Every great hero has an origin story and for Hercule Poirot, it all began with "The Mysterious Affair at Styles." Agatha Christie's first novel to feature the clever and enigmatic Belgian detective, "Styles" was an immediate hit and prompted Christie to create over thirty books, fifty-one short stories and even two plays featuring her most famous creation.

In this story, when the mistress of Styles Court in Essex is found murdered in her room - poisoned by a lethal dose of strychnine - suspicion falls upon the two men who are next in line to inherit the estate. While the police investigate, word goes out to the famous detective - Hercule Poirot - who is staying nearby to come to Styles and look into the matter. Poirot - assisting the officer in charge of the case, Inspector Japp - eventually unravels the complex and fascinating mystery.

The debut novel of one of the greatest detectives in the annals of mystery fiction, "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" is presented here unabridged, as it was first published, complete with original illustrations.