# Arthur Hastings — The Mysterious Affair at Styles character guide

> Arthur Hastings in The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Hastings, Mr. Hastings

**First appearance:** 0001-the-mysterious-affair-at-styles

## Snapshot

A convalescent soldier home from the Front, whose month's leave at Styles turns him into Poirot's friend, foil, and the reader's own eager, often wrong-footed eyes.

## Who they are

Hastings narrates the affair from the inside, invited to Styles by John Cavendish just in time to witness the household's tensions and the poisoning that follows. He is warm, impulsive, and romantically inclined — especially toward Cynthia Murdoch — and his instincts about people are almost always confidently mistaken. His function is not to solve the crime but to misread it alongside us, which is precisely why Poirot's cool corrections land so satisfyingly.

## In the story

### [The Mysterious Affair at Styles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/the-mysterious-affair-at-styles)

The narrator and guest at Styles, arriving as a wounded soldier on leave.

### [I: I Go to Styles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/i-i-go-to-styles)

The narrator and protagonist, invalided home from the war, arrives at Styles as a guest.

### [The 16th and 17th of July](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/ii-the-16th-and-17th-of-july)

Narrator; recounts the events of July 16th and 17th, plays tennis with Mary, visits Cynthia's dispensary, and overhears a tense conversation between Mary and Mrs. Inglethorp.

### [III: The Night of the Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/iii-the-night-of-the-tragedy)

Narrator; awakened by Lawrence, participates in breaking down the door, and later suggests calling Poirot.

### [IV: Poirot Investigates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/iv-poirot-investigates)

Hastings visits Poirot to report the tragedy and provides a detailed account of the events, though Poirot chides him for omitting the detail of Mrs. Inglethorp's supper.

### [VII: Poirot Pays His Debts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/vii-poirot-pays-his-debts)

Narrates the chapter, accompanies Poirot, and is initially skeptical of Poirot's theory but gradually becomes convinced.

### [Fresh Suspicions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/viii-fresh-suspicions)

Engages in discussion with Poirot about suspects; delivers Poirot's message to Lawrence; reveals Dr. Bauerstein's presence on Tuesday evening; describes Bauerstein's muddy appearance.

### [IX: Dr. Bauerstein](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/ix-dr-bauerstein)

Delivers Poirot's message to Lawrence, discusses Bauerstein's possible guilt with John, and proposes to Cynthia.

### [The Arrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/x-the-arrest)

Narrator; frustrated by Poirot's absence, then relieved at his return; learns of Bauerstein's arrest for espionage; receives Mary's confession.

### [XI: The Case for the Prosecution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/xi-the-case-for-the-prosecution)

Narrator; expresses admiration for Mary; learns that Poirot suspected John all along.

### [XIII: Poirot Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/xiii-poirot-explains)

Listens to Poirot's explanation, initially frustrated by the deception but ultimately understanding.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/arthur_hastings
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters