Bound for the Riviera, detective Hercule Poirot has boarded Le Train Bleu, an elegant, leisurely means of travel, free of intrigue. Then he meets R...
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Nov 03, 2010
Tatiana
rated it: 
I don't know if something got lost in abridgment, but this story didn't quite come together. The connection between the characters weren't up to Christie's usual standards and the murderers came sort of out of nowhere. Maybe the fact that she wrote it close to her nervous breakdown and disappearance had something to do with it...
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Nov 07, 2010
Ali
rated it: 
A cracking good old fashioned mystery - from the Queen of crime herself. This is a very early Poirot mystery from 1928 - it is funny how AC had Poirot describing himself on a couple of occaisons as "an old man" - pity she hadn't realised that she would still be writing Poirot in the 1970's and made him a bit younger - Poirot's age has never made any sense. The style is a bit different from many later Poirot novels - we don't have a country house or small village setting - (although St
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Sep 22, 2010
Laurel
rated it: 
I think I recall reading that Dame Agatha was in a hurry to complete this novel, that she needed the money to support herself and her daughter, and that she did not consider it one of her better efforts. Nonetheless, I was anxious to read it; it is definitely a lesser-known work of hers and I love having a new Christie to read. Besides, I wondered if she were not being rather too hard on herself--and I was correct. This is a perfectly respectable addition to her canon, with Poirot in fine form a
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Sep 16, 2010
Annette
rated it:
I have not long been a Christie fan, but I have been enjoying the selections I've picked off my library's audio collection shelves. The Mystery of the Blue Train was no exception. Excellent writing, interesting characters, and always a surprise at the "reveal" (although I did guess at least 1/2 of the mystery well before it was over.) I found myself impressed with even her throw-away characters such as the PI hired by the deceased's father who had a habit of never looking at the pers
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May 13, 2010
Madeline
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"Everyone looked respectfully at Poirot. Undoubtedly the little man had scored heavily. The Commissary laughed - on a rather hollow note.
'You teach us all our business,' he cried. 'M. Poirot knows more than the police.'
Poirot gazed complacently at the ceiling, adopting a mock-modest air.
'What will you; it is my little hobby,' he murmured, 'to know things. Naturally I have time to indulge it. I am not overburdened with affairs.'"
It's been almost ten years More...
'You teach us all our business,' he cried. 'M. Poirot knows more than the police.'
Poirot gazed complacently at the ceiling, adopting a mock-modest air.
'What will you; it is my little hobby,' he murmured, 'to know things. Naturally I have time to indulge it. I am not overburdened with affairs.'"
It's been almost ten years More...
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May 28, 2011
Nike
rated it:
This is one of not-really-interesting Poirot book by Agatha Christie. Christie scatters a lot of red herring all over the book, make its reader confuse and can't stop guessing among the suspects. The most important clues are being kept until the very end and there is English romance to cheer up the mood :)
This book is started with a secret trading of a legendary jewel called "Heart of Fire", which Mr. Rufus van Aldin (an American billionaire) bought for his beloved daughter More...
This book is started with a secret trading of a legendary jewel called "Heart of Fire", which Mr. Rufus van Aldin (an American billionaire) bought for his beloved daughter More...
Mar 30, 2011
Cliff
rated it:
The Blue Train is a 'whodunnit' set in the 1920s and featuring Christie's Belgian detective character, Hercule Poirot.
On a luxury train travelling from the English Channel to the south of France, a young woman is murdered. The famous jewels she had with her were stolen, but if the motive was theft, why was her face battered almost beyond recognition?
Christie begins the book with separate subplots telling us about the origin of the jewels (formerly belonging to the Tsars More...
On a luxury train travelling from the English Channel to the south of France, a young woman is murdered. The famous jewels she had with her were stolen, but if the motive was theft, why was her face battered almost beyond recognition?
Christie begins the book with separate subplots telling us about the origin of the jewels (formerly belonging to the Tsars More...
