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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Warm up to Christie’s first novel tonight at Auntie’s

Dan Webster

Reports are that, despite the hard work put in by those intrepid Avista workers, many area residents are still without power. I write this post from the warmth of my sister-in-law's house in York, Pa., but I can relate: During Ice Storm of 1996, my house went without power for nine long days.

I began to think about that when I was looking over the Spokane-area public offerings. You know, public events that offer people a chance to get in and out of the cold, even if that isn't the primary reason?

And one I came up with involves Auntie's Bookstore. It's the store's Mystery/Thriller Book Group, which meets tonight at 6 and features a discussion of Agatha Christie's first published novel, 1920's "The Mysterious Affair at Styles." The novel marks the debut of one of Christie's most notable characters, Hercule Poirot.

Here is one of the more sterling critical commentaries, even if it is of the audiobook edition :

The Boston Globe: "Though first released in 1929 this murder mystery is every bit as entertaining now as it was then…This is just one in a series of audio adaptations from Audio Renaissance, the only US publisher approved by the Christie estate to adapt her stories for audio format…Hugh Fraser was well chosen as the narrator…Best of all is the Belgian accent he uses for Poirot. Not only is the accent spot on, but Fraser speaks with a flourish and a lightness in tone that befit the brilliant, if preening, little detective."

Quite a warm reception. As warm as Auntie's itself.