Postern of Fate by Agatha Christie - Tommy and Tuppence #5
The Last Hurrah of Tommy and Tuppence
A Book Review
Postern of Fate is a mystery novel from the pen of Agatha Christie, an English writer of both novels and short stories, the much-lauded Queen of Crime.
Published originally in 1973 as a followup to Christie’s “By the Pricking of My Thumbs” from 1968, “Postern of Fate” is the fifth and last instalment in Tommy and Tuppence series, featuring the septuagenarian escapades of not so young and bright things, Tommy and Tuppence.
“Postern of Fate”, Christie’s 74th novel in all, is not only the last entry in the Tommy and Tuppence series that began with the publication of “The Secret Adversary “in 1922, but it’s also the last novel Agatha Christie ever wrote.
“I suppose without curiosity a man would be a tortoise. Very comfortable life, a tortoise has. Goes to sleep all winter and doesn't eat anything more than grass as far as I know, to live all the summer. Not an interesting life perhaps, but a very peaceful one.”
Agatha Christie, Postern of Fate (1973)
In Postern of Fate, Tommy and Tuppence have finally decided to withdraw from the hustle and bustle of their more youthful days and retire to an English country village to enjoy some well-deserved peace and quiet.
Unfortunately, a life full of mystery, intrigue and adventure isn’t the easiest thing to shake even if you wanted to, and soon enough, Tommy and Tuppence find themselves back on the saddle, unearthing secrets and arcane pursuits.
Their newly acquired, creaking abode has come with a collection of ancient books, one of which strikes Tuppence odd.
True to their nature, the Beresford investigative double act find themselves entangled in a puzzling case of murder and misdeed.
Much has been written about Christie’s ailing condition towards the end of her life and the toll it took on her writing.
“Postern of Fate” is said to be her worst, and as it feels considerably lighter than the bulk of Christie’s bibliography, the dialogue-heavy Postern of Fate is not definitely among her best work.
But even so, I can’t find it in my heart to decry the last case of Tommy and Tuppence.
“Postern of Fate” is undoubtedly rambling and unfocused at parts, but despite its obvious faults, I found the last case of Tommy and Tuppence an adequate work of crime fiction.
Not stellar by any count and definitely not for non-completionists, but just ok.
This stands in stark contrast not only Christie’s best work but also to the earlier novels in Tommy and Tuppence series.
Part of me would have wished for a less out-of-focused and meandering farewell to the jolly detective pair of Tommy and Tuppence, but “Postern of Fate” is what we got.
All in all there is enough there in the final book in the Tommy and Tuppence series, “Postern of Fate” by Agatha Christie, to earn a three-star review from me.
'All my friends tell me you never know with husbands,' said Tuppance.
'You have the wrong kind of friends,' said Tommy.”
Agatha Christie, Postern of Fate (1973)