Jul 28, 2011
Mervi
rated it:
This book was published in 1928 and is an expansion of the short story "Mystery of the Plymouth Express". The story enters around an American heiress, her millionaire father, ne'er do-well husband, shady lover and others she comes into contact with on the famous Blue Train while traveling to the Riviera. The question becomes was she murdered for her jewels or were her jewels taken to cloud the motive of her murder? Katherine Grey (from the soon to be famous St. Mary Mead) was taken int
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Jun 26, 2008
Rory
rated it: 
I give all Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot mysteries five stars. Because I yuv them. I understand if you don't. I have the knack for forgetting whodunnit after a couple years, so I can read them over and over. Of course, there are some that are objectively great, and if you want any recommendations, lemme know! I might take a couple to Hawaii with me...
Dec 27, 2011
Sophie
rated it:
I suppose if I would just stick to the theory that the least likely suspect is always the murderer, I would have a better chance of figuring out these mysteries. But, alas, it was a complete surprise to me when Monsieur Poirot revealed who committed the murder on the blue train. Some of the smaller details I had realized, but not the big picture--which means it is a well-constructed mystery. Or at least, well-enough constructed to fool me, which is perhaps not the same thing. It was the little d
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May 15, 2011
jennifer
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American Ruth Kettering is in an unhappy marriage with Derek, an impoverished English aristocrat who had become too indiscreet. When Ruth's millionaire father convinces her to file for divorce, the scheming begins. Ruth is found dead on the train to the Riviera and Poirot finds a number of suspects all circling round the victim.
I place this one firmly in the middle of Christie's work; it isn't one of her greats (And Then There Were None) and it certainly isn't one of her stinkers (he More...
I place this one firmly in the middle of Christie's work; it isn't one of her greats (And Then There Were None) and it certainly isn't one of her stinkers (he More...
Oct 27, 2010
Book Concierge
rated it:
A cache of rubies that once belonged to Catherine the Great comes into the possession of an American millionaire. He gives them to his daughter - Ruth Kitteridge - who is married to a bankrupt English nobleman. She, however, is still in love with the French scoundrel who frequently scams his "lovers." Meanwhile her husband, Derrick, is having an affair with a French exotic dancer - Mirelle. When Ruth takes the Blue Train to Nice to rendevouz with her lover she, inadvisedly, takes the
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Jan 20, 2011
Debbie
rated it:
"The Mystery of the Blue Train" is a puzzle-type "historical" mystery. The mystery was clever, but enough clues were given that the reader can figure out whodunit. In fact, I felt like this mystery was more solvable than most Poirot mysteries: each new clue made the picture fall more into place for me and only one of the false clues threw me. However, some loose ends (created by clues meant to throw the reader off) were never explained.
Some of the characters were co More...
Some of the characters were co More...
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Aug 07, 2009
Mazel
rated it:
Macabre découverte à bord du fameux " train bleu " qui mène vers la Riviera les riches vacanciers : Ruth Kettering, la fille du milliardaire américain Van Aldin, a été assassinée dans son compartiment.
Fuyant son mari avec qui elle ne s'entendait plus, elle allait rejoindre le comte de La Roche, loin de se douter que ce séduisant personnage était très surveillé par la police.
Or le somptueux collier offert à la jeune femme par son père, et dont le plus gros rubi More...
Fuyant son mari avec qui elle ne s'entendait plus, elle allait rejoindre le comte de La Roche, loin de se douter que ce séduisant personnage était très surveillé par la police.
Or le somptueux collier offert à la jeune femme par son père, et dont le plus gros rubi More...
Aug 09, 2009
Bill
rated it:
Always fun to re-read one of the classics. Intereting that in this early book, which predates the first Miss Marple book, Christie introduces another detective character from the village of St. Mary Mead. Unlike Miss Marple, she is young, but also listens much the same way Miss Marple does. Perhaps an early attempt at another detective that eventually becomes Marple. Of course, reading Christie now one can see the clues a bit more pointedly and thus is not that surprised at the ending - in t
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Feb 03, 2012
Marianna
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 21, 2011
Martin
rated it:
This is the first proper mystery I've ever read. I've seen some Poirot episodes on PBS and this was every bit as delightful; David Suchet nailed Poirot.
