In many ways this is a typical Hercule Poirot type of mystery: a wealthy man's daughter is murdered on a train for a set of fabulous rubies, and only a limited number of people could have gotten on or off the train at the right times to make them suspects ... or so one might think, but who ever knows for sure with Agatha Christie?This book was, for me, a cut above the typical Poirot mystery, and I think it's mostly because I liked the main character so much. Katherine Grey has "beautiful gray ey...

The Mystery of the Blue Train (Hercule Poirot #6), Agatha Christie (1891 – 1976)The Mystery of the Blue Train is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie. The book features her detective Hercule Poirot. Poirot boards a luxury French night express train which operated from 1886 to 2003, bound for the French Riviera. So does Katherine Grey, who is having her first winter out of England, after recently receiving a relatively large inheritance. On board the train Grey meets Ruth Kettering, an

Oh so very close to 5 stars. If only we had halves !?!?I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the settings , the characters and of course Poirot's masterful investigation into the murder and robbery. I must admit towards the end I thought I had worked out who did it, but didn't know why. Well I was completely wrong ha ha. Oh well. It just goes to show how enjoyable these books are.As I said at the start it is certainly a 4.5 star read and one of the most enjoyable Poirot novels so far, and it takes me

The Mystery of the Blue Train is very well named. Reading it in French made it doubly joyful, because there were a few exotic words that I need to look up.The book is full of interesting tidbits that bind the characters together. Take the example of Katherine Grey. Her role here was superficial, but the author found a way to include her in her murder mystery.I keep getting attracted to this book. It holds a grip on me. There's something magical in the victim's living, breathing words before she

4✨24/82(I don't review her books, never could because honestly I will be bias because I love her. )For all who don't know , I am in love with Agatha Christie ever since I started reading her books( 5 years ago) and I planned to read a book of her each month so that I don't run out of her books !

3.5"Life is like a train [...]. Trust the train, Mademoiselle," murmured Poirot again. "And trust Hercule Poirot. He knows."I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm kind of in a Christie mood right now. So sue me.Before I begin, there's one thing I want to be clear about: I've read more than 20 of Christie's books, and I enjoyed unreservedly every single one of them. I may have complaints about the solution of the mystery or about some other nothing, but every single time, I enjoy them. This time...

The book was the first to use a troupe which would become fairly common later in the series. Namely it takes a while for Poirot to show up. Here he was mentioned the first time in chapter 10. The beginning was romantic and mysterious. Russian immigrants that escape the Revolution, priceless jewels from the Russian Royal crown, people shadowing each other, robbers, an American millionaire, and so on.In any way several people introduced in the beginning ended up on a train going through France. Up...

I just got word that school is starting in four weeks. Finally a semblance of normalcy and a return to reading some heavier literary fiction and nonfiction. Part of me is thrilled. The other part has gotten used to the convenience and relaxation of having the kids home and the propensity of turning to comfort reads to help me through these times. When I look back at 2020, it will well be known as the year of comfort reading. One author who I have turned to as much as any this summer is Agatha Ch...

“You tell your lies and you think nobody knows. But there are two people who know. Yes--two people. One is le bon Dieu--and the other is Hercule Poirot.”The Mystery of the Blue Train is a fine title, and I like the blue cover of this edition that I read, and though it is not one of Christie’s best, as the sixth (which is to say early) Hercules Poirot (of 39!) it is a strong effort. Having also just read Agatha: The Real Story of Agatha Christie, the graphic biography that insists she was the Ver...

This book reminds me that Dennis Diderot said something along the lines of "Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest." By the time I reached about the 100th page I doubted I could wait until the entrails of the last priest were available, dried and suitably braided for that excellent task, nor was I particularly fussed whether certain people were technically kings or not, fortunately for my blood pressure I avoided Downton Abbey when it was on,...

In this sixth installment of the Poirot series, a wealthy woman is found murdered, and Poirot, happening to be traveling on the same train, involves himself in the unraveling of the mysterious death. The murder-mystery plot is a good one. Agatha Christie's unrivaled popularity as a murder-mystery writer undoubtedly rests on her clever plots. She has an amazing ability to make plot twists and to astonish the reader at the end. She lays down clues; invites the reader to solve the mystery alongside...

All aboard The Mystery of the Blue Train, for a most unexpected ride, courtesy of the Grand Dame of Golden Age mysteries herself!Since this passenger locomotive was constructed in 1928, it is only to be expected that this train will trundle along sometimes, before getting up speed, and blasting its whistle, to dash along to its destination at an express rate.For our entertainment during the ride, we will peek into each of the individual isolated compartments, meeting their occupants, who are as

“You tell your lies and you think nobody knows. But there are two people who know. Yes- two people. One is le bon Dieu - and the other is Hercule Poirot.” Poirot graced so many Agatha Christie novels that there's bound to be misses as well as hits. This one is in the middle - a good book but not one of the best with him in it. I liked it but didn't love it. I'd recommend starting with others starring the detective first.Christie whips out intriguing characters that have a richer background of em...

