???????
It's the first in the series. It's a prime example of why her stories work. It's the ultimate tale - a family with secrets. It takes place in the UK... the best place to visit and perhaps live. I don't live there, only visited it. :}
But it's really the slow build-up of the clues that will have your mind working overtime. So... if you need a Christie stand-alone book, go to "And Then There Were None." If you like female investigators, choose a Miss Marple. If you like a Belgian male detective, flip a coin and pick between Murder on the Orient Express or The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Both will be a great read. But if you need to start at the beginning, go with this one to see what an author's first book looks like. Because if I didn't have my Christie... I'd be like...
About Me For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
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Rating: really liked it
The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot #1), Agatha ChristieOriginal publication year 1920.
Characters: Hercule Poirot, Inspector Japp, Arthur Hastings, John Cavendish, Emily Inglethorp, Alfred Inglethorp, Cynthia Murdoch, Mary Cavendish, Evie Howard, Lawrence Cavendish.
Abstract: The famous case that launched the career of Hercule Poirot. When a wealthy heiress is murdered, Poirot steps out of retirement to find the killer. As the master detective makes his way through the list of suspects, he finds the solution in an elaborately planned scheme almost impossible to believe.
عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «یک جنایت مرموز»؛ «طلوع در استایلز: اسرار خانه ییلاقی»؛ «قتل در عمارت استایلز»؛ «اولین پرونده های پوارو»؛ «ماجرای اسرارآمیز در استایلز»؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: سال 1998 میلادی و سال 2004میلادی
عنوان یک جنایت مرموز، نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم قیطاس مردانیراد، نشر تهران، پیام عدالت، چاپ نخست 1372، در 305ص، چاپ دوم در سال1377خورشیدی؛ شابک 9645977606؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده 20م
عنوان دو: «طلوع در استایلز: اسرار خانه ییلاقی»، نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم بهرام افراسیابی، نشر تهران، مهرفام، 1389، در 333ص، شابک9789649915135؛
عنوان سه: قتل در عمارت استایلز، نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم محی الدین غفرانی، نشر تهران، ساحل، چاپ نخست 1372، چاپ دوم 1373، در248ص، شابک ندارد
عنوان چهار: اولین پرونده های پوارو، نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم محمدرضا عمادی، نشر تهران، هرم، چاپ نخست 1383، چاپ دوم 1386، در248ص، شابک ندارد
عنوان پنج: ماجرای اسرارآمیز در استایلز، نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم رویا سعیدی، نشر تهران، هرمس، چاپ نخست 1382، چاپ دوم 1386، در48ص، چاپ سوم 1390، در 288صفحه، شابک 9643631699؛
چکیده: بانوی املاک «استایلز»، «کورت» را در رختخواب خود مرده یافت؛ او به قتل رسیده بود؛ اعضای خانواده و نزدیکترین دوستان او، مظنون به قتل بودند؛ «جان کاوندیش»، پسر بزرگ او، که بیشترین منافع را میبرد؛ «آلفرد اینگلتورپ» شوهر او، که به هنگام روی دادن جنایت در محل نبود؛ «مری»، همسر «جان»، درگیر با دکتر «باور اشتاین»، نخستین کسی که آن را قتل نامید؛ «لارنس کاوندیش» پسر کوچکتر قربانی، که فنجان قهوه جنایت را شست؛ «اِوِلین هاوارد» که ...؛ «سینتیا مردوک»، تحت سرپرستی مقتول، تنها مظنونی که به سم دسترسی داشت؛ هر یک میتوانستند قاتل باشند
