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Hercule Poirot #1-3
A Hercule Poirot Trio: The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Murder on the Links, Poirot Investigates
The first three Hercule Poirot books see the former Belgian policeman tempted out of retirement to solve a series of outlandish murders in Britain and France, assisted by the redoubtable Captain Hastings, setting him on the path to becoming the World's Greatest Detective!
THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLESAgatha Christie's first ever novel. With impeccable timing Hercule Poirot, the renowned Belgian detective, makes his dramatic entrance on to the English crime stage.
MURDER ON THE LINKSAn urgent cry for help brings Poirot to France. But he arrives too late to save his client, whose brutally stabbed body now lies face downwards in a shallow grave on a golf course.
POIROT INVESTIGATESFirst there was the mystery of the film star and the diamond... then came the 'suicide' that was murder... the mystery of the absurdly chaep flat... a suspicious death in a locked gun-room... a million dollar bond robbery... the curse of a pharoah's tomb... a jewel robbery by the sea... the abduction of a Prime Minister... the disappearance of a banker... a phone call from a dying man... and, finally, the mystery of the missing willl.What links these fascinating cases? Only the brilliant deductive powers of Hercule Poirot!
THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLESAgatha Christie's first ever novel. With impeccable timing Hercule Poirot, the renowned Belgian detective, makes his dramatic entrance on to the English crime stage.
MURDER ON THE LINKSAn urgent cry for help brings Poirot to France. But he arrives too late to save his client, whose brutally stabbed body now lies face downwards in a shallow grave on a golf course.
POIROT INVESTIGATESFirst there was the mystery of the film star and the diamond... then came the 'suicide' that was murder... the mystery of the absurdly chaep flat... a suspicious death in a locked gun-room... a million dollar bond robbery... the curse of a pharoah's tomb... a jewel robbery by the sea... the abduction of a Prime Minister... the disappearance of a banker... a phone call from a dying man... and, finally, the mystery of the missing willl.What links these fascinating cases? Only the brilliant deductive powers of Hercule Poirot!
358 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
215 people are currently reading
303 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,817 books75.4k followersAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 11, 2021
2021-11: The Mysterious Affair at Styles
3.5 stars.
This is the first appearance of Poirot, and his faithful companion, Hastings. Hastings is recovering from injuries received in the War, and staying with his friend John Cavendish at the family home, Styles Court.
There are many tensions amongst the family, most centred in who’s going to get Cavendish's elderly mother's money? Well, this question suddenly becomes material when she’s killed. When it’s ruled as murder, Hastings decides to bring Poirot in to deal with the matter, after unexpectedly encountering Poirot in the village (the former policeman is one of seven Belgian refugees staying there.)
Hastings believes he has some talent for detection, and we hear his assessments of everyone involved, including his perceptions of Poirot and Poirot's methods, and oh, Hastings, don’t try to detect! You’re kind of an idiot, but a useful idiot for Poirot.
This wasn’t Christie’s best, considering it was her first book, but it has all the elements she’d soon become adept at managing: members of a family eager for cash, and dependent on a controlling matriarch/patriarch, a locked room, plodding policemen, and a sleuth who’s so much more observant than everyone else. We don’t hear of the little grey cells, but we do get the neatness, and the mustache.
2017-02: Murder on the Links:
3 stars.
A somewhat sloppy mystery. Lots of running around, despite Poirot saying he doesn't like running around. There are bits of information that are revealed a little late so it was harder to figure this one out. Hastings narrates, and he is totally ruled by his hormones in this story, while Poirot clashes, mildly, with a French detective, who insists there are many clues to be found in ash, matches and other little things. (Seems like a little dig at another famous fictional detective...)
3.5 stars.
This is the first appearance of Poirot, and his faithful companion, Hastings. Hastings is recovering from injuries received in the War, and staying with his friend John Cavendish at the family home, Styles Court.
There are many tensions amongst the family, most centred in who’s going to get Cavendish's elderly mother's money? Well, this question suddenly becomes material when she’s killed. When it’s ruled as murder, Hastings decides to bring Poirot in to deal with the matter, after unexpectedly encountering Poirot in the village (the former policeman is one of seven Belgian refugees staying there.)
Hastings believes he has some talent for detection, and we hear his assessments of everyone involved, including his perceptions of Poirot and Poirot's methods, and oh, Hastings, don’t try to detect! You’re kind of an idiot, but a useful idiot for Poirot.
This wasn’t Christie’s best, considering it was her first book, but it has all the elements she’d soon become adept at managing: members of a family eager for cash, and dependent on a controlling matriarch/patriarch, a locked room, plodding policemen, and a sleuth who’s so much more observant than everyone else. We don’t hear of the little grey cells, but we do get the neatness, and the mustache.
2017-02: Murder on the Links:
3 stars.
A somewhat sloppy mystery. Lots of running around, despite Poirot saying he doesn't like running around. There are bits of information that are revealed a little late so it was harder to figure this one out. Hastings narrates, and he is totally ruled by his hormones in this story, while Poirot clashes, mildly, with a French detective, who insists there are many clues to be found in ash, matches and other little things. (Seems like a little dig at another famous fictional detective...)
September 4, 2020
Poirot was an extraordinary-looking little man. He was hardly more than five feet four inches, but carried himself with great dignity. His head was exactly the shape of an egg, and he always perched it a little on one side. His moustache was very stiff and military. The neatness of his attire was almost incredible; I believe a speck of dust would have caused him more pain than a bullet wound. Yet this quaint dandified little man who, I was sorry to see, now limped badly, had been in his time one of the most celebrated members of the Belgian police. As a detective, his flair had been extraordinary, and he had achieved triumphs by unravelling some of the most baffling cases of the day.
