The Mystery of the Blue Train (Hercule Poirot, #6) in Reading the Detectives

Jul 03, 2018 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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 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 inspiration. Indeed, this novel is based upon the 1923 short story, “The Plymouth Express,” which can be found in, “Poirot’s Early Cases.”

Agatha Christie herself, “always hated,” this novel. However, for Christie fans, it has a lot to offer. There is the interesting setting – the murder on the luxurious train (sadly, not much of the story actually occurs on the train itself), the exotic location of the Riveria and Poirot – as ever, doing a little match-making alongside his sleuthing. This novel also features the first mention of St Mary Mead (home, in later work, of Miss Marple) and of a character, Mr Goby, who later appears in, “After the Funeral,” and “The Third Girl.”

There is, indeed, a little of the Miss Marple in the elderly ladies that Katherine Grey looks after. A companion, she is left a large amount of money by the lady she cares for, and decides to visit relatives on the Riveria. On the train there, she meets both Poirot and millionaire’s daughter, Ruth Kettering. Ruth’s marriage is heading for divorce and she is on the way to meet her lover, when she is found dead on the train. Is the motive the fabulous rubies that her father, Rufus Van Aldin, had given to her, shortly before her journey? Aldin asks Poirot to find Ruth’s murderer and he turns his little grey cells to the problem. The novel has a good start, but gets a little lost in the twists and turns of the plot. Something of a weak ending for Christie, but she was obviously not at her best and still producing great work under immense pressure.

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Mar 01, 2020 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: british-mystery, audionovel, vintage-mystery, mystery

As with The Big Four, I read my own paper copy of Blue Train* within the last two years. It was the first time (as far as I have recorded) that I had read it and I enjoyed it very much. I particularly liked the character of Katherine Grey. She is a down-to-earth woman who doesn't let the relatives (either the distant relatives of the woman whose money she's inherited OR her own distant relatives who are looking to touch her for some of the inheritance) pull any wool over her eyes. When she agree ...more

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Jan 24, 2019 Kavita rated it liked it

Shelves: uk, mystery, golden-age-mystery

When the rich Ruth Kettering boards the Blue Train with her jewels, we know that something will happen. And it does. It is now left to her millionaire American father to find out her murderer. As it happens, Poirot was travelling on the same train and is hired by Rufus Van Aldin to find out the murderer. There is a diverse cast of characters and it turns out there were more people aboard the train than expected. Poirot teams up with Katherine Grey (who provides the romance, but is otherwise not ...more

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Jan 10, 2014 Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore rated it really liked it

Shelves: hercule-poirot, series, british, agatha-christie, mystery, murder, jewellery

The sixth of the Poirot books, first published in 1928, this one combines elements of a proper mystery and adventure/romance. This one involves a murder with more than a few suspects, as well as a jewel theft, which tie together to make up an exciting tale, with stories of the people involved directly or by chance unfolding alongside. Ruth Kettering, daughter of American millionaire Rufus Van Aldin is married to the Hon Derek Kettering, and while it appears neither party married for love, things The sixth of the Poirot books, first published in 1928, this one combines elements of a proper mystery and adventure/romance. This one involves a murder with more than a few suspects, as well as a jewel theft, which tie together to make up an exciting tale, with stories of the people involved directly or by chance unfolding alongside. Ruth Kettering, daughter of American millionaire Rufus Van Aldin is married to the Hon Derek Kettering, and while it appears neither party married for love, things between them are getting worse, and Ruth’s father wants her to get a divorce. Derek, the archetypal bad but attractive young man, is in a hole as a result for he has expensive habits, a mistress, but aside from his wife’s money none of his own, though he is to come into a title. Ruth too, unknown to her father, has some secrets. Meanwhile she is planning a journey to the Riviera and is to travel on the Blue Train. Before the journey, her father gifts her some priceless jewels including a legendary ruby, which he has acquired rather mysteriously and facing quite some danger. She carries these with her despite him having advised her to leave them in the bank. On the train is also Katherine Grey, who has been working as a companion to an old lady, and on her death has come into money and is heading to the Rivieria to visit a cousin (who she knows has only made contact because of her new-found fortune). And of course, there is Hercule Poirot, who seems to ‘know’ that Katherine has some adventure in store for her. On the journey, Ruth takes to Katherine and confides all her troubles to her. Later in the night Ruth is murdered, and the jewels stolen, while her maid has deboarded. Poirot having been on the scene is involved in the investigation by the police, and later Mr Van Aldin hires him to undertake the investigation on his behalf. In this case, Poirot has to wade through secrets and lies, deception and betrayal, and plenty of underhanded goings on.