کاپیتان «آرتور هستینگز» که هنوز از جراحتی که در جنگ دیده بهبود نیافته، و در حال گذراندن مرخصی استعلاجی است، از یکی از دوستانش به نام «جان کاوندیش»، نامه ای دریافت میکند، که او را دعوت میکند تا دوره ی نقاهت خود را در «استایلز کورت» بگذراند؛ «هستینگز» پس از ورود به «استایلز» با بقیه ی اعضای خانواده «کاوندیش» آشنا میشود؛ از جمله، «امیلی» که خانم خانه و نامادری «جان» و «لارنس کاوندیش» است، و «جان» و «لارنس» برای تامین معاش کاملا وابسته به او هستند؛ «امیلی» درگیر بعضی فعالیتهای بشردوستانه است، و یکی از این فعالیتها این است که به پناهندگان جنگی، و از جمله گروهی از «بلژیکی»ها یاری میکند؛ «هستینگز» یکی از این پناهندگان را از پیش میشناسد؛ او، کارآگاه نامدار «هرکول پوآرو» است ...؛ «ماجرای اسرارآمیز در استایلز» اثری به یادماندنی است، نخستین کتابی است، که «کریستی» نوشته، و نخستین بار است که «پوآرو»، کارآگاه «بلژیکی» به خوانشگران معرفی میشود
کریستی؛ نگارش این کتاب را در 1916میلادی در بحبوحه ی جنگ جهانی نخست، آغاز کردند؛ ایشان در آن سالها، در داروخانه ای در یک بیمارستان، کار، و در اوقات فراغت روی کتابش کار و کوشش میکردند، به پرونده ی پیچیده و کارآگاه عجیب و غریب خویش زندگی ببخشند؛ «کریستی» پس از پایان نگارش این کتاب، آن را برای شش ناشر گوناگون ارسال کردند، و همگی آنها کتاب را رد کردند؛ تا اینکه بالاخره انتشارات «بادلی» پذیرفت، تا کتاب را با شرایطی نه چندان منصفانه منتشر کند؛ از انتشار کتاب تنها 25پوند عاید روانشاد «کریستی» شد
یادداشت: کتاب تحت پنج عنوان گوناگون در «ایران» بارها منتشر شده است؛
عنوان نخست: «جنایت مرموز»، با ترجمه ی «قیطاس مردانیراد، نشر پیام عدالت»؛
عنوان دوم: «طلوع در استایلز: اسرار خانه ییلاقی، با ترجمه ی بهرام افراسیابی، انتشارات مراد»؛
عنوان سوم: «قتل در عمارت استایلز، با ترجمه محی الدین غفرانی، توسط انتشارات ساحل»؛
عنوان چهارم: «ماجرای اسرارآمیز در استایلز، با ترجمه رویا سعیدی»؛
و عنوان پنجم: «اولین پرونده های پوارو، با ترجمه ی محمدرضا عمادی، در نشر هرم»؛
نقل نمونه از متن کتاب: «فکر نکنید در برنامه ریزی و انجام کارهای تبهکارانه استادید، همیشه هستند کسانی که نقشه شوم و پلیدتان را نقش بر آب میکنند»؛ پایان نقل از متن
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 15/06/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 22/05/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Rating: really liked it
February has been a tough month for me this time around. I can't pinpoint it but there have been too many gray days even without the snow on the ground. Spring is mercifully around the corner and with it sun and happier reading times ahead. I tend to read mysteries as palette cleansers in between denser reads but at count I have read four mysteries this month and perhaps I can squeeze in another. In fact, February should be mystery month. On that note, what better way to spend the lingering winter days with the Queen of Crime, Dame Agatha Christie herself. The Mysterious Affair at Styles is her first case that introduced Hercule Poirot to the world, and, as usual, Dame Christie did not disappoint.
Colonel Hastings has been called to Styles Arms at the request of his friend John Cavendish. It is the war years and Hastings is appreciative to take leave of the army. At Styles, Hastings encounters arguments between the various inhabitants of the manor. There is fighting between Mr and Mrs Alfred and Emily Inglethorpe, between Mr Inglethorpe and his cousin Evelyn Howard, between John and Mary Cavendish, and between John and his brother Lawrence. Either the Great War has made the extended Inglethorpe-Cavendish clan tense, or things are not as rosy on the inside of the manor as they appear on the outside.
It is in this tense environment that within two nights of Hastings arrival that Mrs Emily Inglethorpe is found dying in her bed. A doctor is summoned and rules Mrs Inglethorpe's death to be murder by strychnine poisoning. Hastings is asked to lead the investigative team but with his narrow mind, he is clueless as to who would want to murder and elderly lady. By chance, a group of Belgians is staying at a cottage close to Styles Arms, and among them is Hastings old friend, the one and only Hercule Poirot. Already highly regarded as a premier detective in his home country, Poirot is summoned by Hastings to assist him in solving this dreadful case.
