Curtain: Poirot's Last Case
Caution. Age: 18+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
Christie sees evil clearly here. A man who tempts others to kill is a true picture of the tempter. But Poirot answers with murder. He shoots the man in cold blood, then puts his own heart medicine out of reach and dies. He admits he does not know if he was justified and leaves himself to God. The book mourns him and never says he was wrong. That weakens hope and charity.
For parents
Not a read-aloud. Independent reading from 18, for adults only. Poirot kills a man outside the law and then hastens his own death. Both are grave sins (CCC 2268, 2280) and the book never says so. Ask whether a good end can justify murder (CCC 1753). Ask what Poirot should have done, and why despair about justice is a temptation.