After traveling on the Blue Train from Calais to Nice, Hercule Poirot is pressed into service to help solve the murder of heiress Ruth Kettering who is found savagely beaten in her compartment. Let a good murder mystery come within his ken, and he just can't be kept out of it. She completed her MBA and currently works full time in a Fortune 10 company. Essays, poetry, meditations, and book reviews by Jeremy Vogan, Books | Reflections For the Good of the Church, Explorations in Biblical Theology from J. Richard Middleton. Review: The Mystery of the Blue Train | Bob on Books I'm in oil figuratively speaking. Several people would have wanted her dead. Ruth Kettering, an American heiress, is in an unhappy marriage to an English aristocrat. The character of Mirelle is changed to be Rufus's mistress, who visits Rufus's wife. US industrial tycoon Rufus Van Aldin and his right hand Major Knighton tried everything to get suave British son-in-law Derek Kettering, an unfaithful gambling addict, to divorce his daughter Ruth, for whom he bought a priceless ruby with a bloody history. There are several fruitier candidates for the title of 'worst Christie'.". The Times Literary Supplement said, "The reader will not be disappointed when the distinguished Belgian on psychological grounds builds up inferences almost out of the air, supports them by a masterly array of negative evidence and lands his fish to the surprise of everyone". I thought the ending was a bit rushed/compressed compared to the leisurely pace of the rest of the story. Rufus, Ruth's father, has a wife in the film, who became insane after Ruth's birth, and Rufus has ensured her (his wife's) safekeeping at a convent, where she has become a nun. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie | LibraryThing A mysterious woman, a legendary cursed jewel, and a night train to the French riviera ingredients for the perfect romance or the perfect crime? The murder will happen IN or ON or AT the subject mentioned in the title (in this case the murder occurs ON the blue train). The better known St. Mary Mead which is associated with Miss Marple is always described as being west of London. Never guessed whodunnit either. Throw in a rather unexciting group of suspects and you have a recipe for a book that just seemed to drag on for me. The Mystery of the Blue Train is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the United Kingdom by William Collins & Sons on 29 March 1928. Robbery and brutal murder aboard a luxury transport ensnares the ever-attentive Hercule Poirot in The Mystery of the Blue Train, from Queen of Mystery Agatha ChristieWhen the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering from her slumbers. (LogOut/ Pages completely filled with incomplete thoughts. The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6)and the US edition at $2.00. In the film, Ruth's lover is traveling on the train with her, and they are both fleeing her husband. Lady Tamplin, Corky and her daughter Lenox also travel on the blue train. [10] It was broadcast in six parts weekly, 29 December 1985 - 2 February 1986. When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, aguard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering fromher slumbers. The second relates to the setup to the murder plot which feels far too forced and mechanical. It seems likely, however, that Bernde was hoping to benefit from Poirot's popularity. This dedication is a direct reference to the events of 1926 which included the death of Christie's mother on 5 April,[15] the breakdown of her marriage to Archibald Christie, and her famous ten-day disappearance in December that year. The Mystery of the Blue Train, by Agatha Christie | The StoryGraph Murder and violence have followed in their wake. The novel also contains a number of firsts: there is a reference to the fictional village of St. Mary Mead, which would later be the home of Agatha Christie's detective Miss Marple; the first appearance of the minor recurring character, Mr Goby, who would also appear in After the Funeral and Third Girl and the first appearance of Poirot's valet, George. The titular Blue Train appears again in Three Act Tragedy where Poirot boards the train with Sir Charles Cartwright to return to England. Publisher: . changing "She then" to "Katherine then"), or omitting small sentences or words, especially in the opening instalment where several paragraphs were missed. The next morning, though, Ruth is found dead in her compartment, a victim of strangulation. Robert C Trube and Bob on Books, 2013-2023. The Mystery of the Blue Train By Agatha Christie | Used | 9780008129484 But she will never wake againfor a heavy blow has killed her, disfiguring her features almost beyond recognition. The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) : Agatha Christie - Archive A reference to the continental Daily Mail at the start of chapter six (chapter eight in the book) was changed to "the newspaper" to avoid mentioning a competitor to The Star. PDF The Mystery of the Blue Train - Internet Archive Agatha Christie's beloved detective Hercule Poirot solves the murder of an American heiress by restaging her final journey by night trainwith all of the suspects aboard. New York: William Morrow, 2005 (originally published in 1928). Part of the problem is, I think, that we are given too much information about the suspects and possible motives from the start. I didn't find my silly comb. Yet Hercule Poirot is not convinced, so he stages an eerie reenactment of the journey, complete with the murderer on board. This dedication is a direct reference to the events of 1926 which included the death of Christie's mother on 5 April,the breakdown of her marriage to Archibald Christie and her famous ten-day disappearance in the December of that year. [3] The book features her detective Hercule Poirot. Lets start with the character of Katherine who serves as the replacement Hastings for this story. 