Curtain, (Hercule Poirot, 44) Agatha Christie. William Morrow (ISBN: 9780062074096) 2011 (first published in 1975).

Summary: In Poirot’s last case, he and Captain Hastings reunite at Styles to catch a murderer involved in but unsuspected in five murders.

It all began with The Mysterious Affair at Styles when Poirot and Arthur Hastings team up to solve a murder. Now they are back at the country manor of Styles once more. But this time, the matter is far more urgent. Poirot believes that their is a mysterious figure identified as X in the party. X has committed at least five murders and gotten off unsuspected in each case. Poirot believes he is out to murder again. He has asked for Hastings help.

Poirot is a dying man. He has a heart that is failing, arthritic joints that confine him to a wheel chair, and he is a shadow of his former self. Only his hair and moustache are still black. Hastings is there to be his eyes and ears. But this is hard for Hastings. He wants to know who the murderer is and spends most of the story trying to figure that out. Yet Poirot won’t reveal what he knows. It could be deadly for his old friend, who has a hard time with secrets.

Colonel and Mrs. Luttrell now own and run Styles. The guests all know each other. Sir William Boyd-Carrington has invited Dr. John Franklin and his wife Barbara, often needy of bedrest. Hastings daughter Judith is a research assistant with Dr. Franklin. Major Allerton is a ladies man. Hastings fears he will try to make Judith his next conquest, so much so that he makes a failed attempt to murder him. Elizabeth Cole is the sister of the accused in one of the murders. And Norton is a quiet, retiring type who spends his time watching birds, as well as the other guests.

A certain sense of foreboding rests over the party. At one point, Mrs. Luttrell is accidentally wounded when Colonel fires at what he thinks a rabbit. Paradoxically, the accident draws them closer. Then, after a busy day with Boyd-Carrington in town, Barbara Franklin dies under suspicious circumstances. Even Judith is a suspect. Is this once again the work of X? And why did Poirot not stop him?

In the end Poirot does stop the killer in a most unusual ending that I will not spoil. It will be his last time working with Hastings and as some editions note, his last case. What is fascinating is that this was actually written in the 1940’s and locked up until late in the author’s life, along with Miss Marple’s last case. Certainly, in terms of plotting, it reflects Christie at her peak rather than in her later works. It reflects an interesting decision to plan the denouement of her detective before her own. And Styles and Hastings provide the ideal bookends to Poirot’s illustrious career.

Third Girl (Hercule Poirot, 40), Agatha Christie. HarperCollins (ISBN: 9780062073761) 2010 (first published in 1966).

Summary: A young girl disturbs Poirot’s breakfast claiming she may have murdered someone, then leaves, telling Poirot “You’re too old.”

Poirot is enjoying his breakfast when George, his servant, interrupts to announce a woman who thinks she might have committed a murder wishes to see him. When he asks her to tell her story, she decides she cannot, telling him as she leaves, “You’re too old.”

She has disturbed Poirot. Not just by her insult. But also by her manner. Something is off. Then he learns his mystery writer friend Mrs. Oliver sent her to him. They’d met at a literary party. Her name is Norma Restarick. Her father has only recently returned after many years abroad to take up the family business. Norma’s mother, who had raised her, has died. Her father has returned with a new wife, Mary. They are living with his maternal Uncle, Sir Roderick Horsfield, a former intelligence officer writing his memoirs. Norma is ill at ease there. Part of this has to do with their disapproval of Norma’s boyfriend David, an artist.

And that is how she has become the “third girl,” living in a flat with two other girls. One is Claudia, her father’s very efficient secretary. The other is Frances, who represents an art gallery.

As Poirot investigates, he learns some disturbing facts. There had been a recent death at Borodene Mansions, where the girls live. A woman, living one floor up, fell to her death from her balcony. It appeared to be an accident or suicide. But could she have been pushed? Also, Mary Restarick has suffered several bouts of intestinal illness coinciding with Norma’s visits. The illness is traced to arsenic in her food.

But where is Norma? That’s where Mrs. Oliver comes in. She spots Norma and David at a cafe and calls Poirot. Shortly after he arrives, David leaves, and she decides to follow him, having taken it upon herself to join Poirot once again as co-sleuth, despite his warnings. He intuits that something dangerous is going on. After she leaves, Norma recognizes him. This time she shares more, including gaps in her memory and disturbing events, like finding herself holding a revolver. She doesn’t want to see a doctor, and in the end, walks out on Poirot once more.

