Agatha Christie

A Hercule Poirot Mystery

The Mystery of the Blue Train

Inés

‘You could perhaps love a thief, mademoiselle, 

Kathe

A mirror shows the truth, but everyone stands in a different place for looking into the mirror. 

Sonia Grgas

Very good book to end my reading year. Although this is a reread, I read it so long ago that I had no recollection of the plot. Hercule Poirot was more delightful than usual in this one and I enjoyed it thoroughly, just another reminder as to why Dame Christie continues to be my favorite author.

Barbara Williford

Agatha Christie does it again! There is a murder on the Blue Train and Poirot must use his little gray cells to find out who killed a prominent American socialite and stole her rare rubies. It’s a rabbit hole of suspects, mistaken identities and clever plots.

ella hardy 

Katherine Gray is perfection, chef’s kiss.

Library Edition

Agatha Christie does it again!  There is a murder on the Blue Train and Poirot must use his little gray cells to find out who killed a prominent American socialite and stole her rare rubies.  It’s a rabbit hole of suspects, mistaken identities and clever plots.

Il mistero del Treno Azzurro

Silvia Lucchini

Un tipico caso alla Poirot e un altro capolavoro della Christie anche questa volta con un finale mai banale. Temevo che la morte su un treno ricordasse Assassinio sull'Orient Express, ma posso assicurare che non è così. La Christie è, come al solito, eccezionale nel disseminare indizi in tutto il libro e se ci si fa attenzione, l'assassino può essere smascherato prima di arrivare al finale. Consigliato!

The mystery of the blue train

C. J. Daley 

So I am currently attempting to read the Poirot series in order. Ambitious I know... even though they don’t actually connect and in some they reference work done by Poirot that has not actually been mentioned prior, but anyway that’s how I’m doing it. 

So for me I really enjoyed this story not being in the perspective of someone working with Poirot—as much as I enjoy Hastings and disliked the doctor from Roger Ackroyd. This was a refreshing take from so many of the others feeling the same. The story changes perspectives from random characters/suspects and Poirot is almost in the background. This way, when it gets to the explanation at the end, you don’t really understand or know what he’s thinking because you haven’t been attached to him the entire time. It gets to a point where it’s almost frustrating how Hastings is used as a tool to blind you, so this approach was nice for me. 

A very enjoyable one, I would certainly read it again.

Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories is a collection of eleven tantalizing tales of murder and other criminal pursuits—including the classic title story, the basis for the 1957 Oscar-nominated Billy Wilder film starring Marlene Dietrich, Tyrone Power, and Charles Laughton. A murder trial takes a diabolical turn when the wife of the accused takes the stand. . . . A woman's sixth sense—and a loaded revolver—signal premonitions of doom. . . . A stranded motorist seeks refuge in a remote mansion and is greeted with a dire warning. . . . Detective Hercule Poirot faces his greatest challenge when his services are enlisted—by the victim—in a bizarre locked-room murder. From the stunning title story (which inspired the classic film thriller) to the rarest gems in detective fiction, these eleven tales of baffling crime and brilliant deduction showcase Agatha Christie at her dazzling best.

A Short Story

The Mystery of the Blue Jar

TYLER

Gabriella Parker

Agatha Christie NEVER disappoints! This book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The people I suspected changed with every plot twist and I never would’ve suspected the true killer. It was all just mind blowing.

Teaghan Grayson

A replacement-level Poirot mystery, so fine, light summer reading

Hannah Wall

I think the only audiobook I have listened to this year and I really enjoyed it. As normal- I had no idea who the murder was and I like that!

Sarah Vaughan

Well-written and exciting as usual for an Agatha Christie mystery, but I figured out who the suspects were within the first 75 pages, and I never figure it out, so that's saying something. Oh well.

The Mystery of the Blue Train (Poirot)

Giulia Pianta

I really enjoy isolated settings, and the fact that the murder took place on a train is just so fascinating to me. When we move to French Riviera, I wasn’t very disappointed though, as I enjoyed that setting too.

I couldn’t have predicted the culprit at all, despite Poirot almost telling it, I was completely mislead.

I was sad for the murdered woman, I liked her and I didn’t want her to die. I for some reason took a while to start liking Katherine Grey, she didn’t sit well with me for some reason. I find the other characters to be so typical of Agatha, they are not too characterised but just enough to paint the right picture and atmosphere.

Poirot is brilliant as usual, I didn’t really care about the romance as usual, I could not guess the culprit as usual, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. As usual.

Ruby Huber

Now THIS is a mystery. After the disaster of The Big Four this was a well deserved break. No annoying stupid Hastings to narrate, a good crime and a few suspects, motives and alibis and twists and red herrings. All the goods in this one, and I also solved it before it was spelled out for me!! Feels so good to do that! My little grey cells prosper! A true hoot.

Jayarna La Bozzetta

A little too long winded and forgettable in my opinion.

Amit Gawande

This was the typical Poirot mystery, just not presented in an equally intriguing fashion. There were just too many shifts to the points of view of the supporting characters. The clues were perceivable, but they weren't backed by any information that was revealed earlier. There were many moments when I knew what was being narrated was important, was a clue to something. But I could just not put my finger on why that was so. The resolution towards the end too did not feel very natural; it felt rushed, forced. 

With the way the novel is structured, it felt as if Christie started writing this in the middle when Poirot is introduced, reached towards the end, and began to wonder how to tie all the woven mystery up. All the side characters and their backstories were written at that point and spread across the novel.

As a whole, the story just didn't feel coherent. It wasn't boring; I don't think Christie can write a boring mystery. But it just wasn't one of her finest works. I have heard even she has acknowledged this fact.

Neeti Choudhari

No matter how many murder mysteries you read, Agatha Christie will always surprise you. Hercule Poirot helps me get over my reader's block.

The Mystery of the Blue Train A Hercule Poirot Mystery

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