Chapter 1 Summary

Captain Hastings receives a letter from his old friend. Hercule Poirot, to return to the Styles. The Styles is country home that was once owned by one of the mutual friends. The house is now a bed and breakfast. When Captain Hastings arrives, he sees that the town itself has not changed much since he last visited it. Mrs. Luttrell, one of owners of Styles, is gardening when Captain Hastings pulls up in the driveway. Her husband, Colonel Luttrell, comes out to greet the Captain and show him to his room. They run into two other guests, Stephen Norton and Sir William Boyd Carrington on the way to the Captain's room. The Colonel tells Hastings that Poirot's room is directly opposite his and then leaves because his wife is calling him.

Chapter 1 Analysis

Captain Hastings foreshadows that a mystery unfolds while he and...