Christie first published The Mysterious Affair at Styles in 1921 and the book has stood the test of time. Poirot mentions that Hastings should use his gray cells, and he seems a step ahead of both Hastings and Scotland Yard Inspector Japp. Inspector Japp almost immediately accuses John Cavendish of murdering his mother and places her on trial, yet Poirot by thoroughly examining each and every clue tells his counterparts to have patience because perhaps a key piece is missing and perhaps the wrong person has been implicated. Yes, John Cavendish can stand to gain in his mother's will from her death but does it make him a murderer. Only Poirot seems to attest to the truth and leads Hastings, the inhabitants of Styles Arms, and Christie's readers on a fact finding mission to unravel the case.
As Styles gained in popularity, Christie found that she had a formula that worked with cases starring her famous Belgian detective. As with many of Christie's future cases featuring Poirot, he has all the principal players gather as he explains to them the crime, motive, and guilty party in an easy to follow step by step manner. And as with many cases, Poirot introduces a new piece of evidence toward the end that plays a significant role in the case. Christie's cases are always fun to read even if it is tricky to guess whodunit based on the lack of this key clue. Yet I keep reading her cases and other mysteries to sharpen my mind and keep my little gray cells in order. It is a good thing that February does not last too much longer or I would probably be reading a case featuring the famous Belgian detective before the calendar turns to spring.
4 stars
Rating: really liked it
To celebrate completing my 1000th book of the decade, I chose Agatha Christie’s first Hercule Poirot mystery novel for this reading slot. I am especially proud of this milestone because earlier in the decade when I was working full-time there was one month (September 2014) where I only read one book and two months where I only read two books (May and June 2012)!Agatha Christie wrote this novel in 1916, and it was first published in the United States by John Lane for $2.00 per copy in October 1920. It was first published in the United Kingdom by The Bodley Head in January 1921 and could be purchased for seven shillings and sixpence. Another historically significant fact is that when Penguin Books first began publishing in 1935, this novel was one of the first 10 books they published.
Agatha Christie did not start out as a Master of the mystery genre, but she persisted and went on to solve some difficult literary problems with the genre via her books – literary problems that had even stumped the illustrious Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. (Specifically, the problem with introducing too many clues that end up canceling each other out).
And, she knows her Shakespeare! The line from 1602’s Hamlet is,
“Though this be madness yet there is method in it.” In this novel, one of the residents of the Styles estate asks in reference to Hercule Poirot,
”Is he quite mad, Mr. Hastings?” and Hastings replies,
”I honestly don’t know. Sometimes, I feel sure he is as mad as a hatter; and then, just as he is at his maddest, I find there is method in his madness.”For a debut novel, this one is excellent. It is well thought through, the writing is clear and the pace is brisk and entertaining. The characters are all interesting, too. At first I thought I might have to write them all down, but instead I just highlighted their first reference in case I needed to look back. I never had to – before the story is even a couple of chapters in, I knew exactly who all the characters were and what their relationships were to each other.
I really had to pay attention while reading this novel. There are, indeed, a plethora of clues. Although Hercule Poirot’s busy mind is sifting them out as they appear, sorting them into mental cubbyholes, and weighing and measuring them, it is true that many of them cancel each other out. Poirot and Hastings (the narrator) are working together, yet Poirot doesn’t disclose all of his deductions to his friend; he tries to prod him into discovering his own deductions. So we have Hastings coming to certain conclusions and Poirot coming to other conclusions. There’s an entire ship load of red herrings in this story!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and although I did guess the actual culprit at least once, I got there via a different route altogether – and it didn’t stop me from suspecting all the other people in the household of murder either. Agatha Christie, if you did in fact write this novel as a challenge to present a murder mystery that leaves one guessing until Hercule Poirot points his finger, you succeeded with me!
One last note: while Agatha Christie and her contemporaries helped to open doors for many of today’s mystery writers (especially women), there were also earlier female mystery writers who opened those doors for Ms Christie and her colleagues. I hope to take this journey with Agatha Christie from novice to master and learn more about how she accomplished that feat.
Rating: really liked it
Ok. Let's get down to business. This is an old fashioned British mystery novel. So much information! Trying to keep it all straight in my head was extremely difficult. My brain was all over the place but that's what makes a good mystery, in my opinion.
This is the first book starring the world famous Hercule Poirot and his friend Hastings. Poirot is an eccentric detective from Belgium who fled to England during WWI. Hastings is a little on the dramatic side, always jumps to the wrong conclusions, and never catches on to the hints that Poirot throws his way. It definitely helps inject some humor into what would normally be very dour subject matter.
