The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Hercule Poirot’s friend, Hastings was invited by his childhood friend, John Cavendish to stay at Styles St Mary. There he met Lawrence (John’s brother) and Mary (John’s wife). John’s stepmother, Emily had married Alfred Inglethorp. However, not everyone approved of Mr. Inglethorp. For example, Evelyn, companion to old Mrs. Inglethorp, had quarreled with Alfred (who is rumoured to have married his wife for money) and stormed out of the house.

Then came the death of the old Mrs. Inglethorp. With everyone eyeing her money, who could have done it? Alfred would love the money and he was a flirt. John needed money urgently. So did Lawrence.

Hercule Poirot investigated this mysterious affair. First, was the poison in the coffee or cocoa? Where had Alfred been when his wife was dying? Why was there a will found burnt? Who burnt it and Why?

Alfred had been seen buying the same kind of poison that his wife had died from. Was he the murderer?

If you love Agatha Christie’s mysteries or Hercule Poirot, this is a book you should not miss.

The Secret of Chimneys

Anthony Cade ran an errand for his friend, Jimmy McGrath: to deliver the memoirs of Count Stylptitch, who had passed away two months ago. Anthony disguised himself as Jimmy. Little did he knew he was in danger and involved in a murderous international conspiracy.

He was invited to a party where the Hon George Lomax tries to get the widowed Mrs. Virginia Revel to seduce him. Prince Michael Obolovitch was at the party and later found dead. Yet, Anthony rejected the invitation in Jimmy’s name and then appeared as himself at the party.

That was not the first murder as earlier, a man who tried to blackmail Virginia was killed at her house and Anthony came along and disposed the dead body.

Virginia and Anthony later had such a good relationship, that Virginia’s suitor, Bill Eversleigh.

The death of Prince Michael left the question of who would be the next heir to the throne in Herzoslovakia. It would be Prince Nicolas Sergius Alexander Ferinand Obolovitch, who was missing for years. Where would he be then?

Meanwhile, the Scotland Yard and French Surete searched for the killer, who they had no idea about, but they had one suspect, the mysterious Anthony.

Who had murdered Prince Michael?

The Mystery of the Blue Train

Ruth Kettering was going to divorce her husband, Derek. Both of them had their lovers, Ruth with Comte de la Roche and Derek with Mirelle.

Ruth’s father, Rufus Van Aldin had bought priceless rubies, Heart of Fire for her daughter, which Ruth brought with her on the famous Blue Train on her journey to meet Comte de la Roche.

On the other hand, Katherine Grey had inherited a fortune and took the same train as Ruth. Being a good listener, many people confided in her. Ruth was one of the persons who confided in her although they had met the first time.

Ruth was later found dead, with her priceless rubies missing. The main suspect is her husband, but Hercule Poirot did not think so, so he stages an eerie re-enactment of the journey, complete with the murderer.

Meanwhile, Katherine has two suitors, Derek who had abandoned his lover, Mirelle, and the shy Knighton (Van Aldin’s secretary).

Who had murdered Ruth and who Katherine would choose?
This is a mystery with some twists. At first, you think it was suspect #1 then you think suspect #2 did it.

A book that had keep me reading non-stop.