THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES

Hercule Poirot’s first case, like so many of his others, involves money, greed and murder. David Suchet, who plays Poirot on PBS’s “Mystery,” clearly had a ball taking on all the rest of the characters, as well, in this rendition. The story is told through the voice of Mr. Hastings, whose unwitting pomposity is so dead-pan as to be hilarious. The various family members are both distinctive and representative of that particular class of the British that we expect from Christie. Suchet as Poirot sparkles, skipping over the pages with his fussy manners, elegant mustache and Belgian accent. S.F. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: NOV/DEC 96]