The first part of this book (other than the murder of course) is a little slow due to character building, so for about the first 100 pages. After that, Scotland Yard gets involved and that's when things start to get a bit more interesting. The investigation heats up. There are six suspects. People start being cleared or becoming suspicious. At this point it could be anyone. Everyone in this book seems a little shady for one reason or another. The servants seem to be the only ones you don't suspect. Also this book has a lot of dialogue. You have the suspects talking to each other, Poirot interviewing people for information, and Poirot explaining clues, and of course when he reveals everything at the end of the book.
I might be a little biased because I love David Suchet as Poirot in the TV show but I really enjoyed this book. It kept me guessing and it was intricate and interesting enough to keep my attention. If you enjoy an old fashioned mystery but have never read Agatha Christie before, this one is a good place to start :)
Rating: really liked it
It never entered my mind that I'd one day reread this version of the very first Hercule Poirot in such an unexpected medium as electronically. Well I did and here we are.
Some of the words used in this translation were unknown to me. Most of the difficult words are guessable in their meaning via the sentences they adorn.
All things considered, I think this version of Poirot is unique. We encounter a detective that has yet to grow a full head of eccentricities. But he still gambols as a mountain goat would.
That, coupled with his astounding deductions, makes this book as special as a fully decorated Christmas tree.
Rating: really liked it
Poirot is introduced in this book, so how can you not love it?!
Actually, pretty easily.
This simply
isn't Agatha Christie's best work.
And that's mainly due to this being her first book. Yeah, so not only was she still figuring out who
Poirot was, she was still figuring out this whole mystery writing gig. I mean, for her first stab at it, she did a phenomenal job. But if you go into this thing thinking you're going to get her
best story, you'll more than likely be disappointed.
Sorry, Hercule.
For those of you who are already fans, I think you'll find this a fun book because, while he's not
entirely fleshed out yet, all the trademarks of Poirot are there. Hastings is still a bit of a well-intentioned dumbass, and Japp shows up and gives the weird little Belgian free reign to solve the case under the table. Plus the whodunnit was appropriately twisty and turny.
My advice?
If you're new to Poirot - don't start here. Yeah, I know that it's #1 but you don't need to read these books in order. Think of
The Mysterious Affair at Styles as a prequel that you can go back and read
after you get hooked on Hercule.
Rating: really liked it
Agatha Christie's first novel and it shows, a somewhat convoluted story with too many red herrings and even an unneeded trial at the end, written by the bored writer during the First World War ( the Great War) no surprise when rejected by the publishers until 1920. Don't get me wrong this is a highly entertaining book for the mystery fan, though with a little more experience the eagle will fly. Now the murder case set in the majestic estate of Styles home of a wealthy woman Emily Inglethorp 70, she recently married a man twenty years her junior, no reason to state people are dubious of his motives and ardor. The lady is no old fool just the wrong man she selects and soon regrets but the factual cliche states love is blind. Mr. Alfred Inglethorp is unloved by relatives of the unblushing bride, her two stepsons John and Lawrence Cavendish especially, John's pretty wife Mary is acting rather in a puzzling way and a new will which changes the future for them but not for the better doesn't help his popularity. Hercule Poirot a Belgian refugee from the German invasion, one of the 250,000 living in England ( they were asked to go back home after the war) and grateful to Mrs. Inglethorp for her financial assistance. A well known detective in Belgium , short in stature eccentric in manners, a funny looking gentleman with the strange appearing mustache who the public here cannot take seriously . A poisoning in the edifice brings the situation to a boil, death is so final everything else seems trivial, still Inspector Japp from the renowned Scotland Yard in a rural atmosphere seems like the proverbial fish out of water, luckily Poirot an old friend is nearby to clear the picture as others mock the foreigner's abilities. However Poirot in his debut radiates magnetism the reader never tires of him or the many novels which follow decade after decade, the legend has become solidified like steel. Mr. Arthur Hastings a friend of Hercules as well as the family of Emily Inglethorp living at Styles Court and is the clueless narrator, a man always one step behind the great sleuth frustrated by his furtive behavior. He only learns the truth when the master investigator reveals it. Arthur an amateur with misguided thoughts has discovered a genius, and all his skepticism disappears, so do the
quite impressed people at Styles Court. A promising beginning, which bears fruition... the final words.