I am currently reading the Poirot novels in order and this was published in 1928 and written in the Canary Islands in 1927, where Christie had retreated. Her beloved mother had died, her marriage lay in ruins and this was a difficult time for her. During her famous disappearance, her current novel had been the bold, and innovative, “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.” Afterwards, she had cobbled together, “The Big Four,” from some short stories and, now, she again looked to her short stories for inspi...

Another light, yet complex mystery by Ms Christie. This one was well textured and fascinating. Somewhere near the middle, it almost broke into a comedic strain and then recovered itself to charge through to a great ending. Ah, Ms Christie. You did it again.

2.5/5 stars (not rounding up) I must be getting very picky, as this is the very first book by Agatha Christie that I did not enjoy. Usually, I just generally like them - they are all nice and cozy little mysteries, but apparently not this one. It started out well enough, but then the writing became choppy and confusing. Pages were filled with useless blabbering and unnecessary conversations. There was very little actual detective work in it. And in the end many, many questions were left unanswer...

Another most enjoyable Hercule Poirot mystery by the Queen of Crime. Poirot does not even make his entrance in the book until chapter 10, but for the rest of the book his presence is always felt. There are 2 main suspects in the murder and theft of jewels of the daughter of a very rich American traveling on the Blue Train in France. But anyone who reads Agatha Christie knows that the killer is never obvious.When one of the suspects is arrested, Hercule Poirot is not satisfied and continues his i...

An enjoyable convoluted mystery. Most meaningful quote: "Mademoiselle Katherine has spent a great deal of her life listening, and those who have listened do not find it easy to talk; they keep their sorrows and joys to themselves and tell no one."

Miss Katherine Grey was on the way to the Riviera after her circumstances changed when she came into money. A lady’s maid, she felt the need to see more of the world now that she had the means so her journey on The Blue Train was an experience she hadn’t wanted to miss. When she had dinner with Mrs Ruth Kettering, she had little idea that her encounter would change the direction of her life in more ways than one.M. Hercule Poirot was also travelling on The Blue Train and when a body was discover...

“Those who have listened do not find it easy to talk; they keep their sorrows and joys to themselves and tell no one.”I will try to make this a fast non-spoilery reviewSo, Agatha's book are my guilty pleasure reads and this was my 5th book and it was good, I started reading her best and most famous books so I try to go to those less famous works without high expectations.I like Hercules Poirot, he is the most peculiar and impertinent detective ever, and I like how the character is so unique but

Another very enjoyable entry in the Poirot series, the first third of this (which is before the detective makes his appearance) reminded me a lot of Patricia Highsmith and the theme did feel a bit more adult than in the preceding books. The mystery is not sensational, but not too fantastic either and Poirot is probably most sympathetically portrayed here this far. A good read.

Update 23 JanI am sorry to say this about an Agatha Christie book, but it was MEH-MEH-MEH. Badly structured, trying to be too many things at the same time, like Agatha Christie couldn't quite make up her mind what it was she was writing. There were too many characters and uninteresting, bland ones at that. Not the finest hour of detective fiction altogether. No wonder I did not remember much about it. Update 19 JanI read this a long time ago and it did not make a big impression, because I couldn...

Arg! How did I miss all the clues? Guess I didn’t use my “little gray cells.” This book introduced St. Mary Mead which is where Agatha Christie has based another series featuring a sweet little old lady who solves crimes while drinking tea and knitting. Excellent who- dunnit! 😊

Almost 5 stars! I liked everything about it! And no I didn’t guess whodunnit!

I absolutely love mysteries set on trains, planes or boats. The sense of enclosure and entrapment that these kinds of settings convey work really well in classic murder mysteries. Plus, the ways in which an enclosed space like a train effectively reduces the number of possible suspects is really interesting psychologically. Even though this is only partly set on a train, the scene of the crime and the circumstances of the murder worked as an interesting puzzle and I had a lot of fun trying to pi...

What can I say? Any train mystery by Christie is a joy to read. I can't say it's one of her best books, but still much better than most of the crime fiction.

simply brilliant, but I expected nothing less! #queenofcrimerules

The Mystery of the Blue Train is about the death of Ruth Kettering. Not only did she die from a heavy blow to the head, but her face was beyond recognition. Oh, and her rubies were stolen. But wha the actual fuck happened on this train to this poor women? Well her father sure wanted to figure that out so he hired the best god damn detective ever - Poirot. And who is our prime suspect? Ruth's husband of course. But did he do it?At first I had no idea who killed poor Ruth but I wanted some god dam...

Thoroughly enjoyed this one! Didn't guess for one second who the murderer was which I love. The description of the train journey was a delight. I have a fondness for these old trains. There were some great characters in this story. Christie is a master of her craft.

“Ah, mais c'est Anglais ca," he murmured, "everything in black and white, everything clear cut and well defined. But life, it is not like that, Mademoiselle. There are things that are not yet, but which cast their shadow before.” American heiress Ruth Kettering is riding the luxurious Blue Train bound for the French Riviera. When the train reaches its destination the conductor attempts to rouse Mrs. Kettering but finds that she is dead, with her face disfigured. Moreover the Hearts of Fire rubie...