Another great Christie-style mystery from Hannah. Unique characters, twists and turns, and a surprising ending - I loved it!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

"New Year's Eve is a night on which most people are prone to feeling out of sorts; no other calendar date is as effective at making one aware of both the preciousness of each individual moment and, simultaneously, the gargantuan insignificance of those same moments in the rolling sea of time."

It's been about a year since Catchpool and Poirot spent Christmas in Norfolk and now they are visiting an island off the coast of Greece where a strange religious cult seems to be located in a big house (called House of Perpetual Welcome). There are plenty of suspects who might be hiding secrets - after all the main tenet of living there is unconditional forgiveness - no questions asked and your past doesn't matter.

As always in a good Christie book, there are lots of motives and secrets everywhere. The ending is a little convoluted and parts of it I would never have put together (apparently solely based on London geography) but it was satisfying to me in a way that Hannah's last book wasn't. I also liked the running joke of there being no comfortable chairs at the house at all.

The book kept me reading as I wanted to know whodunnit. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review!

I am a huge fan of everything by Agatha Christie. Her books got me started reading mysteries from an early age and have enjoyed them all.

I had heard that Sophie Hannah was continuing the legacy, writing in the style of Agatha Christe, and I wanted to read and see what one of her mysteries was like, and if she could imitate Dame Agatha.

Kudos to Ms. Hannah! The writing style did not disappoint, and I am glad that I had the opportunity to read an advance copy offered by the publisher so I could read and post a personal review.

The plot is intriguing, and Poirot came alive again in my mind. There were many characters to get used to, and that is when my interest started getting tired. I was able to finish the book, but it was not my favorite, and I am not motivated to continue reading other mysteries by the same author.

I am grateful to have been able to read this advance reader's copy, and would recommend it to mystery lovers, and especially to those who love Monsieur Poirot.

The Last Death of the Year by Sophie Hannah is another clever, atmospheric Poirot mystery that captures the spirit of Agatha Christie while delivering a fresh, chilling holiday whodunnit. Set on a remote Greek island on New Year’s Eve, the story brims with tension as Poirot and Inspector Catchpool find themselves among an eccentric group of residents whose evening of resolutions takes a sinister turn when one foretells a murder—only for the grim prediction to come true hours later. With sharp dialogue, a richly drawn setting, and Hannah’s knack for intricate plotting, this novel is both a nostalgic return to Poirot’s brilliance and a riveting standalone mystery. Perfect for fans of classic detective fiction, it’s a clever puzzle-box tale that ensures the new year begins with suspense, secrets, and Poirot’s unmatched deductive flair.

The Last Death of the Year is the latest Hercule Poirot entry by Sophie Hannah. Not the best in her series, it is still a fine entry in the Agatha Christie continuation. Lots of characters, per usual, but none of them very memorable save one or endearing. I would love to read Hannah start up a Miss Marple series

Publishing October 28, 2025

Grade: B-

3 1/2 stars
Hercule Poirot and his friend Inspector Catchpool head off to a Greek island for a relaxing holiday vacation. As usual Poirot is quietly watchful and Catchpool is trying to gauge his friend's mood and his choice of this odd house and its inhabitants. When a death is foretold on New Year's Eve the real party begins. Sophie Hannah does a great job of channeling Dame Agatha and her classic characters but I had a tougher time caring about any of the characters in this one. Still Agatha Christie fans as well as classic murder mystery readers will enjoy pondering over the twists and turns of this latest installment. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

A very classic whodunit in the style of Agatha Christie. Characters were well-written, Hercule Poirot is perfectly captured. It had some unexpected plot twists, and I found myself racing through it. I haven't had a chance to pick up the other books in the series, but I will now.

I've been looking forward to Sophie Hannah's The Last Death of the Year, for months. In her latest outing, Hannah sets her Hercule Poirot continuation series on a remote Greek island. A wealthy man’s son has created a religious commune where people with “pasts” are accepted without question. But something’s afoot, and Poirot has been called in to help.

It’s December 1932 and London is cold and dreary. So when Poirot invites his right hand man, Scotland Yard Inspector Edward Catchpool, to join him on a trip to Greece (Poirot sells it as a getaway), it’s an immediate yes. But of course it’s a working trip, and the resort is a rugged religious commune filled with societal exiles bubbling over with sexual tension, unrequited love, dark secrets, and revenge. Within hours of a revealing New Year’s Eve game, the commune’s glue—and love interest—is murdered. And the game’s afoot.

In Hannah’s expert hands, the plot unfolds with twists, turns, false flags, and characters who are deliciously warped and repellant. But Poirot, while on the case and as astute as ever, feels absent for much of the book. Catchpool functions as Poirot’s literal boots on the ground, making him privy to the unsavory side of the commune. Soon secrets are out, murders are up, and Poirot is stumped. But not for long.

