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review 2020-07-02 17:29
The Mystery of the Blue Train
The Mystery of the Blue Train - Agatha Christie

I re-read this previously back in 2014. I gave it 3 stars then, but gave this 4 stars now since I appreciated this one a bit more the second time through.

 

Previous review:

 

We have the famous Hercule Poirot on the scene again investigating who murdered heiress Ruth Kettering.

 

When the novel begins we are introduced to many characters who will come to play some importance in showing how and why Ruth Kettering was murdered on the Blue Train she eventually takes for a rendezvous.

 

Though I am happy with the pains Ms. Christie took to provide depth and understanding to all of the characters I felt myself impatient since I wanted to get to Hercule Poirot.

After the disappointment of the "Big Four" I was glad to see that this was a classic who dun it and we don't have Poirot investigating a crazy crime syndicate in this one. However, there was still some disappointment.

 

A character we are introduced to in this novel, Katherine Grey, takes up a great portion of this story. She apparently is just one of those women that when a man meets falls instantly in love with her. I wish that there was some other reason for that since I myself couldn't see it. Though it was nice to read about St. Mary's Mead (home of Miss Marple) I rather would have had Miss Marple and Poirot meet in this novel and she help him solve the murder.

 

Additionally, when we get to the final who and why of the murder it makes no sense. Frankly for all of the pains that were taken the murderer could have taken up other means to get what they wanted without murder especially when you find out the person's reputation.

 

I was not at all surprised to find out that this was one of Christie's least favorite stories. This just didn't have quite the same oomph of her other novels. I still say my least favorite is "The Big Four" though.

 

One funny thing that I read was there was the discussion of trains and how "journeys end with lovers meeting" which quickly made me think of "The Haunting of Hill House" which creeped me out quite a bit.

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review SPOILER ALERT! 2019-02-17 17:24
First draft of Murder on the Orient Express?
The Mystery Of The Blue Train - Agatha Christie

Spoiler warning: I've been careful not to spoil the solution, but some of the plot points do end up being revealed during this post.

 

This was apparently not one of Agatha's own favorites, and I can sort of understand why. It doesn't quite come alive in the same way that her very best books come alive. In addition, I feel like her characterization was just a tiny bit off in this one - some of characters were just a bit too much, so they felt more like caricatures than characters in several cases, especially Viscountess Tamplin, Mirelle and the Mr. Papapolous (no idea how to spell his name). In addition, as likeable as Katherine Grey was, men falling over like bowling pins for her was  annoying.

 

I agree with BrokenTune that this feels like a less successful first attempt at Murder on the Orient Express, which was a much better book in every way. Having said that, though, from my perspective, it's still well worth reading. 

 

The relationship between Poirot and Katherine is really darling, and marks the first time that he collaborates with a young woman. This type of collaboration is reprised several times over the series with different characters, and those relationships are some of my favorites. Thank you, Agatha, for not making Hercule Poirot an old lech. And, can I just say how delightful it is to have an older (although how old Poirot is in this book is not extremely clear) male character who enjoys the company of young women in a really fresh, charming, and completely non-creepy way. Even when he admires their looks, it doesn't feel threatening at all. He also makes use of her observations in a way that demonstrates his respect for her perception.

 

There are a lot of other authors who could take some suggestions from this method. 

 

The mystery isn't as good as some, and poor Ruth really did not deserve her fate. In addition, her murderer is one of Christie's least redeemable characters (which is the opposite side of the same coin from Murder on the Orient Express, where it was the victim who was irredeemable and the murderers who were redeemed). In fact, if Ruth Kettering had been a child, and if the murderer had escaped justice, Mystery on the Blue Train might have been used as the motive for Murder on the Orient Express.

 

Poirot says about the killer:

 

"This is not the first murder that lies to [omitted] charge. [omitted] is a killer by instinct;  [omitted] believes, too, in leaving no evidence behind... Dead men and women tell no tales."

 

The murderer in The Mystery of the Blue Train doesn't just murder for gain. He murders because he is a murderer. There was no real reason to kill Ruth Kettering - the rubies could have been stolen without killing her.

 

And poor Lenox, whom we leave at the end of the book suffering from unrequited love:

 

"...Life is like a train, Mademoiselle. It goes on. And it is a good thing that that is so."

"Why?"

"Because the train gets to its journey's end at last, and there is a proverb about that in your language, Mademoiselle."

"Journeys end in Lovers meeting." Lenox laughed. "That is not going to be true for me."

"Yes - yes, it is true. You are young, younger than you yourself know. Trust the train, Mademoiselle, for it is le bon Dieu who drives it."

The whistle of the engine came again.