1972, Greenway edition of collected works (William Collins), Hardcover, 286 pp. You will find her tips and reviews on best travel destinations, books and movie/tv shows on Shades of Words. Christie's dedication in the book reads: "To the two distinguished members of the O.F.D. The famous detective Hercule Poirot is also on the train, and graciously offers his services to the French Police to help with the case, which he ultimately does. Get this from a library! Language: English. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie When the train stops, the jewel is missing, and the woman is found dead in her compartment. At the risk of looking past it with Van Aldin, Poirot keeps looking, and particularly for a shadowy figure known as the Marquis. A month or so ago I tweeted about how I have spent the past two decades of my life attempting to listen to the BBC Radio adaptation of this novel and never made it all the way through. He asks Van Aldin and Knighton to come with him on the Blue Train to recreate the murder. The prime suspect is Ruths estranged husband, Derek. by Agatha Christie. What part did the beautiful foreign dancer play? The American heiress bailing out of a doomed marriage is en route to reconcile with her former lover. This was translated from the edition first published in France by Emmanuel Proust ditions in 2005 under the title of Le Train Bleu. Add These Cute Planters To Your Bookshelf! The book is the fifth of thirty-three full-length novels featuring her detective Hercule Poirot. They all board the Blue Train, Calais to Nice, with Poirot and his temporary protge, Katherine Grey, a commoner who has just inherited a fortune. But she couldn't have been alone when she was brutally murdered and the ruby stolen, no matter what everyone says. [14] Curtain was written at the same time and similarly locked away, but publication of this latter book would not be possible until the end of her writing career, as it recounts the death of Poirot. Poirot asks Van Aldin and Knighton to come with him on the Blue Train to recreate the murder. The mystery of the blue train. Agatha Christie Wiki is a FANDOM Books Community. And where else to turn to but to the Queen of Crime and her favorite detective, Hercule Poirot. The blurb of the first edition (which is carried on both the back of the jacket and opposite the title page) reads:"Since the beginning of history, jewels have exercised a baneful spell. [3] The book features her detective Hercule Poirot. Initial suspicions center around Ruths love, the Comte de la Roche, in league with a jewel dealer. Everyone is convinced the case is solved, but Poirot is not sure. Sadly they have not. The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6) and the US edition at $2.00. The international setting makes for a good varied read, but there is a plethora of sixth-form schoolgirl French and some deleterious influences from the thrillers. Poirot finds himself dealing with several crimes at once. Rufus, Ruth's father, has a wife in the film, who became insane after the birth of Ruth, and Rufus has ensured her (his wife's) safekeeping at a convent, where she has become a nun. Three chapters were given different names: chapter nine (eleven in the book) was called Something Good instead of Murder, chapter twenty-six (twenty-eight in the book) was called Poirot hedges instead of Poirot plays the Squirrel and chapter twenty-eight (chapter thirty in the book) was called Katherine's letters instead of Miss Viner gives judgement. Then he opens it and finds Katherine also opening the door] Oh! The critics did not agree with her. [13] It later had an effect on her in the midst of wartime when, nervous that at some future point she might be in need of funds and need a fallback, she wrote Sleeping Murder and locked it securely in a bank vault for future publication. Peter was also the subject of the dedication of Dumb Witness (on the dustjacket of which he is pictured), published in 1937, one year before his death. The mystery of the blue train (2015 edition) | Open Library Poirot, still in retirement and also travelling on board the train, is asked by her father to take on the case. Another example would be Triangle at Rhodes - Evil under the Sun, or the whole book The Big Four is just a . Since Knighton was supposedly in Paris, no one would have suspected him. The Mystery of the Blue Train was adapted for radio by BBC Radio 4, with Maurice Denham as Poirot. 