Rating: really liked it
This is my first introduction to Agatha Christie. Having never read her before, I was interested in starting her with the Poirot series which includes her famous detective, Hercule Poirot.
The story is a cleverly written murder mystery with interesting twists and turns, all the time not giving away the real culprit. I had my hunch of the criminal and motive, and though they prove correct at the end, time to time doubt entered my mind as to whether I figured it right. :)
The character set was mostly nice and likable. The eccentric Poirot (it seems all detectives are rather eccentric people; Sherlock Holmes comes to my mind!) and his friend and narrator, Mr. Hastings provided contrasting points of view on the case keeping the reader in curious wonder as to the turn of the events.
I was very much impressed by Poirot's methods of solving the mystery. It is both genius and humane. His enthusiasm for truth and justice never makes him inconsiderate of human feelings. I truly liked this characteristic of Poirot.
Overall, it was a very interesting first read. I'm very glad to have finally started up with Agatha Christie, though a little late in my reading life. I certainly have missed on a great murder mystery author.
Rating: really liked it
This is where Poirot began! Christie’s most famous detective started his investigations (at least on paper) with The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I have already read a couple of his other adventures, so I am a bit out of order. I figured it was time to go back and tackle them the way Christie intended!
This was a strong start and I can see how it appealed enough to become a series. It is fun to follow the quirky behavior and deductive reasoning of our protagonist. While it is not always easy to tell where he is going with his explanations, it all came together in the end.
Another thing this book has going for it is that the mystery was interesting, which is not always the case. A few times I read mystery stories and, while the investigation is interesting, the general plot is lackluster. But, from the moment I met the characters I was hooked. Then it only got more interesting as I learned their backgrounds, witnessed the crime, and then joined Poirot in putting the puzzle pieces together.
I am so glad I tried another classic from Christie. I think if you have any interest in mystery novels you should try Christie, and this would not be a bad place to start.
Rating: really liked it
The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot #1), Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles original publication year 1920. The famous case that launched the career of Hercule Poirot.
When a wealthy heiress is murdered, Poirot steps out of retirement to find the killer. As the master detective makes his way through the list of suspects, he finds the solution in an elaborately planned scheme almost impossible to believe.
Characters: Hercule Poirot, Inspector Japp, Arthur Hastings, John Cavendish, Emily Inglethorp, Alfred Inglethorp, Cynthia Murdoch, Mary Cavendish, Evie Howard, Lawrence Cavendish.
عنوانها: «جنایت مرموز»؛ «طلوع در استایلز: اسرار خانه ییلاقی»؛ «قتل در عمارت استایلز»؛ «ماجرای اسرارآمیز در استایلز»؛ «اولین پرونده های پوارو»؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: سال 1998 میلادی و سال 2003 میلادی
عنوان: جنایت مرموز، نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم قیطاس مردانیراد، نشر تهران، پیام عدالت، چاپ نخست 1372، در 305ص.، چاپ دوم در سال 1377؛ شابک: 9645977606؛
عنوان: طلوع در استایلز: اسرار خانه ییلاقی، نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: بهرام افراسیابی، نشر: تهران، مراد، 1372، در 333ص.، شابک: ندارد؛ چاپ دیگ: نشر: تهران، مهرفام، 1389، در 333 ص.، شابک 9789649915135؛
