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Murder on the Orient Express

Book 10 in the series:Hercule Poirot

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'Murder on the Orient Express' by Agatha Christie is a classic mystery novel featuring detective Hercule Poirot. The story unfolds on a train stranded in a snowdrift where a murder occurs, leading Poirot to investigate the passengers and their motives. The plot is intricately woven, with clues and red herrings that keep the reader guessing until the surprising conclusion. The writing style of Christie is described as timeless, with a touch of elegance and charm that adds to the overall enjoyment of the novel.

Characters:

The characters are diverse and representative of various nationalities, but some come across as stereotypes, lacking depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is straightforward and engaging, focusing on dialogue and clever character interactions.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a murder on the Orient Express where Hercule Poirot must solve the case among a diverse group of passengers, each with motives.

Setting:

The setting aboard the Orient Express during a snowstorm creates a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere, enhancing the mystery.

Pacing:

The pacing is methodical, with a slow start that gains momentum after the murder occurs, structured in three distinct parts.
It was five o’clock on a winter’s morning in Syria. Alongside the platform at Aleppo stood the train grandly designated in railway guides as the Taurus Express. It consisted of a kitchen and dining ca...

Notes:

Murder on the Orient Express was first published in 1934 and is one of Agatha Christie’s most famous works.
The book features the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot as the main character.
The story takes place aboard the luxurious Orient Express train, stranded in a snowdrift, with limited suspects.
The narrative is structured in three parts: 'The Facts', 'The Evidence', and 'Hercule Poirot Sits Back and Thinks'.
Many readers find the ending surprising and cleverly crafted, even if they are familiar with the outcome.
The plot is loosely inspired by the real-life Lindbergh kidnapping case.
The book contains many stereotypes based on nationality and character traits typical of the time.
The dialogue is heavily interspersed with French phrases, providing authenticity to characters like Poirot but can be confusing for non-French speakers.
Agatha Christie is often celebrated as the Queen of Crime fiction, having written over 80 novels.
This novel's legacy includes numerous adaptations across film and television, including a notable 1974 film and a modern remake directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains themes of racial and ethnic stereotypes reflective of the 1930s, which may be offensive to some readers.

From The Publisher:

"The murderer is with us-on the train now . . ."

Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samuel Edward Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Without a shred of doubt, one of his fellow passengers is the murderer.

Isolated by the storm, detective Hercule Poirot must find the killer among a dozen of the dead man's enemies, before the murderer decides to strike again.

Ratings (234)

Incredible (51)
Loved It (85)
Liked It (72)
It Was OK (22)
Did Not Like (4)

Reader Stats (378):

Read It (246)
Currently Reading (3)
Want To Read (85)
Did Not Finish (3)
Not Interested (41)

5 comment(s)

It Was OK
2 months

3.5*

 
It Was OK
3 months

I honestly have no strong opinion on this one. I read it and it was fine. It was my first Agatha Christie and maybe I expected more. It was a bit formulaic. But it was okay. I don’t know what else to say.

 
Loved It
3 months

First Read In 2016

------------------------

****4.0****

Hercule Poirot, on receiving a telegram has to return to London. Although the train is fully booked, his friend,Monsieur Bouc, a director of the railway gets him a berth in Orient Express.

Among the passengers, a rich man named, Samuel Ratchett tries to hire Poirot because he believes his life is threatened. But Poirot refuses.

Due to the snowdrift, the train is stopped near Vincovci and there are several disturbances that irritate Poirot's sleep. But the morning brings in the news of the death of Ratchett , who was stabbed 12 times. Bouc asks Poirot to investigate.

It's a twisty turny story of vengeance and a violent, sad past. Still it gave me a turn when I finished it. A very enjoyable mystery.

Happy Reading!!

 
It Was OK
6 months

Poirot gently uncrossed his knees, withdrew his gaze from the ceiling, and looked the young man full in the face. “My name is Hercule Poirot,” he said quietly, “and I am probably the greatest detective in the world.

Christie, Agatha. The Mystery of the Blue Train: Hercule Poirot Investigates (Hercule Poirot series Book 6) (p. 149). William Morrow Paperbacks. Kindle Edition.

On the way back from Syria, having closed a case, Poirot plans for some rest and relaxation until a telegram from London requests his urgent presence. He immediately changes his plans booking passage on the Simplon-Orient train. But the first night aboard, one of the passengers is murdered and Poirot is tasked with finding the culprit.

I love Hercule Poirot but I honestly don't know how I feel about this book. I know it's a classic and in some ways I appreciate it but in other ways it just annoyed me. The first 70% was alright. The mystery unfolded and kept me guessing and then

I felt like it just went to pieces. All of a sudden they were all connected to the case and everyone had a motive and it made sense - but I didn't like it. It was just too fantastical for my tastes. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love a good twist but this was just over the top ridiculous.

So it was okay but it's definitely not my favourite Hercule Poirot novel. 3 stars.

 
Loved It
1 year

You Journey Through the stories of all the suspects as the detective interviews them and try to outwit the detective in the book by solving the mystery on your own before he does.

 

About the Author:

Agatha Christie, the acknowledged 'Queen of Crime' (The Observer) was born in Torquay in 1890. During the First World War she worked as a hospital dispenser, and it was here that she gleaned the working knowledge of various poisons that was to prove so useful in her detective stories. Her first novel was The Mysterious Affair at Styles, which introduced Hercule Poirot to the world. This was published in 1920 (although in fact she had written it during the war) and was followed over the next six years by four more detective novels and a short story collection. However, it was not until the publication of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd that Agatha Christie's reputation was firmly established. This novel, with its complex plot and genuinely shocking conclusion, attracted considerable public attention and has since been acknowledged by many experts as a masterpiece. In 1930 the sharp-witted spinster sleuth Miss Marple made her first appearance in The Murder at the Vicarage. In all, Agatha Christie published over 80 novels and short story collections. The brilliance of Christie's plots, and her enduring appeal, have led to several dramatisations of her work on radio, television and film. In 1930 she was one of a number of crime writers asked to contribute a chapter to a mystery, Behind the Screen, that was broadcast on BBC radio on 21st June that year. More recently, June Whitfield portrayed Miss Marple on BBC Radio 4, whilst John Moffat starred as Hercule Poirot. On screen, Peter Ustinov, David Suchet, Margaret Rutherford, Joan Hickson, Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie have all memorably played Agatha Christie's famous sleuths. As her play The Mousetrap (the longest-running play in the history of theatre) testifies, Agatha Christie's detective stories are likely to appeal for a long time to come. Agatha Christie was awarded a CBE in 1956 and was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1971. She died in 1976.

 
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