Thanks for this - I do just happen to be re-reading 'Styles' at the moment, and I think you and Kathryn are quite right that it is an amazing debut work. The point about 'the criminal tinkering to make themself safer, but in the process aiding the detective' was regularly made by Dr Thorndyke: I'm sure Christie would have read R.Austin Freeman, though she may have been put off by his tedious digs at votes-for-women advocates (obviously he had not read the Loveday Brooke stories). Looking forward very much to your next production.
Just finished the re-reading of 'Styles'; it confirmed what I'd thought - that it also contains the first reference to 'the little grey cells'! I also noted that, as well as the first classic 'Poirot calls everybody together to set out his findings and announce the name of the murderer', there is - more characteristic of Thorndyke - also a post-mortem, in which Poirot explains the way he worked it out (and all the mistakes Hastings has made). Christie does use this device again, in Murder on the Links and Roger Ackroyd, for example, and also, with Miss Marple, in The 4.50 from Paddington.
I enjoyed this conversation so much. Thank you. I also love Kathryn's AC poisons book. I have listened to it at least three times. It is excellent.
Thanks for this - I do just happen to be re-reading 'Styles' at the moment, and I think you and Kathryn are quite right that it is an amazing debut work. The point about 'the criminal tinkering to make themself safer, but in the process aiding the detective' was regularly made by Dr Thorndyke: I'm sure Christie would have read R.Austin Freeman, though she may have been put off by his tedious digs at votes-for-women advocates (obviously he had not read the Loveday Brooke stories).
Looking forward very much to your next production.
Just finished the re-reading of 'Styles'; it confirmed what I'd thought - that it also contains the first reference to 'the little grey cells'! I also noted that, as well as the first classic 'Poirot calls everybody together to set out his findings and announce the name of the murderer', there is - more characteristic of Thorndyke - also a post-mortem, in which Poirot explains the way he worked it out (and all the mistakes Hastings has made). Christie does use this device again, in Murder on the Links and Roger Ackroyd, for example, and also, with Miss Marple, in The 4.50 from Paddington.