As a die-hard Agatha Christie fan, I was intrigued by the approach to retelling her famous novel—for children. The Mysterious Affair at Styles is set in England during World War I and was published in 1920. After more than a century, the tale still ranks among the best. It’s also where she introduced her little Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, to the world.
When a wealthy widow, Emily Cavendish, meets Alfred Inglethorpe, her sons don’t like him. Even her best friend, Evelyn Howard, doesn’t like or trust Alfred, but Emily doesn’t care. She’s in love. When Emily is discovered to have died in the night, her family is concerned it might not have been from natural causes. Could there have been poison in her teacup? She had made a new will, leaving all her property and money to her new husband.
Marci Kay Monson has created a cozy presentation that’s a perfect introduction for young readers to the world of
Agatha Christie and the most famous detective in the world.
Young detectives must assist Mr. Poirot in determining precisely what happened and why Emily died. Each two-page spread of the book continues the story and includes an activity to challenge junior sleuths through games and puzzles to use their little grey brain cells to solve the mystery.
Their mission includes tasks such as identifying the subject’s emotions, finding clues in pictures, and determining if a character is an imposter. Will they be able to identify the culprit before the surprising ending?
This new book is thoughtfully designed for readers ages 9 to 12. It features an illustrated cast of characters and a glossary of words and phrases. Greg Paprocki’s colorful, vivid illustrations are delightful. Don’t be put off by the fact that it’s a murder mystery; Marci Kay Monson has created a cozy presentation that’s a perfect introduction for young readers to the world of Agatha Christie and the most famous detective in the world. I’m delighted that The Mysterious Affair at Styles is the first in a series of Mini-Mysteries for budding sleuths.
Comments