La Mystérieuse Affaire de Styles

I’ve listened to a *lot* of Christie audiobooks, but Labarthe’s performance here is in a class of its own. His Poirot isn’t the exaggerated caricature you sometimes get—it’s a nuanced, almost musical portrayal. The way he rolls the detective’s French phrases (*‘mon ami’*) with just a hint of irony, or how his voice drops to a near-whisper during the inquest scenes, makes the character feel alive in a way that’s rare even for seasoned narrators. The production quality is impeccable, though I’ll admit the ambient sounds (a distant clock chiming, a door closing) occasionally feel *too* subtle—you might miss them if you’re listening in a noisy environment. The story itself? A masterpiece of economy. Christie packs more red herrings into six hours than most thrillers manage in twice the time. The poisoning of Emily Inglethorp is a puzzle that rewards close listening—Labarthe’s delivery of the will-reading scene is particularly brilliant, his pauses letting the implications sink in. My only gripe is the pacing in the middle act, where Poirot’s interviews with suspects drag slightly in audio form; what reads as brisk on the page can feel meandering when voiced. But the payoff—the *reveal*—is worth it. Labarthe’s timing during the final confrontation is so perfect it’s almost cruel. If you love audiobooks that make you *lean in*, this is it.