Search - Curtain: Poirot's Last Case (Hercule Poirot, Bk 39)

The back of the book alway threatens it is the sleuth's last case...for once it wasn't hyperbole. Brrr. Spooky book, and spooky solution.

I am not so fond of Hastings, and this book was no exception. This did remind me of Christie's Ten Little Indians a lot, but that's all right because it didn't until the end. Brr. The result of the poisoned tea was a creepy addition to everything else. I also liked that, for once, all the false leads...weren't. Or might not have been. Though Judith was a bit overplayed in her part. Or almost part.

Poirot's last case. And a really sneaky nasty murderer. One who almost beat Poirot, and who Poirot couldn't turn into the cops--because the murderer never actually DID anything.

The book was only reasonably decent until the last couple chapters when it really came together. Then it became a really spooky mystery done to excellent level by Christie. Worth reading for that. Though I will miss Poirot. Christie is unusual in that her sleuths do age--I read an aged Miss Marple at one point as well. I don't much like being reminded of my mortality when reading mysteries, but it is impressive that the author could continue to have her sleuths work as they got older. Miss Marple at least became more limited. Poriot....well, maybe he did, but he's also just sneaky. But even him, old age catches up with. He did win in the end. Well, at least, the murderer was stopped.

Please say it isn't so. Poirot's last case? I still have goosebumps when I think about the ending. No one does better than Christie and this is one of her best.

The last, and to my mind best, in Ms. Christie's classic Hercule Poirot series.

This book has all the familiar Christie devices ~ superbly drawn oddballs, distracting clues, false conclusions, and more ~ it's all here in this book. "Curtain" is great diverting fun!