the mysterious affair at styles sparknotes

The case was later forced open by someone and a document removed. She ate little at dinner and retired early to her room with her document case. Afterwards, she seemed quite distressed and, apparently, made a new will - which no one can find.

On the day she was killed, Emily Inglethorp was overheard arguing with someone, most likely her husband, Alfred, or her stepson, John. Poirot pieces together events surrounding the murder.

Lieutenant Hastings, a houseguest, enlists the help of his friend Hercule Poirot, who is staying in the nearby village, Styles St. Late one night, the residents of Styles wake to find Emily Inglethorp dying of what proves to be strychnine poisoning. The income left to Mrs Inglethorp by her late husband would be distributed as per Mrs. John Cavendish is the vested remainderman of Styles that is, the property will pass to him automatically upon his stepmother's decease, as per his late father's will. Emily's two stepsons, John and Lawrence Cavendish, as well as John's wife Mary and several other people, also live at Styles. Inglethorp upon her recent remarriage to a much younger man, Alfred Inglethorp. Upon her husband's death, the wealthy widow, Emily Cavendish, inherited a life estate in Styles as well as the outright inheritance of the larger part of the late Mr. The novel is set in England during World War I at Styles Court, an Essex country manor (also the setting of Curtain, Poirot's last case).

The mysterious affair at styles sparknotes