Back to the book... It was a good read, solid writing and interesting characters and relationships. I felt at the end however that Poirot came to his conclusion through investigative efforts and information that we never had a chance to know, which to me is annoying. It's one thin for the great Poirot to put information together in a More...
Back to the book... It was a good read, solid writing and interesting characters and relationships. I felt at the end however that Poirot came to his conclusion through investigative efforts and information that we never had a chance to know, which to me is annoying. It's one thin for the great Poirot to put information together in a More...
Jun 19, 2010
LauraW
rated it:
I do not like mysteries - they make me nervous. Rather than enjoying the sleuthing, I worry about the crime and the feelings of the people involved. So I had to force myself to read the first part of this book. It is the selection for our book club. It was slow going, until the murder was actually committed and then, for some reason, I found the book more interesting. I can't say I followed all of the reasoning - or the various complications, but I do think things were woven together nicely
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Sep 20, 2010
Dolly
rated it:
Continuing my saga of reading through Dame Christie's stories...
I found this to be a little more slow-going than I expected. The book jacket promised dozens of plot twists and an ending that it all but impossible to predict. The ending was a bit of a surprise, but the plot twists were somewhat lacking; there weren't dozens of them for sure. In any case, it was a refreshing diversion and a quick read. Once again, Hercule Poirot does not disappoint.
I like that we first More...
I found this to be a little more slow-going than I expected. The book jacket promised dozens of plot twists and an ending that it all but impossible to predict. The ending was a bit of a surprise, but the plot twists were somewhat lacking; there weren't dozens of them for sure. In any case, it was a refreshing diversion and a quick read. Once again, Hercule Poirot does not disappoint.
I like that we first More...
May 02, 2010
Phair
rated it:
Can't say I'm a really big Christie fan. I love watching the PBS series based on her characters but have read a few of the books without the desire to rush out and read the lot. This one had many characters introduced in a leisurely manner. The wrap-up was a bit rushed with an out of left field key to it all although I had picked up right away on one main "clue". There wasn't a lot of period feel but then this was written as a contemporary so there was no need to do a lot of describ
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Mar 11, 2010
Kaylie
rated it:
I've been an Agatha Christie fan for ages, and was recently looking through my parents' bookshelf for one I'd not read - et voila: The Mystery Of The Blue Train.
I managed to guess the identity of the murderer early on, and enjoyed using the clues to confirm my theory. The sub-plots of the romance were good, though in a way quite typical of Christie.
The main problem with this story was Poirot - who seemed quite unaccountably stupid in this novel compared to the others. He se More...
I managed to guess the identity of the murderer early on, and enjoyed using the clues to confirm my theory. The sub-plots of the romance were good, though in a way quite typical of Christie.
The main problem with this story was Poirot - who seemed quite unaccountably stupid in this novel compared to the others. He se More...
Jan 27, 2010
Madelle
rated it:
After all these years, I had never read a novel by Agatha Christy. That was my loss. This mystery was charming. She kept the 'whodunit" a mystery until the very last pages. Her writing is captivating and represents 1928 when the book was published. It was most interesting to see how she wove the many characters together. She used a lot of phrases that we do not hear today. No wonder she is the third most published author behind the Bible and Shakespeare in all time. I will definitel
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Aug 11, 2011
Sereina
rated it:
After Ruth Kettering is murdered while traveling on the Blue Train to the Riviera, her millionaire father, Rufus Van Aldin hires Hercule Poirot to find the killer. But why was she killed? Was it for the rare jewels that her father had recently given her? Or was is her husband Dereek, who would be left with Ruth's millions once she was gone?
Agatha Christie had me hooked from the very beginning of the story. There were many characters that appeared throughout the novel, but I never felt More...
Agatha Christie had me hooked from the very beginning of the story. There were many characters that appeared throughout the novel, but I never felt More...