3 Chapter 1 The Man with the White Hair It was close on midnight when a man crossed the Place de la Concorde. The investigation leads him to the French Riviera, where he encounters a wealthy family with a tangled history and a cast of suspicious characters, including a notorious art thief.Through a series of clever deductions and surprising plot twists, Poirot ultimately solves the mystery and reveals the identity of the killer. In the book, Lady Tamplin's fourth husband is named "Chubby", and he has nothing to do with the ruby. When the fabled Blue Train, the luxury overnight passenger express to the Riviera, arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to awaken Ruth . Whose hand was it that struck her down? It makes for an appealing backstory but I really do not love the way she is provided with a really unconvincing romance. I particularly enjoyed the women Katherine cared for. So with the famous Heart of Fire ruby. The book also features the first appearance of Poirot's valet, George. Kindle Edition. Poirot says at 28 min 27 sec that he doesn't like odd numbers, only even numbers He tells them that Ada Mason is really Kitty Kidd, a renowned male impersonator and actress. The Mystery of the Blue Train is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the United Kingdom by William Collins & Sons on 29 March 1928 and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year. The only way he will get anything from her is if she dies. Then he meets Ruth Kettering. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. Additionally, Ruth's lover is travelling on the train with her, and they are both fleeing her husband. The Verdict: This dull mystery plot has never really sparked any excitement in me. Poirot realised that Mason was the only person claims to have seen anyone with Ruth in the compartment, so this could have been a lie. [2][3] The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6)[4] and the US edition at $2.00. The Mystery of the Blue Train (Hercule Poirot 6) - AllFreeNovel THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN Agatha Christie Chapter 1 THE MAN WITH THE WHITE HAIR It was close on midnight when a man crossed the Place de la Concorde. Poirot offers to go with her on the Blue Train. The Mystery of the Blue Train is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie, first published in the United Kingdom by William Collins & Sons on 29. The writing of this book (part of which took place on the Canary Islands in early 1927 - rather than February 1928, as Morgan suggests - given that the serialisation started on 1 February 1928)[11] was an ordeal for Christie. Poirot investigates and finds out that the murder and the jewel theft might not be connected, as the famous jewel thief The Marquis is connected to the crime. Agatha Christie's Poirot S10E01 - The Mystery of the Blue Train [FULL currently reading . To find out more, read the book! Also named in this latter group, and the second subject of the dedication of the book, is Peter, Christie's beloved terrier, who had been purchased for Rosalind in 1924. Accept Read More, The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie. An interesting fact about this book is that there are several references to St. Mary Mead (Jane Marples village), but there is no mention of Marple herself. These were events which disturbed her for the remainder of her life[16] and Christie learned that people she expected to be allies in her time of need turned away from her. The Sherlock Holmes Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained, Jonathan Creek: The House of Monkeys (TV). "The Mystery of the Blue Train" is a classic detective novel by Agatha Christie, first published in 1928. Pingback: Bob on Books Top Viewed Reviews of 2022 | Bob on Books. ." fiction classics crime mystery mysterious medium-paced Description Robbery and brutal murder aboard a luxury transport ensnares the ever-attentive Hercule Poirot in The Mystery of the Blue Train, from Queen of Mystery Agatha Christie When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to wake seren. [2][3] The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6)[4] and the US edition at $2.00. Bound for the Riviera, detective Hercule Poirot has boarded Le Train Bleu, an elegant, leisurely means of travel, free of intrigue. "Poirot" The Mystery of the Blue Train (TV Episode 2005) - IMDb Format: Paperback. The Mystery of the Blue Train is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the United Kingdom by William Collins & Sons on 29 March 1928[1] and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year. Still the good news for me is that I have nothing but fond memories of our next Poirot story Peril at End House. One person who didn't was Charlotte Fisher (born c. 1901 died 1976), who had been employed by Christie in 1924 as both her own secretary and as a governess to her daughter Rosalind. There were slight amendments to the text, either to make sense of the openings of an instalment (e.g. During the trains journey Ruths body is discovered in her compartment having been strangled and the jewel has vanished. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Both her husband and her lover were on the train but she had changed rooms with another passenger, Katherine Grey, so the question naturally arises as to whether she was the intended victim. The novel concerns the murder of an American heiress on Le Train Bleu, the titular "Blue Train". The television film also shows Lady Tamplin's fourth husband (Corky by name) acquiring a ruby for her. Maybe it was just a robber who knew that the gems were aboard. So with the famous Heart of Fire ruby. And Poirot, retired and seeking to enjoy the world, is also on the train, talks wisely to Katherine, who thinks detective stories are just something fictional people are part of. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie: 9780593685365 Ruth is accompanied by her new maid, Ada Mason, who after her death, tells authorities that Ruth asked her to leave at Paris and stay at the Ritz. Timing of the murder will be extremely crucial to solving the case.

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