Reading the Detectives discussion

Dear all, we made it! The last Poirot in the series to bring us into 2021!

Happy reading

I read that this last book is set at Styles, from the first Poirot, which I hardly remember. So I prepared by a 'quick' re-listen to The Mysterious Affair at Styles. It was fun visiting Poirot and Hastings at the beginning of their friendship. And meeting Japp for the first time.

Sandy wrote: "I read that this last book is set at Styles, from the first Poirot, which I hardly remember. So I prepared by a 'quick' re-listen to The Mysterious Affair at Styles. It was fun visitin..."

Great idea! I revisited that one last year, I think, since I joined group after you’d done the first year of Poirot’s, and I wanted to read them again. I love Hastings! Especially having him read to me...

Thanks, Jessica, looking forward to it, I haven’t read Curtain in years!

Indeed a great idea Sandy! I made it through the first chapters, filled with reminiscing about Styles, without revisiting the earlier book but I must admit that I do not have the details fresh in my mind.

I have had this book for years but have put off reading it , as I didn't want to get to the of Poirot, but I guess it is time I faced up to it.

I've just reread this, possibly only for the second time as it didn't grip me as much of some of the others. However, I'm really glad to have done so.

Although published much later, I understand that Curtain was written in the 1940s? I think that Christie did her Poirot a great service in writing this novel for his admirers. In addition, the topic was one that really provokes thought - the idea that people can be encouraged into murder, rather than just voice angry feelings, was new in the Christie novels. Usually there is a great distinction made between action and thought. It is also good to see Hastings again, and to think that he might resume a happy partnered life after the end of the novel.

As I said in the intro thread, I can't believe it's been three years! I really enjoyed reading the Poirot's from beginning to end, and look forward to reading Curtain which for some reason I think I had "saved for later" for many years. Now that I have completed reading the series, I think it is indeed time to read this, and I am enjoying a new-to-me Poirot to finish up.

I understood that Christie wrote this novel in the 1940's with a plan to have it published posthumously as a way to ensure that Poirot did not live on after her death (which appears not to have been successful, as her estate has allowed someone else to write further episodes of Poirot). This perhaps explains the discrepancy between our last view of Poirot in Elephants Can Remember as still fit and able and the very frail and elderly man we meet in the opening chapters.

I agree, it is good to see Hastings again and I can't imagine he won't find a new life partner pretty soon.

Frances wrote: "As I said in the intro thread, I can't believe it's been three years! I really enjoyed reading the Poirot's from beginning to end, and look forward to reading Curtain which for some reason I think ..."

That’s what I’m surprised at - the discrepancy between Poirot in our last book Elephants Can Remember, and here! He was elderly there, but his health has declined so much here - it is rather shocking,and he loses his temper with Hastings a few times, also shocking. I know he tells Hastings he was out in Egypt on doctor recommendation, but he got worse- I wondered for how long?

I’m still rereading and realized, I don’t remember anything from this book - as Robin and Frances say, it didn’t grip me first time, decades ago, enough to repeat. There is definitely a melancholy air about the book, all of the decline, at Styles and about the characters- and no spoilers, but Christie is up to her usual excellent misdirection, I’m afraid a certain character may be guilty, which would be devastating for some of the others. I am enjoying it!

I was lost in exams for a couple of weeks and couldn't focus on a new story. So I'll start again today whilst cleaning up the remaining house mess of 2.5 wks continuous studying ;-)

I have been putting off reading this for years, as I didn't want to officially recognise that it is the end of Poirot. Have today faced it and started reading.

That’s also the reason I haven’t watched the final episode (yet?)

Do you think Hastings would have returned had Agatha not written this book so early on?

Jessica wrote: "Do you think Hastings would have returned had Agatha not written this book so early on?"

I think so-Christie seems to be trying to book-end the series with a return to Styles, which wouldn't be the same without Hastings.

There are so many good themes that Christie threads through this book--aging and decline, processing loss and grief, the seductive quality of evil. A really solid book, and a much sharper ending than we would have had if she had waited to write this book last (if Elephants is anything to go by.) It sounds silly, but I feel like I have lost an actual friend, but I am consoled by the fact that I can find him again any time I want.

All right, I'm gonna man up and read the last 3 chapters now... :-(

Testament to her amazing story telling is that I really want to know the resolution, despite my sadness of having read all the Poirot stories if I finish I will have to read on to find out the secret of Styles. Also as always I have many theories myself but no definite suspect at all!

Wow!!! Shocking. Shame on me for doubting Agatha Christie, to be fair the last couple of books in the series were not really up to snuff but I should have trusted her not to leave us hanging.

I'm really sad that this is the last book in the series, but what an ending it gives. Maybe I have to immediately return to the The Mysterious Affair at Styles and remind myself that these stories are still there to enjoy, but first let me head over to the spoiler department.

I have written two reviews of The Mysterious Affair at Styles, one on Good reads and the other on my blog, Robin's Room. It was interesting to see how I responded to my first reading, and then, after having reread so many more Christies recently. Curtain is beautifully set at Styles, and shows Christie at her best. Naturally Hastings had to be there, and I also liked the idea of continuity in his possibly finding another partner. The role of Poirot in this is sympathetic to Hasting's need for a partner, in contrast to Poirot's need for a crime scene. He has his admiration for the exotic Countess (of varying depictions and sometimes fleeting glimpses in the novels) which is enough. Hastings needs the warmed hearth and his slippers when he has finished with crime!