Curtain: Poirot's Last Case

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Summary: Curtain: Poirot's last case
Review: Curtain: Poirot's last case

Poirot's last case was written by Agatha Christie (1891-1976) in the 1940's. She's one of the worlds most read criminal authors, known as the queen of crime. She's written lots of detective stories and she's also used another name Mary Westmacott, under which she wrote six romantic novels.

Poirot's last case takeS place at a small hotel called Styles, out In the countryside of England not too far away from London among people from the upper middle-class. Captain Hastings receives a letter from an old friend Hercules Poirot, a detective who has worked together with Hastings many times earlier. In the letter he urges Hasting to come to the hotel where they once met for the first time the Styles, because there is to be a murder. Lot's of things happen during the time when they try to solve the murder.

All the people living at the hotel for the moment are somewhat involved in the matter of the murder. Hercules Poirot is a person that you never really get hold of during the story. He's described as a crippled old man and, even though he's old and can not walk, he still has his brain working. He's much more on the ball then you first think.

Captain Hasting is a man that really appreciates seeing his old friend again but gets really confused sometimes and also he does believe in what every person says. I never get the feeling that he dislikes people, only one because he dislikes that mans manors. He seems to be quite naive and very trusting as his friend describes him.

Other people are The Franklins, The Luttrells who are the owners of the hotel, Mr. Norton, Judith the captain's daughter, Boyd Carrington and Miss Cole. All are living at the hotel for one or another reason.

The story is well written. You quickly get in to it but it's not that you can say what's going to happen. After half the book you will go on reading until the end because you want to know who the murderer is. That's where Agatha Christie shows what a good writer she is. She leaves you clues but it's only that we think we know who has done it, which in the end turns out to be completely wrong.

The language she uses is fairly easy to understand. There are some words I did not know such as scientific words and some descriptive words. But the book is easy to read. The chapters are divided up well and you don't lose the line through out the story.

I liked this book, it caught my interest quickly which for me is important. And it's an exciting story that holds your interest until the end. This was the first novel I read by Agatha Christie but I'll indeed read more of her. I would recommend her.

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Summary: The Ultimate Poirot Mystery
Review: I have been reading Agatha Christie and especially Poirot for last 10 years. After reading nearly 30 novels, Poirot had been a part of life. And the feeling of not seeing or hearing Poirot any more felt as if I have lost a close friend. I never knew Agatha Christie could bring so much of emotion.

I'll rate this novel the third best I have read only after Murder of Roger Ackryod and Murder on Orient Express. I finished the novel last night and found it hard to sleep after that. Its too good.

Finally we saw the perfect murderer, who did not do anything to be found guilty of murder. The flow was smooth and being the last case of Poirot, you are tempted to suspect everybody in it. In fact this novel should be read after you have read a substantial number of Agatha Christies. Hastings keeps on giving references to past cases.

In one sentence I can sum it up as it was a wonderful and nostalgic experience going through the pages. A MUST READ.

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Summary: Favorite Poirot Novel
Review: I have read all of the Poirot stories, and this is by far my favorite. Not only is it the perfect second bookend to the Poirot series (since the first Poirot story also took place at Styles), it is also the most intricate and brilliant of the Poirot stories. I have read Agatha Christie all of my life. I am usually able to pick up on some of her clues and figure out who the murderer might be. I confess, with this one, I could not. I loved re-reading it to discover the clues I had missed. The concept of the murderer who is brilliant enough to manipulate others into doing the job for him is extremely interesting. I wonder if Agatha Christie decided to kill off Poirot because she knew she could never write anything better than this. I believe this is the best of the best. I'm off to read it yet again.

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Summary: Poirot's swan song.
Review: If you don't already know it, this is Poirot's last case.

I came across this book after I had read MANY other Poirot's cases and I was familiar with the surroundings. Lady Agatha takes us back to Styles Court, where we first met the little Belgian man with the egg shaped head. And so, the circle is closed.

This is, in my opinion, the most mature of Christie's stories. Poirot faces the ultimate assassin: an individual capable of the perfect crime. He understands his methods, but also finds it impossible to intervene. And so he takes the matter on to his own hands, although knowing that no crime can go unpunished.

Maybe the essence of the book is in the last few lines, hidden by a mark on a man's forehead. Don't miss it.

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Summary: Agatha Christie is so good,and this book is 1 of my best!!
Review: The solution given here is fantastic and a bit bizarre and there lies the appeal of this book.