That said, having grown up reading Agatha Christie mysteries since high school I've learned a few things and been inspired by her, especially her extraordinary protagonists, complex plots, and unique writing style. Poirot makes his first appearance fully formed in The Mysterious Affair at Styles—‘Poirot was an extraordinary looking little man. Yet this quaint dandyfied little man who, I was sorry to see, now limped badly, had been in his time one of the most celebrated members of the Belgian police. What I also really enjoy about the Miss Marple mysteries is the development of other characters, even in her short stories. Agatha Christie used setting as character in almost all the major destinations she visited.