This was another very enjoyable Poirot read from Sophie Hannah. The tone, characters and setting felt right for the period, and there were the usual assortment of personalities who make up a good detective novel, many of them ghastly. The treatment of the characters felt of its time, and nothing about the book seemed to have been written in the present, so the anachronistic mannerisms and speech were just right. A good read for lovers of Agatha Christie, who crave another book.

I always enjoy this authors take on the brilliant Agatha Christie and this book set in Greece with the clever and brillaint Poirot is just a joy to read.

I don't think too much about Christies work while reading books such as this, I am a big fan and in my opinion no one can match her writing style and storytelling, but that said it is an enjoyable read with all the Christie- esq ideas and imaginings.

There is murder and mayhem and Poirot does what he does best..

a one sit read for me

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I've been a fan of Sophie Hannah for a while now. I've read a couple of these new Hercule Poirot books and I quite enjoy them. I look forward to reading more of them.

A perfect 1930's Poirot mystery.
Took me back to reading an Agatha Christie novel in my youth.
Perfectly written and a great, traditional story and plot.

I found this book slightly disappointing. The writing is good, and the characters are exactly the sort of people Agatha Christie would have envisaged. But the story seems rather contrived, possibly because of the setting. I am a fan of Sophie Hannah, and she has created an entertaining book with a number of twists, but I felt it was all rather forced and ultimately rather unsatisfying.

I was very excited to read this new novel by Sophie Hannah, being a fan of her writing as well as enjoying anything related to Agatha Christie. Sadly, however, this story just didn't work for me. I found the group of people unconvincing, especially against the backdrop of the Greek island. The premise of forgiveness at the heart of their community didn't seem plausible and I found myself racing through it just to get to the end.

I am grateful however to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC

This story revolves around a very suitably Poirotesque setting of a remote Greek island, a small community of English and Americans, and a hotel without any guests. Poirot has been invited for New Year by the community leader and takes his trusty sidekick, Edward Catchpool a Scotland Yard detective along for the ride. When the not unexpected murder occurs it seems that all the residents have motive and opportunity not to mention secrets that they are unwilling to divulge. This is the community of Unconditional Forgiveness so perhaps not surprising.
I would have liked a sense of the daily life of the community as it seems that all their material needs are freely provided and all they seem to do all day is sit around and talk (mainly about themselves) and go for a walk on the beach. It is up to Poirot and Catchpool to wander around interviewing suspects and listening to them talking. There is a lot of talking and eventually someone lets something slip, the little grey cells do their work and the murder is solved. The plot is quite believable, the solution logical and neatly tied up.
I enjoyed this more than some of the other books in this series, but felt it needed a bit less talking and a bit more of life going on the background to make the characters more human and rounded. I did like the instant infatuation one of the characters had for Catchpool and his reaction to it - great fun!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

It took me a good few chapters to get into this book but once I did I was HOOKED. I read it in a matter of hours racing to get to the final pages.

I LOVED this book! I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails whilst feeling my heart pounding into the silly hours of the morning… one of the best books I have ever read! An absolute MUST READ!

The characters were so good and the ending was so unexpected it was WOW!! The plot was pacy and suspenseful which is right up my street!

Okay-ish read for me which took me a lot of time to get into initially. I enjoy the original Poirot novels but the new ones feel a little hard to get into

The mystery isn't bad, although I wasn't satisfied by certain aspects of it, but it's Hannah's writing style which isn't for me.

Disappointing.

I know she can’t be the real Christie but it leads me to wonder why write these.
Didn’t enjoy the characters, not even Poirot, lacklustre story and generally dull.
Steer clear if you are a true Christie fan.

Thanks to Netgalley.co.uk for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I found the premis of this story confusing - clever but confusing.
To say that it was a clear-cut murder mystery is, of course, a lie. Much like the opinions of most of the characters in this story, the truth is hidden, covered up, and lies are blatantly told, all under the misconception that it is ok to be devious.
My confusion came from the games being played. Each character was painted one way, then portrayed another. Hiding themselves, their beliefs, and their plans under a smokescreen.
Edward Catchpole was drawn into the depths of the depraved and despicable inhabitants, with only his good friend Poirot to rely upon. Poirot is the only person Catchpole could confide and believe in. But even then, Edward is uncertain as to which version of the truth presented could have an inch of truth within, and Poirot witholds some information in the hope that Catchpole will figure it out for himself.
A bit too confusing and long-winded for me. Sophie Hannah writes well, so this mystery wasn't quite up to the standard I expected from her. Based on Agatha Christie's style of writing, this didn't hold up for me, so it was a little disappointing.

