The Mysterious Affair at Styles

In 1917 Hastings is recovering from a war wound at Styles Court, the country home of his friend John Cavendish. John's wealthy stepmother, Emily Inglethorp, has married a much younger man, Alfred, whom everyone loathes. One night Emily dies of strychnine poisoning. Hastings calls in Poirot, a Belgian refugee living in the village. Alfred looks too guilty, and Poirot even keeps him from being arrested while John ends up on trial. In the end Poirot proves Alfred killed his wife with the help of his cousin Evelyn Howard, who only pretended to hate him. The poison was in Emily's own tonic. John is freed and makes up with his wife, Mary.

1. Behind the scenesA lesson in poisons

   Christie wrote the book during World War I while working in a hospital dispensary. That's where she learned about poisons, and it shows in the crime.

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2. Behind the scenesThe rewritten ending

   In the first draft Poirot explained the case in a courtroom. Her publisher asked for a new ending, so Christie moved the reveal to a gathering in the drawing room, which became Poirot's trademark.

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