Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie published 1934 is the second book I have read for the March Mystery Madness Challenge and it also fulfills the 2020 Back to the Classics category - choose an adapted classic. I enjoyed this mystery a great deal and I am looking forward to watching Kenneth Branagh film version of the novel when it airs tomorrow.
The plot is pretty straightforward. A passenger, Mr. Ratchett, is murdered on the Orient Express as it travels through Europe. Mr. Ratchett is killed in the middle of the night in his sleeping car but due to a snow storm the train is stopped and whoever killed him is unable to escape. The first class section where the murder occurred is closed off from the rest of the train so the killer must be one of the thirteen passengers residing in first class. But who and why?
Agatha Christie's legendary Detective, Hercule Poirot, is on the train travelling to a business appointment in London. Assisting him in solving the murder will be his friend M Bouc, an exec with the Orient Express Company and Dr. Constantine who agrees to fill in as a coroner. These three will interview the passengers, search luggage and debate back and forth as to who the killer might be but as always its Poirot's instincts that are worth following.
One of the problems I have found with reviewing a mystery is that to really discuss this book properly and quote the passages I would like to quote I would need to give away too many clues. Suffice it to say that if you have never read Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express is a very good place to begin.
I have not yet read Agatha Christie. I really need to. I will probably start with this one. My wife is a fan. Hopefully, I will get to this in the coming year.
ReplyDeleteI also want to see Branagh’s version.
Hi Brian, I recommend Murder on the Orient Express as an introduction to Christie and best to read the book first because had I seen tne movie I would have known what happened and probably passed on the book but reading the book really psyched me for the movie. I am particularly interested to see how Mrs Hubbard will be portrayed.
DeleteThis is one of my favorite Christie mysteries. But you're right, to talk about it too much is to give it all away. :D
ReplyDeleteHi Lark, agree and the worst thing one can do with a mystery is reveal the ending. It spoils the book for the reader. That said I liked how this mystery ended and it came as a suprise.
DeleteThis one is one of my favorite Christie novels. I often forget the murderer in novels but not in this one because it is so ingenious! I've not seen the Branagh adaptation (that mustache puts me off!) but I have seen the David Suchet BBC version which was very well done.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruthiella, David Suchet seems like he would be an excellent Poirot and agree Branagh's mustache too extreme and though I have it on tape I worry it will detract from the film. I too liked the way the book ended. Came as a bit of a suprise but not entirely because there were clues.
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