Next thing we know, a man is caring for her after she’d nearly been killed by a speeding car. He’s a doctor by the name of Stillingfleet and persuades her after a long conversation to go to a “convalescent” home.

Who is this mysterious doctor who saves Norma in the nick of time, and what is he going to do with her? And what is Poirot doing, other than gathering information from an investigator (Goby) and thinking? Mrs Oliver keeps pressing him to do something, especially since he “lost” Norma.

The signs seem to point to Norma as a murderer. But things don’t add up. The principal of Norma’s school saw no sign of mental illness in Norma. Several of the characters also capture his attention from David, found searching Norma’s room at the Restarick’s, to unaccounted absences by Mary, and a painting where it would not be expected.

The mystery was published in 1966. There is a drug theme that runs through the story. One wonders if Mrs. Christie also struggled with questions of whether she were too old, and is trying to be “with it”. It feels like there is a lot of Christie in Mrs. Oliver, who is eager to not just write mysteries but solve crimes. Is there a commentary here on the difference between being a crime writer and a real detective?

In the end, it will be apparent that Poirot has been doing more than meets the eye. And despite some implausibilities, so has Christie, spinning a tale with enough twists and turns to keep at least this reader engaged.

Three Act Tragedy (Hercule Poirot, 11), Agatha Christie. William Morrowe (9780063376045) 2006, (first published 1934).

Summary: Two deaths after a drink, with most of the same guests present on both occasions, sets Poirot to investigating murder.

The famous stage actor Sir Charles Cartwright is hosting a dinner party. In addition to Poirot, he has invited an interesting mix of guests. The local vicar, Reverend Babbington and his wife are there. In addition, celebrate psychiatrist Sir Bartholomew Strange, actress Angela Sutcliffe, and playwright Muriel Wills are part of the party. Rounding out the party are Captain and Mrs. Dacres, he a gambler, she a dressmaker, Lady Mary Lytton Gore and her daughter Hermione (“Egg”), and Oliver Manders, a young financier in love with Hermione. However, Hermione doesn’t reciprocate his feelings; she is attracted to Sir Charles. Unknown to her, he is also drawn to her. And there is Mr. Satterthwaite, who also turns up in two other Poirots.

The dinner party fails to get past cocktails. When Reverend Babbington, an elderly man sips his drink, he collapses. Sir Charles mentions the possibility of murder, which Poirot dismisses. No poison is found on the glass and the death is ruled due to natural causes. A couple months later, Poirot hears from Satterthwaite and Cartwright that Dr. Strange has died under similar circumstances. Again, the glass was free of poison. But an autopsy determined his death was due to nicotine poisoning. Poirot reconsiders his conclusion, now convinced someone murdered both men. A subsequent exhumation of Reverend Babbage’s body determines he also died of nicotine poisoning. All the guests except for himself, Satterthwaite and Cartwright were at the party. Even Oliver Manders, not invited, manages to literally “gate crash.”

Cartwright and Satterthwaite join Poirot. In addition, Christie livens thing up by having “Egg” join in. It’s not clear whether she is more interested in the murder than in Sir Charles. Let’s just say, they find reason to be together a lot. Poirot’s three assistants busy themselves with questioning all the guests. In addition, they attempt to figure out the motive for killing Babbington who everyone loved and the connection between the two murders. There is one other suspect in the second murder–the butler, who has disappeared without a trace, and had only recently begun working for Dr. Strange.

A patient of Dr. Strange, Mrs. De Rushbridger may hold a key to the murders, but before they can question her, she is also murdered. The sleuths appear no closer to a solution, and a serial murderer is on the loose. Others could be in danger. Amid it all, Poirot takes time to stop and think, collects one further piece of evidence, and confronts the murderer, along with Cartwright, Satterthwaite, and “Egg.”

There were so many interesting elements to this. One was the affable and observant Satterthwaite. Another was the spunky “Egg.” Above all, I thought Christie did a stellar job of concealing the culprit. If you read this, did the ending surprise you? It did me.