"Trust the train, Mademoiselle," murmured Poirot again. "And trust Hercule Poirot - He knows."

 

And let's not even talk about Mirelle, who not only ends up prospering after her abominable behavior with respect to Derek Kettering, but who ends up, in a round-about way, as the possessor of the Heart of Fire. Ugh.

 

I'd really put this in the lower middle tier of Christie's mysteries - she's still finding her footing a bit here. Overall, though, it isn't one of her just for completists books, nor would it be one that I recommend as a starting point.

 

Thanks for the buddy read, BrokenTune & Lillelara! It was fun seeing all of your updates!

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review 2016-06-25 18:39
Agatha Christie's The Mystery of the Blue Train
Mystery of the Blue Train - Agatha Christie

A mysterious woman, a legendary cursed jewel, and a night train to the Mediterranean -- ingredients for the perfect romance or the perfect crime? When the train stops, the jewel is missing, and the woman is found dead in her compartment. It's the perfect mystery, filled with passion, greed, deceit. And Hercule Poirot is the perfect detective to solve it... [ synopsis from goodreads ]

 

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review 2015-06-03 00:11
Disorganized Crime: One Marple, One Poirot, One Post
At Bertram's Hotel (Miss Marple, #11) - Agatha Christie
The Mystery of the Blue Train - Agatha Christie

 

The setting

 

At Bertram's Hotel: a hotel that basically exists as a convincing reproduction of an Edwardian watering hole.

The Blue Train: the line between Calais and the South of France.

 

The location:

 

At Bertram's Hotel: London

The Blue Train: primarily France, although the book begins in London

 

The motive:

 

At Bertram's Hotel: blackmail.

The Blue Train: avarice

 

The detective:

 

At Bertram's Hotel: Jane Marple

The Blue Train: Hercule Poirot

 

Publication year:

 

At Bertram's Hotel: 1965

The Blue Train: 1928

 

I spent the weekend immersed in murder. It was gorgeous here, and I had been planning on going camping, but that didn't work out because, as it turns out, our camp trailer needed new tires. My fabulous daughter took the train home from college to hang out with us before dead week. Something about picking up a family member at the train station demands that I read Agatha Christie. Especially an Agatha Christie that takes place at least partially on the train.

 

So, I read these two, Crooked House, and started The Moving Finger. Crooked House was by far the best of the three, although they each had their charms. I prefer Poirot to Marple, usually, although I really think I liked At Bertram's Hotel a bit better than The Mystery of the Blue Train. Perhaps this is because the victim in Blue Train is more sympathetic than the victim in At Bertram's Hotel - Ruth Kettering is a wealthy American girl who, for all of her faults, was relatively blameless. The victim in At Bertram's Hotel is really just a petty criminal.

 

At Bertram's Hotel is tea and crumpets, a full English breakfast with kippers, tomatoes, perfectly poached eggs and toast fingers wearing sturdy tweeds and reading the Times. The Mystery of the Blue Train is champagne at midnight on the terrace overlooking the Mediterranean wrapped in a silk robe and dripping with jewels. Take your pick.

 

 

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review 2014-10-12 00:00
The Mystery of the Blue Train
The Mystery of the Blue Train - Agatha Christie We have the famous Hercule Poirot on the scene again investigating who murdered heiress Ruth Kettering.

When the novel begins we are introduced to many characters who will come to play some importance in showing how and why Ruth Kettering was murdered on the Blue Train she eventually takes for a rendezvous.

Though I am happy with the pains Ms. Christie took to provide depth and understanding to all of the characters I felt myself impatient since I wanted to get to Hercule Poirot.

After the disappointment of the "Big Four" I was glad to see that this was a classic who dun it and we don't have Poirot investigating a crazy crime syndicate in this one. However, there was still some disappointment.

A character we are introduced to in this novel, Katherine Grey, takes up a great portion of this story. She apparently is just one of those women that when a man meets falls instantly in love with her. I wish that there was some other reason for that since I myself couldn't see it. Though it was nice to read about St. Mary's Mead (home of Miss Marple) I rather would have had Miss Marple and Poirot meet in this novel and she help him solve the murder.

Additionally, when we get to the final who and why of the murder it makes no sense. Frankly for all of the pains that were taken the murderer could have taken up other means to get what they wanted without murder especially when you find out the person's reputation.

I was not at all surprised to find out that this was one of Christie's least favorite stories. This just didn't have quite the same oomph of her other novels. I still say my least favorite is "The Big Four" though.

One funny thing that I read was there was the discussion of trains and how "journeys end with lovers meeting" which quickly made me think of "The Haunting of Hill House" which creeped me out quite a bit.
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