Oct 09, 2011
Peter
rated it:
"Set against the splendors of the Riviera, Poirot exercises his little grey cells when a self-centered married heiress is murdered en route to meet her lover...oh, and her priceless ""cursed"" rubies are missing as well. Fantastique!
Written in the one of AC's own personal turmoils, she always hated this boook. However, I thought it was enjoyable, if superficial and more obvious than most. When *I* can solve the mystery, you know it's not her best work. Ha More...
Written in the one of AC's own personal turmoils, she always hated this boook. However, I thought it was enjoyable, if superficial and more obvious than most. When *I* can solve the mystery, you know it's not her best work. Ha More...
Sep 13, 2010
Agoes
rated it:
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Oct 11, 2011
Faa
rated it:
The story was not that surprising at all. I even think that the characters were not presented accordingly.
Characters like Van Aldin, Katherine Grey and Derek Kettering should be elaborated more.
AC should be able to tune a colourful interlude in Katherine & Derek relationship, because the book failed to show us how stormy and passionate was their relationship. I didnt even know when their relationship blossomed. It would not be fair for the readers to make our own assumption, especiall More...
Characters like Van Aldin, Katherine Grey and Derek Kettering should be elaborated more.
AC should be able to tune a colourful interlude in Katherine & Derek relationship, because the book failed to show us how stormy and passionate was their relationship. I didnt even know when their relationship blossomed. It would not be fair for the readers to make our own assumption, especiall More...
May 30, 2010
Goose
rated it:
Agatha Christie has called The Mystery of the Blue Train "easily the worst book I ever wrote" and "wretched" so I am giving it 3 stars instead of 4. This is the book Christie had to write after her mysterious disappearance and her divorce from her first husband, Archie. She needed money and she had a contract to honor. I believe her not liking the book had everything to do with her emotional and mental state and less to do with the book itself.
I thought that the b More...
I thought that the b More...
May 14, 2011
Timothy
rated it:
The Mystery of the Blue Train
Agatha Christie
320 pages
This book is about a detective named Hercule Poirot who attempts to solve a murder mystery. Throughout this book, the characters are interacting with each other, trying to solve the mystery.. Throughout the book, the character named Derek Kettering, wife of the victim Ruth Kettering is accused of murdering Ruth for her jewelry, but when Hercule Poirot reveals who he really finds guilty of murder, there is a big surprise bec More...
Agatha Christie
320 pages
This book is about a detective named Hercule Poirot who attempts to solve a murder mystery. Throughout this book, the characters are interacting with each other, trying to solve the mystery.. Throughout the book, the character named Derek Kettering, wife of the victim Ruth Kettering is accused of murdering Ruth for her jewelry, but when Hercule Poirot reveals who he really finds guilty of murder, there is a big surprise bec More...
May 07, 2011
Sammy
rated it:
On a train bound for the French Riviera, Poirot meets a young heiress, and becomes embroiled in a tragic murder case.
Christie herself admitted that she only cobbled this one together to make some money during a difficult time, so I don’t feel too bad about disliking "The Mystery of the Blue Train". The book has a few good elements: indeed the characters are intriguing, and a dynamic, very 1920s Poirot dominates the proceedings, but things don’t really come together. (Nor do More...
Christie herself admitted that she only cobbled this one together to make some money during a difficult time, so I don’t feel too bad about disliking "The Mystery of the Blue Train". The book has a few good elements: indeed the characters are intriguing, and a dynamic, very 1920s Poirot dominates the proceedings, but things don’t really come together. (Nor do More...
Aug 15, 2010
Mmyoung
rated it:
A nice return to form after the execrable The Big Four. The Poirot in this book is recognizably the same person as the one in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. In many ways this book is a novel interrupted by a murder and sidetrips into the world of international crime. The former is handled in the “ingeniously plotted” manner popular at that time and the latter is seems based more on the impressions Christie has picked up from watching films and reading popular fiction. Leave aside those elements an
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