And the I'm going to be. Welcome to the newscast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep.

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This episode is brought to you by, perfectly ripe avocados.

Tonight, we'll be reading from the detective novel The Mysterious Affair

at Stiles, which is the very first published novel by Agatha Christie. She wrote it in the middle of World War I and it was first published in 1920.

The story features many of the elements that have become icons of the golden age of detective fiction, largely due to Christie's

influence.

The mysterious affair at Stiles launched Agatha Christie's writing career.

It is set in a large, isolated country manner.

Christie and her husband subsequently named their house, Stiles. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed.

Now, take a few deep breaths.

Chapter 1, I go to Stiles.

The intense interest aroused in the public by what was known at the time as the

Stiles case has now somewhat subsided.

Nevertheless, in view of the worldwide notoriety which attended it, I have been asked, both by

my friend Perrault and the family themselves to write an account of the whole story.

This, we trust, will effectually silence the sensational rumors which still persist.

I will therefore briefly set down the circumstances

which led to me being connected with the affair.

I have been invalid at home from the front and after spending some months in a rather depressing convalescent home was given a month's sick leave. Having no near

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