O Misterioso Caso de Styles (1920)

This was a good enough book. Basically, I needed a break after The Count of Monte Cristo.

Agatha Christie is entertaining, but not particularly deep. Even though murder is generally a psychological crime, she doesn't delve deeply into the human condition.

This book had Poirot and Capt. Hastings. Lots of red herrings and misdirection. Even though I'd watched a video version in the last year, I'd not clearly remembered the ending. ( )

This is Ms Christie’s first book with Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings. This is one of her best novels in her long career. Poirot has quite a dilemma on his hands with multiple culprits having possible reason to murder the poor victim. In the end, he pulls the rabbit from his hat and gets the culprits in true Poirot style. ( )

Although this novel is a Hurcule Poirot, it is told through the viewpoint of a friend of Poirot, Mr. Hastings. The viewpoint character is effective, since he basically has no detective instincts whatsoever, therefore not giving away what Poirot is thinking, which would ruin the mystery. The novel starts off with the death of Emily Cavendish. There are a handful of characters who are in the house at the time, and like with most good mysteries, there are various clues lying about. Half the time, I felt like Hastings, not being able to figure out who did what and always playing catch up with Poirot. About two thirds of the way through, I had a guess as to who committed the murder, and it turns out I was half right.

I like Christie’s story telling style, but there were some problematic elements of the way the story unfolded, and a couple of elements that defied logic. Poirot comes off as enigmatic and charming. Because of the gap in time from when the story was written until now, some of the aspects of the plot were a bit hard to grasp, but for the most part the plot was strong, and the reveal was logical. This was a strong mystery novel that I would recommend.

Carl Alves – author of Conjesero ( )

This was absolute trash. It was my first Christie book and, judging by how bad it was, it is most likely my last. It left a bad taste in my literary palate. It is completely devoid of interest and engaging prose. VERY bad. DO NOT RECOMMEND. ( )

The Mysterious Mr. Quin (1930) (Harley Quin) by Agatha Christie. This character, Harley Quin, is reported to have been Dame Agatha’s favorite as she only had to write about him when she wished to. Quin, along with his puppet, the good Mr. Satterthwaite, set out to right wrongs, solve vexing problems of the heart, and occasionally solve a murder.
Satterthwaite is in his sixties, an English gentleman who has no wish for sport or romance or business. He is from that class of people Christie liked to populate her books with, the idle rich who know everyone of importance and in hand, are known to all, and beloved by them in return. He has an interest in people and they seem to trust and open up to this benign older gent.
But it is Mr. Quin who is the driving force here. He appears and disappears like a spector, arriving in a time of need, appearing to Mr. Satterthwaite when there is a problem, merely talking with the kind gentleman, asking questions that Mr. Satterthwaite is surprised to find he knows the answers to, and helping the latter solve the puzzle.
This book contains an even dozen tales of the pair, each a tie plum of deliciousness ready to be devoted. Help yourself. ( )