Welcome to Shelf Control — an original feature created and hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies.
Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up! For more info on what Shelf Control is all about, check out my introductory post, here.
Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. See the guidelines at the bottom of the post, and jump on board!

Title: The Mysterious Affair at Styles
Author: Agatha Christie
Published: 1920
Length: 208 pages
What it’s about (synopsis via Goodreads):
Who poisoned the wealthy Emily Inglethorp and how did the murderer penetrate and escape from her locked bedroom? Suspects abound in the quaint village of Styles St. Mary—from the heiress’s fawning new husband to her two stepsons, her volatile housekeeper, and a pretty nurse who works in a hospital dispensary.
With impeccable timing, and making his unforgettable debut, the brilliant Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is on the case.
How and when I got it:
I picked up a Kindle edition a couple of years ago.
Why I want to read it:
After reading the excellent new novel by Marie Benedict, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, my interest in Agatha Christie is definitely piqued! I’ve only read one of her books so far, but I’ve been intending to read more.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles is Agatha Christie’s first published novel, and it’s also the book where she introduced Hercule Poirot. I feel like this would be a great starting place for me, and if I enjoy it (as I suspect I will), I can pick and choose more of her works to read.
Are you an Agatha Christie fan? Any recommendations on which books to read? Particular favorites?
Please share your thoughts!

__________________________________
Want to participate in Shelf Control? Here’s how:
- Write a blog post about a book that you own that you haven’t read yet.
- Add your link in the comments or link back from your own post, so I can add you to the participant list.
- Check out other posts, and…
Have fun!
Lovely–it would be sun fun reading this for the first time. I did a reread of this last year when it turned a hundred. Hope you enjoy it–I do very much.
Wow, I didn’t even think about it being 100 years old! Incredible. I’m excited to read it!
Hope you enjoy it!
Pingback: Shelf Control #122: The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed – Literary Potpourri
Ah, the book that started it all. I hope you enjoy the read.
Thanks! I’m excited to read it!
I haven’t read much Christie either, and its always good to start at the beginning😁
I think I actually have a few of her books on my Kindle (grabbed at various times when there was a price break) — I definitely want to read more of her work!
My first Christie read (eons ago) and I loved it. This book and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd are two of my favorites of hers. Enjoy!
Excellent! That’s great to know!
It’s a quick read and it does help you appreciate Christie more. I have not read it (don’t be upset) I just know that each time I read one of her books I gain more insight into her writing 🙂
I’m very eager to give it a try! I keep grabbing her books when I see Kindle price drops, so I think I have five (at least) at my fingertips. 🙂
I love Agatha Christie. I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s on my list. 🙂
Do you have any favorites? I’ve been wanting to read more of her books for years!