• Homepage
  • Thrillers

REVIEW: Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case by Agatha Christie

I must confess the Hercule Poirot is not one of my favourite detectives. Not even close. But that’s personal opinion. What I enjoy most Poirot’s cases or I must say, Agatha Christie’s writing is the how the cases unfold in the end after reaching the climax. This book has a brilliant ending, that’s all. No spoilers. I enjoy her writing which never fails to create a tension on the reader to get to the end of it. And Then There Were None is the best case scenario.

Curtain is the last novel starring Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. Narrated by Captain Hastings, Poirot’s friend who never fails to represent himself as a sidekick. Poriot has summoned Hastings to him in order for them to investigate one last case together at Styles. Poirot now elderly and unable to walk is bound on a wheelchair. Even though in his pitiful situation, he assures his friend, Captain Hastings that he still the same man and his core, the mind, or the grey cells as Poirot refers to a multiple times are working as much as they were in their first meeting in The Mysterious Affair at Styles. He tells Hastings about a mysterious “X” who Poirot believes to be a connection in five murders. Poirot believes that “X” is going to strike again and someone at Styles will be murdered. Since Poirot cannot interview and pick people’s brains per usual, Hastings is to be his eyes, ears, and legs in this case.

Interesting point to note is that, Poirot is at his close to best in this book. The best book of Hercule Poirot that I have read and can recall, please note I have read very limited amounts of Poirot’s, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Other characters in this book are somewhat misleading but none of them gives a feeling of the usual red-herring until the read reaches the end of the book with narrator himself. There’s not much of Poirot’s mind games but nonetheless, I have came to a realisation, he’s not that sort of a detective.

Plot follows a steady pace, not so fast but nor a slow one. Some might feel an adrenaline rush in their bodies towards the end of the book. That’s where the climax is. Brilliantly done. This novel produces a clever solution that I desperately failed to even come close to. However, at the same time, I disliked that not a single hint or glimpse of an adrenaline rush, through a red-herring or something else, was given in between the tale. The author discuss the possible red-herrings just before the ending.

If you haven’t read it, go read it.

3 out of 5

Blog | Goodreads | Medium | Twitter | Facebook

Share this:

Read books by day and blogs about them at night. In his mid-twenties, been blogging about books for 5 years now.

View Comments

  • Sandra says: February 7, 2017 at 6:45 AM I haven't read this, but must admit, I like Poirot. Great review.
  • Elizabeth says: February 7, 2017 at 9:09 PM Just finished another British classic, Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey.
  • Elizabeth says: February 9, 2017 at 6:48 PM Not in 40 years. I am going to reread it. She was a favorite of my grandfather.

I haven't read this, but must admit, I like Poirot. Great review.

Just finished another British classic, Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey.

  • Aman(@amanhimself) says: February 9, 2017 at 3:24 PM Have you read her The Daughter of Time?

Have you read her The Daughter of Time?

Not in 40 years. I am going to reread it. She was a favorite of my grandfather.

  • Aman(@amanhimself) says: February 12, 2017 at 9:32 PM Good to know. I am looking forward to your view on her.

Good to know. I am looking forward to your view on her.

  • BOOK REVIEW: Elephants in the Room by Suraj Laxminarayanan What is a better crime fiction novel where a crime revolves around not the detective…
  • BOOK REVIEW: Unforeseen by Chandan Sen Gupta Cleverly woven plots are often a delight for me to read. There are many factors…
  • #BookReview: Dystopia by Manoj Jain With a peculiar cover Manoj Jain, this is his 5th book release. I have read some…

Related Post

What is a better crime fiction novel where a crime revolves around not the detective…

Cleverly woven plots are often a delight for me to read. There are many factors…

With a peculiar cover Manoj Jain, this is his 5th book release. I have read some…

Recent Posts

  • blog
  • Blogging Tips
  • Book Reviews
  • Books
  • Fiction

BOOK REVIEW: Elephants in the Room by Suraj Laxminarayanan

What is a better crime fiction novel where a crime revolves around not the detective who tries to fit pieces…

  • Book Reviews
  • Books

BOOK REVIEW: Unforeseen by Chandan Sen Gupta

Cleverly woven plots are often a delight for me to read. There are many factors why I like these type…

  • Book Reviews
  • Books
  • Fiction

#BookReview: Dystopia by Manoj Jain

With a peculiar cover Manoj Jain, this is his 5th book release. I have read some of his work in the…

  • Books

#BookReview: Influencer by Brittany Hennessy

Brittany Hennessy does a great job on writing a book about that targets Instagram as the platform to promote your…

  • Book Reviews
  • Books
  • Non-Fiction

#BookReview: How To Earn $10,000 While Learning To Code by Rob Percival

Learning how to code is a common asset these days for the interested ones. As a full-time software engineer and…

  • blog
  • Blogging Tips
  • Books

Ten Day Book Blog Posts Challenge #1

One of the hardest thing about blogging is consistently writing and publish blog posts and for that, you have to…