Ratings50
Average rating3.9
A few years ago, I embarked on a mission to (re)read all of Agatha Christie's books. This book happened to be the final installment in the Poirot series. To be honest, I've grown a bit weary of the character after reading eight consecutive Poirot books, but I can hardly blame Agatha Christie for that. The fault lies with me.
The Poirot series comprises around 36 books, and what strikes me is the consistent quality that Christie maintains throughout. Although not every book is of the same caliber, they all offer enjoyable entertainment. It's quite unpretentious.
In the last book of the series, Poirot is depicted as old and confined to a wheelchair due to arthritis. He's residing at Styles, which has been transformed into a pension. This brings the series full circle, as Poirot's initial case in the UK occurred at Styles. Poirot orders Hastings to visit him, and Hastings discovers that his daughter is also there. His wife had died in Argentina, and he returned to England. To be honest, Hastings seems like an old nag in this book. It's a bit out of character since we've never seen him as a husband or father, and all of a sudden, he's aged, and he has a 21-year-old daughter, behaving like an overprotective father. Although the timeline works out, this theme was never explored in the series.
Poirot informs Hastings that a murderer is present at Styles, but he refuses to reveal the culprit's identity because Hastings is an open book to others. Poirot already has an idea of who the killer is and their motives, deviating from the standard formula where Poirot himself is also in the dark.
It takes until two-thirds of the book before the first murder or suicide (who can tell?) occurs. Then, towards the end, the final curtain falls for Poirot, leaving Hastings in despair. But, for the last time, Poirot explains everything.
Agatha Christie finishes this series in style(s).
Logical and effective conclusion to the life and career of Hercules Poirot.
Me chamou a atenção porque foi Clarice quem traduziu, e eh o último de Poirot (a autora tb morreu logo depois da publicação). Gosto muito de dois títulos de Agatha Christie que continuam sendo meus favoritos, mas esse é bem desenvolvido msm que Hastings seja essa decepção rs.
5 stars. Every single time I think I've figured out the murderer's identity, and every single time I'm proven wrong.
This was the last novel in my quest to read all of Christie's mysteries—novels and short stories—in chronological order. (Of course, I realized after that Sleeping Murder, which I read first, was published after this one. And that they both were written in the 1940's and put in a vault. So I guess I went by publication date.) It felt like the perfect bookend to my Agatha Christie journey.
CURTAIN takes place at Styles, an old country house now turned lodge which happens to be where her first novel takes place. It feels fitting in many ways. There is definitely a certain nostalgia running through after reading fifty-something Poirot books, this being his last. And of course, Hasting is narrating again, making it as fun and frustrating as ever (he really is short-shortsighted). One plus is that, despite knowing Christie's tricks like the back of my hand by now, she still managed to surprise me over and over again.
For those questioning if this is the book they want to read next, my suggestion would be to be more familiar with her other work first. Read The Mysterious Affair at Styles and her other major works first, if not the rest of the Poirot canon. Then you will definitely appreciate it more. I admired her tenacity with this one.