While I enjoyed The Last Death of the Year because it scratched my itch for everything Agatha Christie, I wish the women characters were more developed (and less pathologized) and that the simmering homoeroticism had been addressed. There are some holes here, but excellent plotting, compelling writing, and the comfort of a familiar detective friend will keep readers in their seats. It’s not Sophie Hannah’s best Poirot outing, but it’s a solid addition to the genre and one that fans will enjoy—I most certainly did.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

Clever, classic Poirot mystery!

I am a huge Agatha Christie fan-particularly when it comes to Hercule Poirot! I've read most of her books and have to admit that l've always been hesitant to read any of Sophie Hannah's novels, but l'm so glad I finally gave it a try!

This book is so clever in that it's mostly told from the perspective of Poirot's associate Edward Catchpool (he's somewhat like Hastings, but not nearly as naive). Much of the time it truly feels as if this book could have been written by Agatha Christie herself, so bravo to Sophie Hannah!

This story begins on New Year's Eve in a fun and intriguing Greek island setting, but could be read at anytime! In traditional Christie fashion, there is a whole host of characters with complex backstories and personalities. I did guess part of the ending at the beginning, but it didn't make the journey any less enjoyable.

Many Poirot stories land firmly in the cozy mystery category. I would categorize this book as cozy mystery, but it does dip a toe into some deeper waters with themes of religious cults, moral conundrums and physiological elements.

Age recommendation: older teen/adult. Some language present. Themes of murder (though not graphic), blood, revenge, violence, adultery, betrayal, lying, cults.

Sophie Hannah returns with her sixth Poirot novel and again she gives us a story that is just as delightful as one of Agatha Christie's own. I had never read a Hercule Poirot story, but I was an enormous fan of Sophie Hannah, so when she first began writing these Hercule Poirot stories, I had to check them out. I have now gone back and read most of the Hercule Poirot books, and I feel like I can better appreciate the skill with which Hannah has breathed new life into the character. Her stories are not exactly the same as Agatha Christie's, but I like them just as much.

Poirot and Inspector Catchpool find themselves on a tiny Greek island for New Years with a cast of strange characters. The vibe is already kind of creepy on the island when the group plays a New Year’s Resolutions game. Someone on the island writes “the last and first death of the year," then a body is found soon after.

As a librarian, I LOVE introducing mystery readers to these stories. For some who haven't read the originals, these can be a great gateway. For fans of Christie's original works, these books are a wonderful continuation.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

I love Poirot, and while this is not (obviously) Agatha Christie good, it is really fun and I enjoyed so much being able to interact in a story with one of my favorite literary detectives! (though let's be serious, Poirot is great, but he is NO Miss Marple!). This was an enjoyable read, and I would definitely recommend for fans of Agatha Christie, and Poirot especially, who won't get too caught up in the fact that it's a continuation of his mysteries but not written by Agatha Christie herself.

Hercule Poirot and his friend Inspector Catchpool are off to a small Greek island for New Year's, invited to a special house where a group of friends have established their own sort of sanctuary. During a game in which everyone submits a paper with their New Year's resolution, a threat to commit murder is included, and soon after, one is committed. It's up to the pair to sort through the suspects and lies to solve the crime and hopefully prevent another one, all while Catchpool must deal with someone worse that a killer - a young woman who, much to his chagrin, has set her sights on him.
Another captivating mystery by Sophie Hannah that feels much like one of Christie's. There are plenty of red herrings, misdirections and even multiple deaths to keep you guessing. The nature of the "commune" was a bit on the iffy side, and the solutions to the crimes weren't all that easy to figure out, even reading between the lines, and had the weakness of Poirot discovering some facts via phone call off the page, though even Christie herself was guilty of utilizing that unfair method several times.

"The Last Death of the Year" by Sophie Hannah is the sixth book in her new Hercule Poirot Mysteries, and by far the best of them. Yes, I have read them all. As a devoted Agatha Christie fan, I couldn't resist this new addition to the series.

Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool are back in a complex murder investigation that takes place on a Greek island. The time is New Year’s Eve, 1932. Poirot and Catchpool from Scotland Yard arrive on the tiny island of Lamperos, supposedly for a vacation among the eccentric locals living at the House of Perpetual Welcome.

Soon, Catchpool begins to suspect Poirot had another reason for inviting him. During a New Year’s Resolutions party, one written note—threatening to perform “the last and first death of the year”—overshadows the holiday spirit. The tension escalates when, only hours later, one of the residents is found dead on the terrace. The pair must find the culprit to ensure the first murder will indeed be the last

I enjoyed the book immensely. Although it pays homage to Christie and has shades of the Dame herself, it is not Agatha Christie—admittedly, those are very difficult shoes to fill. That doesn’t mean the book isn’t good. It’s suspenseful and fun, just not Christie. Once I stopped treating it as such, I enjoyed it even more.

The writing is tight, and the book conveys a suspenseful atmosphere as well as the detective’s methodical way of investigating and solving problems. I didn’t foresee the twists, and the mix of deceptions and red herrings kept me engaged throughout.

