Post Mortem: The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Author and Publication Date

Dame Agatha Christie, 1920

Dramatis Personae

Stars

D The Gread Detective: M. Hercule Poirot refugee sponsored by V
T The Trusted Friend: (Capt) (Arthur) Hastings family acquaintence of V, JC, LC
V The Murder Victim: Mrs. Emily Inglethorp stepmother of JC, LC
guardian of CM
wife of AI
employer & friend of EH
M The Murderer: ??? "Some person or persons unknown"

Suspects

JC Mr. John Cavendish stepson of V
brother of LC
LC Mr. Lawrence Cavendish stepson of V
brother of JC
MC Mrs. Mary Cavendish wife of JC
friend of DB
AI Mr. Alfred Inglethorp husband of V
second cousin of EH
EH Miss Evelyn Howard assistant & friend of V
second cousin of AI
CM Miss Cynthia Murdoch protegee of V
DB Dr. Bauerstein friend of MC

Crime Scene

Date of Death (D) 18 July (1916) T is on medical leave from World War I.
Location V's bedroom, Styles Court, Essex, UK room has three entrances: hallway, AI's bedroom, CM's bedroom
Circumstances At around 5:30 a.m. on D, V went into violent convulsions, attracting attention of household. All three entrances being locked, door from AI's bedroom was broken down by T, JC, LC. V died of apparent poisoning shortly thereafter. Death witnessed by T, JC, LC, MC, CM, DB.

Clues

# Fact Wit. Ch. Significance Int. Ch. Key
1 Cavendish (late husband of V, father of JC, LC) left Styles to V for her lifetime. T I (motive for JC, MC: JC will inherit Styles on death of V) H
2 LC trained to be a doctor. T I H
3 JC was a practicing barrister. T I H
4 LC has been unsuccessful as a poet T 1 H
5 At Styles all scrap paper is collected for recycling. V I
6 EH leaves Styles on D-12 after quarreling with V about AI. T I
7 AI is having an affair with Mrs. Raikes. EH I F
8 All residents of Styles (JC, LC, MC, AI, CM) are in need of money and want it from V. EH I H
9 DB is a top expert on poisons, staying in Styles St. Mary village to recuperate from a nervous breakdown. JC I H
10 V and AI were abruptly engaged and married about 3 months prior to D. JC I H
11 JC seemed excited and restless on D-2. T II
12 Supper at Styles was early and rushed on D-2 due to V's poetry recital in the evening. T II
13 On D-1, V, T, LC attend luncheon at Rolleston's. Afterwards V returns to Styles while T & LC stop for tea with CM at the hospital dispensary where she works. T II
14 CM pointed out the dispensary cabinet where poisons are kept to LC & T (D-1). T II
15 LC was alone in infirmary for a few moments during visit on D-1. T II
16 LC & CM, who usually behave reservedly around each other, were very cheerful together during tea at dispensary on D-1. T II (LC & CM have feelings for each other that they are reluctant to make known.)
17 When T, LC, CM return to Styles, V appears upset & tired, states she has urgent mail to write, & asks maid to light fire in her bedroom. (D-1) T II
18 MC appeared upset on the afternoon of D-1 & was overheard asking V to show her some unknown object that V insisted was of no concern to MC. T II
19 V had argument with AI during afternoon of D-1. maid II
20 After supper on D-1, MC served coffee to T, CM & AI poured coffee for V and carried it to her in boudoir. T II
21 D-1 evening was hot. T II
22 DB visited Styles on the evening of D-1 with his clothes covered with mud. He claims to have fallen in a pond while examinng a fern. T II
23 V retired for bed on D-1 carrying her untasted coffee cup. T II
24 AI accompanied DB to his lodgings on the evening of D-1, claiming he needed to meet with the estate agent, & asked no one wait for him as he would take a latch key. T II
25 When V's convulsions drew attention in early hours of D, LC woke T & the two joined JC at the door to V's bedroom. AI was absent & had not used his bed. T III
26 At time of #25, MC was in CM's bedroom trying to shake her awake. T III
27 V upset table by bed during convulsion. T III (actually upset earlier by coffee cup?)

Key legend

Ffalse information
Hcharacter history
Ispecialized knowledge/technical information
<)><red herring

Solution

Commentary

Rating