عنوان: قتل در عمارت استایلز، نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: محی الدین غفرانی، نشر: تهران، ساحل، چاپ نخست 1372، چاپ دوم 1373، در 248ص.، شابک: ندارد
عنوان: اولین پرونده های پوارو، نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: محمدرضا عمادی، نشر: تهران، هرم، چاپ نخست 1383، چاپ دوم 1386، در 248ص.، شابک: ندارد
عنوان: ماجرای اسرارآمیز در استایلز، نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: رویا سعیدی، نشر: تهران، هرمس، چاپ نخست 1382، چاپ دوم 1386، در 248ص.، چاپ سوم 1390، در 288صفحه، شابک: 9643631699؛
یادداشت: کتاب تحت پنج عنوان متفاوت، به فارسی ترجمه و بارها منتشر شده، عنوان نخست «جنایت مرموز»، با ترجمه ی قیطاس مردانیراد، نشر پیام عدالت، عنوان دوم «طلوع در استایلز: اسرار خانه ییلاقی» با ترجمه ی بهرام افراسیابی، انتشارات مراد، عنوان سوم «قتل در عمارت استایلز»، با ترجمه محی الدین غفرانی، توسط انتشارات ساحل، و عنوان چهارم «ماجرای اسرارآمیز در استایلز»، با ترجمه رویا سعیدی و نیز عنوان پنجم «اولین پرونده های پوارو» با ترجمه ی محمدرضا عمادی، در نشر هرم
داستان «ماجرای اسرارآمیز در استایلز»، اثری به یادماندنی ست، نخستین کتابی ست، که بانو «کریستی» نوشته، و نخستین بار است، که کارآگاه «پوآرو»، کارآگاه بلژیکی، به خوانشگران معرفی میشود. «کریستی» نگارش این کتاب را در سال 1916میلادی، در گیرودار جنگ جهانی نخست، آغاز کردند؛ ایشان در آن سالها، در داروخانه ای در یک بیمارستان، کار، و در اوقات فراغت، روی کتاب کار و سعی میکردند، به پرونده ی پیچیده و کارآگاه عجیب و غریب خویش، زندگی ببخشند. «کریستی» پس از پایان نگارش کتاب، آن را برای شش ناشر ارسال کردند، و همگی آنها کتاب را رد کردند. تا اینکه انتشارات «بادلی» پذیرفت، تا کتاب را با شرایطی نه چندان منصفانه، منتشر کند؛ از انتشار کتاب تنها 25پوند، عاید بانو «کریستی» شد
چکیده و آغاز داستان: بانوی املاک «استایلز»، «کورت» را در رختخواب خود مرده یافت. او به قتل رسیده بود. اعضای خانواده، و نزدیکترین دوستان او، مظنون به قتل بودند: «جان کاوندیش، پسر بزرگ او، که بیشترین منافع را میبرد». «آلفرد اینگلتورپ، شوهر او، که به هنگام وقوع جنایت در محل نبود». «مری، همسر جان، درگیر با دکتر باور اشتاین، نخستین کسی که آن را قتل نامید». «لارنس کاوندیش، پسر کوچکتر قربانی، که فنجان قهوه جنایت را شست». «اِوِلین هاوارد، که ...»؛ «سینتیا مردوک، تحت سرپرستی مقتول، تنها مظنونی که به سم دسترسی داشت». هر کدام میتوانستند قاتل باشند. کاپیتان «آرتور هستینگز»، که هنوز از جراحتی که در جنگ دیده بهبود نیافته، و در حال گذراندن مرخصی استعلاجی است، از یکی از دوستانش به نام «جان کاوندیش»، نامه ای دریافت میکند، که او را دعوت میکند، تا دوره ی نقاهت خود را، در «استایلز کورت» بگذراند. «هستینگز» پس از ورود به «استایلز»، با دیگر اعضای خانواده «کاوندیش»، آشنا میشود. از جمله: «امیلی، که خانم خانه و نامادری جان، و لارنس کاوندیش است، و جان، و لارنس، برای تامین معاش، کاملا وابسته به او هستند». «امیلی» درگیر بعضی فعالیتهای بشردوستانه است، و یکی از فعالیتها این است، که به پناهندگان جنگی، و از جمله گروهی از بلژیکیها، کمک میکند. «هستینگز» یکی از این پناهندگان را از پیش میشناسد. او، کارآگاه معروف، «هرکول پوآرو» است ...؛
از متن کتاب: «فکر نکنید در برنامه ریزی و انجام کارهای تبهکارانه استادید، همیشه هستند کسانی که نقشه شوم و پلیدتان را نقش بر آب میکنند». پایان نقل از متن
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 23/03/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Rating: really liked it
This is Agatha Christie’s debut novel, published in 1920, and the first featuring her detective, Hercule Poirot. By any standards it is an assured and well written debut novel and, considering the period it was written, it is also remarkably undated. Apparently, Agatha Christie was challenged by her sister to write a detective story, for which I am eternally grateful, as this was her offering. Like one of the characters in this novel, Agatha worked in the dispensary of a local hospital and gained a knowledge of poisons, which she used in her novel. She also saw the arrival of Belgian refugees during WWI, which gave her detective his background.