The plot unfolds at a slow pace, as befits a detective story. Not all the cards are revealed, and not all the moves are clear in advance. Unfortunately, Catchpool isn’t Captain Arthur Hastings. He is more needy, lacks confidence, and despite being a Scotland Yard detective, is less brilliant, continually requiring Poirot’s guidance. Still, I liked him.

Overall, I loved the book and highly recommend it to fans of Agatha Christie or simply fans of an excellent mystery. It may not be quite the original, but it comes very close. Sophie Hannah manages to capture Poirot’s mannerisms and deliver an intriguing tale while doing so. I can't wait for the next installment in the series!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

I am always game for what Sophie Hannah is offering because she rarely disappoints. Getting new adventures from Hercule Poirot is an absolute joy? Thank you for sharing and keep them coming!

It’s always interesting to read pastiches of well-established characters, and I was curious to see how Sophie Hannah would handle Poirot. The setup had real promise: a Greek island, a crumbling house full of eccentric residents, and a New Year’s Eve game that leads to a chilling murder. On paper, it had all the makings of a classic golden-age mystery.

I did enjoy the atmosphere and the fact that I couldn’t guess the culprit ahead of time. The ending was clever, though some elements felt a little far-fetched. That said, much of the book moved slowly, and at times Poirot’s voice didn’t feel quite true to Christie’s original. It often felt more like an imitation of Christie rather than a true homage, and the big reveal didn’t carry the impact I was hoping for.

It was an okay read, interesting enough, but it didn’t fully capture the Christie vibe that makes the originals so special.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and William Morrow for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars

This is the first book I have read in the New Hercule Poirot Mysteries, but I was able to easily jump right in without being confused.

The book starts with Poirot and Inspector Catchpool going on a little New Years vacation to Greece. Upon arriving, Catchpool soon learns they are actually there to investigate an almost murder and an actual murder amongst a strange cult like group. This group believes that everyone should get complete forgiveness, and they are mostly all there to run from something in their past. Solving this crime proves to be difficult amongst the lies and secrets people are hiding.

Overall, it was a good book but some of the things at the end seemed a little far fetched and some of the pacing in the middle was a little slow. I did enjoy the ending and that I was unable to guess who the criminal was.

As a long-time Agatha Christie fan — I devoured all her books as a teenager and have reread a number of them over the years — I’d approached this reboot series with trepidation.
But I ended up loving them.
This, the sixth, while not my favorite, was still a really engaging read.

Poor Inspector Catchpool, naively thinking his friend Hercule Poirot has arranged a Greek holiday for the two of them, realizes quickly that there’s much more going on, and Poirot clearly knows all about it.
Strange things are afoot at the House of Perpetual Welcome, a rambling house on a small Greek island, inhabited by a handful of kooky folks who refer to themselves as Very Good Friends and have bought into the ‘leader’ Nash’s fervent beliefs in an unconditional, all-forgiving spiritual ethos. No questions asked, just complete and total forgiveness despite the transgression and regardless of any sort of repentant attitude. Which, when you think about it, could easily cultivate murderous tendencies because why not? in this world of repercussion-free forgiveness.

And murder it is. Or, rather, murders.
Throw in complicated relationships amongst the Very Good Friends, a temperamental slob of a chef, a hilarious ingenue who is determined to be in love with Catchpool, and a local inspector whose unorthodox methods test Poirot’s patience to the limits.
It’s fun, it’s twisty, it has definite shades of Dame Agatha herself. While the ending is a bit of a stretch, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
I just really love this series and the chance to hang out again with the Belgian detective and his little grey cells.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Agatha Christie was among the first writers to instill my love for reading (and specifically the mystery genre), favoring her Hercule Poirot stories in particular. I've read a few of Sophie Hannah's take on the character, and (for the most part) she does capture the essence of Poirot well (with all his quirks - except for his aversion to travelling by sea...)

Also, this tale has Poirot and Catchpool heading to a remote island in Greece during the winter (in particular on New Year's Eve) as a holiday for the pair (though that's never the case) and amongst people who foster a philosophy of forgiveness, A New Year's Eve game goes awry, leading to multiple murders and a host of suspects. The overall narrative is farfetched, though modestly paced, with red herrings scattered about - the resolution is complex and well crafted.

What I'm not so enamored on is her inclusion of policeman Edward Catchpool (an original character of hers), who comes across a bit like a self-insertion character, and is a lackluster stand-in for the in-canon sidekick Arthur Hastings (who presumably in this timeline has relocated to Argentina). In this tale, Catchpool comes across as too needy and wanting of Poirot's praise and admiration, almost to the point of a not-so-platonic relationship (this was the vibe I got in the opening chapters, not so sure if that's the intended direction of the character dynamic or if I'm reading too much into the subtext).

It's always interesting to read pastiches of well established characters and to see how they honor the legacy of those characters, and Sophie Hannah nearly gets it right - it's the absence of the established recurring side characters (Hastings, Miss Lemon and Inspector Japp) that keeps it from being a true homage to the original series.

This one was fine but the end got a bit far-fetched. Not just one murder, but three? Really? So many twists that it became unbelievable.

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.