The Last Death of the Year by Sophie Hannah is narrated by Inspector Edward Catchpool, who along with Hercule Poirot, is invited to a remote island in Greece for a New Year celebration. The invitation comes from Nathaniel Athanasiou, known as Nash, the founder of a spiritual movement called the Very Good Friends. At the House of Perpetual Welcome, or the Spitty, Nash promises unconditional forgiveness, a fresh start, and a place where people can leave their past behind.
The premise is intriguing, but the execution feels cluttered. Nine residents live at the Spitty, each with an unclear backstory, which makes it difficult to connect with them or fully engage in the mystery. Instead of building suspense, their secrecy becomes frustrating, and their suspicious behaviour lacks emotional weight.
The New Year resolution game is meant to spark tension, yet it comes across as exaggerated. Soon after, the threatened death occurs. Nash then reveals that someone had already received a death threat and feared for their life before the tragedy. A second death follows not long after.
Many of the residents behave suspiciously, yet their characters remain vague and hazy, making it difficult to feel fully invested. While the execution of the mystery was acceptable and largely reasonable, the reckless decision to create a so called murder challenge felt absurd and unnecessarily dangerous. This is my first Poirot novel by Sophie Hannah. I found it messy at times yet it's an okay Poirot pastiche rather than a standout one.