Christie, Agatha. Hercule Poirot 3-Book Collection 1: The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Murder on the Links, Poirot Investigates (Kindle Locations 308-313). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.
I love Hercule Poirot. Such a great detective. Such a character. There's always a great mystery with lots of twists and turns and red herrings, all of which keep me riveted. The characters are interesting and have complex motives for their actions. That said, not a huge fan of Hastings. He's too busy being on his high horse to be likable. I've read many Agatha Christie books before but not all and not in order so I'm in the process of commencing a reread. Highly recommend to crime lovers.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles 4 stars.
In The Mysterious Affair at Styles we are introduced to our narrator, Captain Arthur Hastings who is on leave from the army and runs into an old friend, John Cavendish. He gets invited to stay with them and not long after his arrival the friend's mother (stepmother actually but referred to mainly as mother) is murdered and it becomes a whodunnit. Poirot is in town so when the doctors imply that Emily Inglethorpe has been poisoned, Hastings suggests Poirot be fetched.
The Murder on the Links 4 stars.
In The Murder on the Links, Poirot and Hastings are called to assist a man who later winds up dead and stay on to help solve the murder.
Poirot Investigates 4 stars.
Poirot Investigates is a short story collection. Most of the stories are good, but I'm just not a short story fan. I prefer more to sink my teeth into.
Christie, Agatha. Hercule Poirot 3-Book Collection 1: The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Murder on the Links, Poirot Investigates (Kindle Locations 308-313). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.
I love Hercule Poirot. Such a great detective. Such a character. There's always a great mystery with lots of twists and turns and red herrings, all of which keep me riveted. The characters are interesting and have complex motives for their actions. That said, not a huge fan of Hastings. He's too busy being on his high horse to be likable. I've read many Agatha Christie books before but not all and not in order so I'm in the process of commencing a reread. Highly recommend to crime lovers.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles 4 stars.
In The Mysterious Affair at Styles we are introduced to our narrator, Captain Arthur Hastings who is on leave from the army and runs into an old friend, John Cavendish. He gets invited to stay with them and not long after his arrival the friend's mother (stepmother actually but referred to mainly as mother) is murdered and it becomes a whodunnit. Poirot is in town so when the doctors imply that Emily Inglethorpe has been poisoned, Hastings suggests Poirot be fetched.
The Murder on the Links 4 stars.
In The Murder on the Links, Poirot and Hastings are called to assist a man who later winds up dead and stay on to help solve the murder.
Poirot Investigates 4 stars.
Poirot Investigates is a short story collection. Most of the stories are good, but I'm just not a short story fan. I prefer more to sink my teeth into.
February 22, 2021
Read the first two books and the first story from the third. The multitude of short stories was not interesting to me and I couldn’t bare to read a full books worth of them.
Also, for being a famous mystery writer I don’t seem to enjoy her books.
Also, for being a famous mystery writer I don’t seem to enjoy her books.
November 3, 2020
read the first book
January 6, 2025
Great read
I love Agatha Christie's books, both Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, good stories in this book, well done Miss Christie
I love Agatha Christie's books, both Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, good stories in this book, well done Miss Christie
May 31, 2025
This is a very good compilation of short stories.
July 13, 2025
Great summer entertainment. Some of the stories were familiar, from watching the series on PBS.
August 3, 2022
Always ready for a classic Christie novel, I decided to read the Hercule Poirot series from the beginning and thoroughly enjoyed doing so!
I admire the subtle clues Christie intertwines within the storyline and though fancying myself a Poirot, I am more often a Hastings - utterly flabbergasted by the dramatic conclusions of the detective!
Personally I preferred The Mysterious Affair at Styles, especially as the first book there was a clear establishment of characters and I was able to follow the narrative with effective clarity.
Whilst I did enjoy The Murder on the Links, the constant travelling back and forth did add an element of confusion that required a certain dedication to flipping to previous pages which time did not always permit. Regardless, a satisfactory and well-constructed ending to the case.
Finally, Poirot investigates is a collection of short stories which I didn’t actually realise when I started. Certainly less exposed to such literature, I was initially undecided but the more I read the more I grew to admire the clever narratives, almost like snapshots of Poirot’s best moments solving cases. With his sharp wit and ever-working grey cells I believe the form of this third book was an incredibly effective way of categorising the best work of Hercule Poirot!
I admire the subtle clues Christie intertwines within the storyline and though fancying myself a Poirot, I am more often a Hastings - utterly flabbergasted by the dramatic conclusions of the detective!
Personally I preferred The Mysterious Affair at Styles, especially as the first book there was a clear establishment of characters and I was able to follow the narrative with effective clarity.
Whilst I did enjoy The Murder on the Links, the constant travelling back and forth did add an element of confusion that required a certain dedication to flipping to previous pages which time did not always permit. Regardless, a satisfactory and well-constructed ending to the case.
Finally, Poirot investigates is a collection of short stories which I didn’t actually realise when I started. Certainly less exposed to such literature, I was initially undecided but the more I read the more I grew to admire the clever narratives, almost like snapshots of Poirot’s best moments solving cases. With his sharp wit and ever-working grey cells I believe the form of this third book was an incredibly effective way of categorising the best work of Hercule Poirot!
February 2, 2016
Excellent value with 2 good Poirot novels and a short story collection. Christie established herself as a mistress of the convoluted plot with these novels. In "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" the obvious suspect couldn't have done it while the clues point to someone with no motive. Poirot introduced complete, applying the "little grey cells" to rearrange the clues an produce a totally different picture. In "The Murder on the Links" Poirot annoys the local detectives by spoiling an open-and-shut case with the discovery of a second body. The short stories, while not as satisfying, do enable Christie to highlight the little grey cells at work.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews