Curtain

Rating:
Summary: Great!!! but so sad!!
Review: Christie herself regarded the character with a mixture of bemused affection and frustration, and frequently expressed the wish that she had never created such an eccentric character--but of all her creations, Hercule Poroit was the most popular with the reading public. Indeed, such was the public's devotion that in the 1940s or 1950s Christie became concerned that others might attempt to "franchise" the character after her death, resurrecting him for other novels for the sake of a fast buck.

Determined to thwart this, in the 1950s Christie wrote CURTAIN. Once more Poroit and his faithful Captain Hastings return to the great country estate of Styles, the location of Christie's first novel and Poroit's first appearance, THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES. But time has wrought many changes. Styles has been sold and converted to a second-rate guest house. Captain Hastings is in mourning for his much loved and recently deceased wife. And Poroit... is dying.

But although his body is failing, Poroit's little gray cells remain as sharp as ever, and he is once more on the trail of a killer--indeed, the perfect killer, one completely unlike any he has pursued before. A killer who now resides at Styles and who is coiled to strike again. But can Poroit defeat this killer before mortality rings down the curtian on his fabulous career? Stylistically, CURTAIN belongs to the great Christie novels of the 1940s and 1950s, and in terms of plot it is easily among her most remarkable achievements, easily ranking with such celebrated twists as those found in THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD and A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED. The writing is strong, the characterizations are vivid, and when the solution unfolds one is left with a startled gasp.

I do not recommend CURTAIN for those new to Christie's novels. It is indeed Hercule Poroit's last case, and it really should be read as such. But for those who have followed Poroit through a number of adventures, it is a truly satisfying conclusion to a long and brilliant career.

--GFT (Amazon.com Reviewer)--

Rating:
Summary: A Mystifying Event
Review: Curtain is an extemely interesting story with tangled events and twisted facts that lead to three murders. In the first parts of the book, it may be difficult to keep your attention on reading. However, you will soon see that you just can't put the book down. Curtain is the first Agatha Christie book I have read, and it left me eager to pick up more of her masterpieces.

Rating:
Summary: Surprising, even for the veteran Christie reader!
Review: Curtain! is certainly one of Agatha Christie's finest mysteries. The book details Hercule Poirot's last and greatest case and wraps up many of his personal relationships. Although I have read several of the Poirot mysteries, I found myself immediately interested in this story and was completely and utterly suprised to the very end! In fact, I felt as if I had been as far off the track as Captain Hastings concerning the identity of the killer and felt a bit betrayed when the final outcome was detailed by Poirot's posthumous revelations.

A must read for any fan of Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot!

Rating:
Summary: The best obituary Poirot could have gotten
Review: Hercule Poirot, the little Belgian detective has returned to Styles Court, the scene of his first English adventure in crime for his final case. But now the handsome country mansion is a guest house and Poirot, old and arthritic, is one of the guests. He invites Captain Hastings to join him and then reveals the reason for his request. Poirot informs his old friend that they are "here to hunt down a murderer." And to find out who is the killer, first a murder has to be committed. But who will be the victim?

Although Curtain was written during the London blitz in the early years of World War II, it never got published until 1975. The reason being that in this book the famous detective Hercule Poirot concludes his wonderful career. Agatha Christie wanted Poirot not to survive his creator. Therefore she finished his career by writing Curtain and locked the manuscript in a bank vault. Dame Agatha Christie died on January 12, 1976, one year later than her most famous creation.

Curtain is a vintage Christie. The plot is ingenious and seems totally committed to putting the reader on the wrong track. Although the actual motive and operation procedure of the murderer are quite dubious and unbelievable¸ there is only one word that can truly describe the denouement: sublime. In a few lines Poirot explains how the unsuspicious reader probably missed five smartly interwoven clues. When you read these lines you can only but hit yourself on the head for being so short-sighted, exactly the same feeling reflected by Captain Hastings at the end of the book.

Rating:
Summary: Very moving end to an incredible series...
Review: I read Poirot books for thing and one thing alone: the rapport he has with Captain Arthur Hastings. Sure, the plots are brilliant, and it's fun to try and match wits with the bad guys, but I've never seen the point in even attemoting to keep up with the self-described "greatest brain in Europe." It's better to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

But yeah, the repartee and really, deep friendship between Hastings and Poirot has, in my mind, always been a subtle, minimalist delight. It takes back seat to the detection, which may lead some to criticize the characters as shallow, but that never was really the point...

In 'Curtain,' at least, this relationship is highlighted beautifully. This story is darker in tone than other Christie novels-- though really the Poirot series on the whole is not as lighthearted as some seem to remember it. Hastings and Poirot are still funny, but there's also real emotion, and a shocking, twisted plot with an ending that rips your heart out.

'Curtain' was a depressing end to the series, certainly...but it was, in its own way, realistic. How can we honestly expect Hercule Poirot to be unaffected by all he has seen and the life he has led?

Rating:
Summary: Somewhat prosaic, but finishes strong
Review: I realize I am in the vast minority in giving Curtain 3 stars while everyone else seems to be overjoyed by it by handing out 5 stars ad nauseam. That's not to say that Hercule Poirot's finale is not worth reading - because it is. It's just not up to snuff with such prior Poirot great reads as Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile.

While suspenseful and enthralling at times, it failed to hold my attention and make me want to keep reading at times. I suppose the dichotomy of our esteemed sleuth ailing as well as the somewhat lackluster storyline made for a less than stellar read. That being said, being Poirot's last gig, it is doubtless worth a perusal.

"Truth," Poirot said, "is seldom appreciated. And yet it saves a lot of time and a lot of inaccurate speech."

Rating:
Summary: Believe it or not; this is my FIRST Agatha Christie novel...
Review: It's the 42nd and LAST of the Hercule Poirot cases! Needless to say, I simply must endeavor to read them all!
I was dazed and confused at first, but got into the swing of the story and was soon captivated! The ending was a total and complete surprise! HP is a champion deceiver! But can he even fool his best "sleuth" friend, Captain Hastings? All evidence seems to point to someone close to Captain Hasting's... who would turn out to be the killer? I was so surprised! Excellent; highly recommended

Rating:
Summary: A good Christie
Review: This is a very good novel. It has all the classic elements of Agatha Christie at her best: an especially ingenious plot, subtle psychological and verbal clues, and fairly well-developed characters. Nevertheless, there is something slightly lackluster about it, just as there is something lackluster about SLEEPING MURDER (the final Miss Marple case). There is very little humor, the characters are somber and lifeless, and Poirot himself is different from the funny little man with the sublime moustache we all know and love. The fact that he dies makes this novel far darker in tone than most Christies. The lifelessness of the story is the only reason that this book is not nearly as entertaining as her best.

Nevertheless, you should read CURTAIN anyway (especially if you're a Poirot fan). It has its flaws, but it is exceptionally well-plotted and the solution will probably blow you away. Not her best, but far better than average.

Rating:
Summary: Adieu to Poirot
Review: This is Hercule Poirot's last case and is a fitting climax to the wonderful series by Agatha Christie. Poirot has invited his dear friend Hastings to return to Styles where the detective solved his first case. He is concerned that a murderer is staying in Styles and that he will soon strike again, as he has five times previously. He knows the murderer's identity but will not reveal it to Hastings, and says he is counting on his old friend to help him prevent any further deaths. That hope is dashed when not one, but two murders occur and an accident almost takes the life of a third victim. Christie's plot is razor-sharp as befits the last book of this series and old and new fans will be captivated by this wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: My fave yet
Review: This is the first book by Agatha Christie that I had ever read, but it is still my favorite after reading countless others. I really couldn't put it down, and it has an exciting and suspenseful twist. I love the plot and it never bored me. It's a must read if you like classic mysteries and an unpredictable ending!