Our narrator, Hastings, writes an account of the ‘Affair at Styles.’ He has been invalided home from the Front, when he is invited to stay at Styles with an old friend, John Cavendish. John lives at Styles with his wife, Mary, his brother, Laurence, his step-mother, her companion, Evie Howard and his mother’s ward, Cynthia. Recently, there has been another addition to the household too, as his step-mother has remarried the much younger Alfred Inglethorp. Alfred has caused an air of constraint to the household and, when Mrs Inglethorp is murdered, he is the natural suspect.
Nearby, M. Poirot has been staying in a house provided by Mrs Inglethorp, along with other Belgian refugees. Hastings knew Poirot well and, when the murder occurs, he asks him to investigate. This book contains many of the characters that Poirot fans will come to know well – not only Hastings but Detective Inspector James Japp of Scotland Yard. Interestingly, this edition also includes the original, unpublished ending, in which Poirot explains the crime in the courtroom – before this was re-written at the request of the publisher to take place in the drawing room setting that lovers of Golden Age mysteries are very familiar with. A wonderful beginning to my favourite detective series of all time.
Rating: really liked it
I'm a long time Agatha Christie fan, and I recently decided to re-read some of her novels.
*****
'The Mysterious Affair at Styles' is Agatha Christie's first published book, and it's less sophisticated than her later work. The story does, however, introduce three well-known Christie characters: Hercule Poirot, Captain Hastings, and Inspector Japp.
Hercule Poirot
Captain Hastings
Inspector JappAs the book opens Hastings has been injured in WWI and is recuperating at Styles Court, a manor house in the country.
Styles Court belongs to the Cavendish family, and is currently occupied by a diverse assemblage of people, including: Emily Inglethorpe - the widow of the late Mr. Cavendish. Emily inherited a lifetime interest in the house AND a large sum of money; Emily's new - much younger - husband, Alfred Inglethorpe; Emily's adult stepson, John Cavendish; John's wife Mary; John's bachelor brother Lawrence; Evelyn Howard - Emily's longtime friend and companion; Cynthia Murdoch - the orphaned daughter of family friends; and Dorcas, the maid.
There's a tense atmosphere at Styles because of simmering resentments and secrets. For example:
- John Cavendish - who'll inherit the manor house when his stepmother dies - thinks it should have been his all along; in addition, John is suspected of dallying with the pretty wife of a neighboring farmer.
- John's wife Mary, in turn, spends a lot of time with Dr. Bauerstein - the local toxicologist who hails from Germany. To add to this 'quadrangle', Captain Hastings has a crush on beautiful Mary.
- Evelyn Howard hates Alfred Inglethorpe, convinced he only married Emily for her money.
- Alfred Inglethorpe's thick beard looks like a disguise, and he has long poorly explained absences.
- Lawrence Cavendish resents Cynthia Murdoch, who's very aware of her status as an 'outsider'; Cynthia supports herself with a job in a pharmacy.....and she seems to be the only one of this bunch who's actually employed.
As it happens, a group of Belgian refugees, including Hercule Poirot, are living in a house near Styles Court - an arrangement facilitated by Emily Inglethorpe. Hastings is thrilled to see Poirot and lauds the former policeman's detective skills - so it's clear they've met before.
In the midst of the testy atmosphere at Styles Court Emily Inglethorpe dies from strychnine poisoning - in a locked room.
Hastings suspects foul play and prevails on Poirot to investigate, and the Belgian complies.....with Hastings as his partner. To round out the 'detective trio', Inspector Japp is assigned to the case.
During the investigation Poirot learns that Emily had a loud fight with an unknown male on the day before she died; Emily's latest will is missing; there have been shenanigans with Emily's locked document box; someone bought strychnine at the town's pharmacy; coffee and cocoa were consumed on the evening of the murder....and a cup has been smashed; there's something suspicious about Emily's medicine packets; etc.
As often happens in these stories, Poirot makes shrewd deductions about everything.....but doesn't share them; Hastings tries to demonstrate his investigative skills but misinterprets most of the clues; and Japp hares off after the wrong suspect(s).
The book is chock full of misdirection and red herrings, but - in the end - Poirot gathers the suspects and reveals the truth.
The book is just so-so. Though Christie's nascent writing skills are apparent, the plot is overly convoluted (to the point of unbelievability); Poirot talks too much (yak yak yak); and there's a whiff of anti-Semitism and classism (though this is common in Christie's books.....a sign of her times.)
If you're a long time Agatha Christie fan, this book would make a fun re-read; and if you're new to the famous author's works, this is a good place to start.
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