As a huge Agatha Christie fan I always read this authors interpretation of Poirot. You can't compare the two but I think Hannah writes a good adaptation.

I did however find this book very difficult to get into, with too many characters to remember. On the positive I enjoyed the setting, genre and the friendship between Poirot and Catchpole. The story was enjoyable once it got into the flow.

The Last Death of the Year is Sophie Hannah's latest incarnation of Hercules Poirot, and what a treat it was. The recipe for murder includes a cast of disparate characters, American, English and Greek, a picturesque and unique villa and an idyllic Greek island. Poirot goes with his friend Inspector Catchpool of Scotland Yard for a New Year's Eve holiday break, but within a day of their arrival, the most pleasant and friendly man in their company is murdered. From there the twists, turns and lies abound and the reader is desperate to solve the crime before Poirot. But of course that's impossible. I loved everything about this from the location to the undeniably 1930s slant on morality. It's a treat and I thoroughly recommend it!

I really wanted to love this one, especially as I’ve enjoyed Sophie Hannah’s other Poirot books—but this just didn’t quite land for me.
The premise is great: a mysterious New Year Resolution that.'s saying there will be a murder and Poirot being drawn into a strange case at a retreat on a Greek island. But there were so many characters that I struggled to connect with any of them. It felt a bit long and overly complicated in places. I know others will enjoy the twisty plot, but it just wasn’t quite my cup of tea this time.

Sophie Hannah is a brilliant author and I have read a lot, if not most, of her books. She is very good at psychological twists to her stories and I thought her very brave to attempt to continue the great works of Agatha Christie. Especially one of her most popular characters, Hercule Poirot.

Hannah has captured the personalities of, not only Poirot, but also of the loud, eccentric and very vocal Americans present in this story of murder.

It began with a murder being announced in a poem and later being done just as the poem foretold.

Sophie Hannah wrote this, not in her usual way, but as Christie would have with a lot of pre-crime narrative so I found this a real chore to read until you get past the first 7 or 8 chapters. However, I do give credit to this author for copying Christie’s style of writing as that’s not easy to replicate, especially someone as world famous as Agatha Christie and her beloved Hercule Poirot.

I am sad to say that I struggled with this book. I have read the other Poirot books by Sophie Hannah, and I enjoyed them, but not this one. There were too many characters and I could not relate to most of them. I know others will enjoy this book but, for me, it was too clunky and long-winded.

A Sophie Hannah Poirot novel is a like a wonderful treat, a book you read for pure enjoyment. In this one, Poirot and his friend Inspector Catchpool are spending new year on a Greek island, guests of a small community centred on a religious belief in absolute forgiveness. Naturally, Poirot can't go anywhere without a murder occurring, and after a sinister warning, they are soon investigating just that.

It's got all the ingredients you want from a Poirot novel - an interesting setting, a selection of unlikely and suspicious characters, a relatively closed and secluded set up, and all of Hannah's usual wit and easy prose. Her characterisation of the Belgian detective is spot on - affectionate towards his foibles but never making him ridiculous. Catchpool is a good narrator and likeable character too.

The plot is appropriately baffling with various clues, twists, turns and red herrings. It's all very far fetched of course, but that's par for the course with this genre. It's incredibly fun and very well written. I can forgive a convoluted and unlikely denouement provided the journey to get there is worthwhile. It would be a great holiday read, with the Greek island setting and the easy and enjoyable style.

Highly recommended to everyone who likes 'cosy' crime and Golden Age novels. If you are a Christie purist and nervous about reading someone else's interpretation of her most famous character, you can be reassured Hannah does a very good job. I like to think Christie would have approved, and might even have enjoyed reading them herself.

