Mysterious Affair at Styles

Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890 and became, quite simply, the best-selling novelist in history. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, written towards the end of the First World War, introduced us to Hercule Poirot, who was to become the most popular detective in crime fiction since Sherlock Holmes. She is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and another billion in over 100 foreign countries. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections, 19 plays, and six novels under the name of Mary Westmacott.

‘Almost too ingenious … very clearly and brightly told.’Times Literary Supplement‘Very well contrived.’Sunday Times‘Altogether a skilful tale and a talented first book.’Daily News‘The most ingenious and absorbingly interesting tale of sensations and mystery we have read for a long time.’Bookman‘Well written, well proportioned, and full of surprises. Lovers of good stories will, without exception, rejoice in this book.’The British Weekly