Christie’s tone is relaxed and, at times, even humorous. The events of the “mysterious affair” for which The Mysterious Affair at Styles is named have already occurred—both the literal infidelity of Alfred Inglethorp and Evelyn Howard and the murder at the heart of the narrative. Thus, Christie’s narrator is removed from the time and place of the action when he would have had stronger emotional reactions to the events of the story. This artificial distance allows Christie to write Hastings’s narration with a degree of calm that she might not otherwise have achieved given the character’s propensity for overexcitement.
By allowing Hastings the ability to reflect on these events rather than live through them in the moment, the tone of the novel gains a level of maturity and foresight that elevates the reader’s enjoyment of the plot. Christie entered into this book with the thought experiment of crafting a mystery that would confound her readers until the very final reveal. Her focus is on her characters’ journeys as they solve multiple mysteries, rather than psychologically exploring the emotional depths of those impacted by the murder of Emily. The tone of the story reflects this goal, remaining somewhat removed from the dark events that are the focus of the actual plot.