Sophie Hannah’s The Last Death of the Year follows the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and his close friend, Inspector Edward Catchpool, as they arrive on the Greek island of Lamperos on New Year’s Eve, 1932. Events become dark very quickly, owing to a holiday resolution game in which a resident dies on the terrace. Poirot informs Catchpool that something worse than murder has happened, and another person is going to be killed on the island, and they must prevent further deaths before the new year.

In the novel, Poirot retains the personality of a classical detective and lives up to all human complexities around him. Inspector Catchpool grounds the stance, which is always a match to Poirot's brilliant intelligence. Their interaction with weird residents makes the story alive as trust, suspicion, and hidden motives unfold in an isolated island backdrop.

Themes from the book range from appearance versus reality to how fear gains access into closed communities and the dangers brought by secrets and grudges. The story takes place on a Greek island isolated from the rest of the world, and isolation breeds more fear and suspicion. This reflection leads to a broader discussion about fragile social trust and the consequences of unresolved tensions within a community.

Hannah's writing style is clear and captivating, and balances classicism with a slight modern feel. She unravels mystery at a good pace; giving just enough clue for the reader to not lose interest without revealing too much too quickly. The language is detailed yet approachable, building an anticipatory atmosphere.

One would personally feel that the aura that stayed with the novel concerning the leeriness that lingers with it urges more to think about how powerful secrets are and how fear twists perceptions. Characters are true to life and there is a palpable sense of danger, which makes this both a great whodunit and a personal introspection on human nature.

In cultural terms, The Last Death of the Year would comfortably slip into the milieu of detective mystery and become part of Agatha Christie's immortal legacy. Hannah's continuation of Poirot stories has all respect for an original style, with added emotional and modern sensibilities. The story created depth for psychological comprehension while for an avid fan of the old classics locked-room mystery, this secluded island has elements of déjà vu.

The novel's exploration of dark undercurrents in the vain social fabric makes it an intelligent, engaging addition to the Hercule Poirot series.


3.5/5

Sophie Hannah's handling of the Agatha Christie 'new' Poirot novels is excellent. By fitting the new novels in to the Christie Timeline and introducing new characters like Inspector Catchpool she has managed to capture the essence of Christie's canon.

The Last Death of the Year is the sixth outing for Hannah and in this Poirot and Catchpool arrive on a Greek Island on New Year's Eve. Poirot has been invited by the leader of a group of people who are following a branch of the Christian religion where forgiveness is a central tenet. Within hours of their arrival one of the members of the group is dead and so Poirot and Catchpool find themselves trying to solve this unusual murder.

The writing works as does the characters, if there was a slight negative it has to be that the plotting is weighed down a bit with alot of explanations and conversations between the charaters which slows down the narrative.

The Last Death of the Year, is the sixth book by Sophie Hannah in her efforts to recreate the excellent character Hercule Poirot. I loved the Agatha Christie books and read all of them so feel I am in a good position to review the new series. The writing is good and Sophie Hannah succeeds in my opinion to recreate both the character of Poirot as well as the style of the Christie novels. My only criticism in this particular novel is the actual plot, which failed to fully grip me and while I found it entertaining it felt a little over complicated. I have read a few of the previous novels in this series and enjoyed them and will certainly read more.

The novel takes place on New Year’s Eve, 1932, and Poirot, accompanied by his clueless companion Inspector Edward Catchpool, arrive on Lamperos under the pretence of a restful holiday. Typical of Poirot stories all is not as it seems and this trip is not the relaxing break it appears. As the New Year’s Eve festivities begin the party guests engage in an apparently innocent guessing game, but a sinister undertone quickly emerges. Before the clock can strike midnight, a murder is committed and it falls on Poirot to put his little grey cells into action.

The book is well written and succeeds in echoing the overall feel of Agatha Christie novels. While I was reading this book I gave little thought to any comparisons, which is it self a compliment to Sophie Hannah. The Last Death of the Year is entertaining and I enjoyed reading it but just hoped for a more satisfying solution to the crime. Both the characters of Poirot and Catchpool are well written and especially enjoyed the dialogue between them.

True to the style of the Poirot novels, the novel is full of red herrings, twists and turns and features the wealthy class in the signature drawing-room-style unveiling. With Sophie Hannah’s writing new Hercule Poirot novels live on and she manages to recreate the characters very well.

This is an atmospheric Poirot mystery that is an enjoyable read and a must for Mystery Thriller readers.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.