This was an enjoyable and exciting read, fast moving, but in terms of the mystery itself, I didn’t find it as satisfying as some of her others. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t an easy one to solve, and I wouldn’t have guessed it (being I reread, I did remember someway in, part of the answer but not all of it) but in this one while there were some good clues given as to the solution and as to whodunit, there are a lot of other goings on involving illicit dealings in stolen jewels and a mastermind jewel thief (more than one, actually—one a little more dastardly than the other), and these bits seem have shades of her adventure tales rather than mysteries proper which are fun, yet a touch childish. Poirot uses his little grey cells alright, but also information about and contacts from this ‘secret’ world.

But the characters themselves and their stories are interesting, most with the exception of Katherine Grey aren’t straight-forward, each has some secret to hide or an ulterior movie behind what he or she does, but this of course is what makes their stories worth following. Katherine Grey who has come into money and can finally have some adventure in life is perhaps comparable to Miss Pettigrew; she has her head firmly on her shoulders and plenty ‘in’ her head too to know friend from foe, and to ‘handle’ those who try to take advantage of her. One enjoys reading her story and seeing her finally find some enjoyment in life, and the promise of a happy future too. Incidentally, the village she’s lived in all these years is St Mary Mead where or at least in a village with the same name, the Marple stories were later set.

This was great fun to read, I ended up finishing it in two sittings, with its pace, exciting developments, and plot, it certainly made me want to keep reading to see how things would turn out and who the culprit was!
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May 28, 2018 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, vintage-mystery, british-mystery, mcpl-book, bought-2016, mount-tbr-2018

Ruth Kettering's father, the wealthy Rufus Van Aldin, loves only one thing more than he loves making money--his beautiful, willful daughter. The only time she really disappoints him is when she becomes involved with men. Her first love affair was with a scoundrel, Armand the Comte de la Roche. He managed to break that up successfully, only to watch her marry Derek Kettering--a British man in line for a title but badly in need of money. When Kettering breaks her heart by becoming entangled with a Ruth Kettering's father, the wealthy Rufus Van Aldin, loves only one thing more than he loves making money--his beautiful, willful daughter. The only time she really disappoints him is when she becomes involved with men. Her first love affair was with a scoundrel, Armand the Comte de la Roche. He managed to break that up successfully, only to watch her marry Derek Kettering--a British man in line for a title but badly in need of money. When Kettering breaks her heart by becoming entangled with a Parisian dancer, Van Aldin purchases a priceless necklace containing the famous ruby, "Heart of Fire," hoping it will distract her enough to enable him to persuade her to sue for divorce.

It seems to work, though Ruth seems curiously reluctant to be rid of her husband, and he puts things in motion--notifying Kettering that he may want to consider a settlement. Kettering knows that a divorce suit may ruin him financially and that it will be difficult to fight a case supported by the Van Aldin wealth, but he refuses to consider coming to terms, telling Van Aldin that he may find that Ruth has a counter-suit to answer. Ruth is evasive when her father asks her to be honest with him about her affairs and the matter is far from resolved when she sets out on a trip to the Riviera aboard the luxurious Blue Train.

There is plenty of intrigue on the train. Ruth has her own affairs to sort out and is on her way to meet her own lover, Armand who she never really got over. And, unknown to her, Derek and his dancer Mirelle are also on the train. Monsieur Hercule Poirot, the famous detective, has also chosen the train for a journey. There is a possibility that a famous jewel thief, the Maquis, is on the train as well--perhaps with his sights set on the legendary ruby. Katherine Grey, a young woman setting out on her first adventure after coming into a small inheritance, may find that herself in the middle of a much bigger adventure than she could have imagined. Ruth Kettering will die. The rubies will disappear as will her maid. And Katherine Grey will find herself attracted to two men--one of whom might be a murderer. Poirot is, naturellement, called upon to give his expert aid to solve the crime.

One of the things I like best about this Christie novel is the characterization--particularly of Katherine Grey and Derek Kettering. Katherine is a very strong character and Christie gives her a more complete background than many of her characters get. She is a very solid, down-to-earth person who has played the supporting role for most of her life and is just now getting a chance to spread her wings on her own. But there is a sense of humor and a strain of knowledgeable common-sense running through her that makes her very interesting. She is amused a Poirot's interest in her reading habits and she is perfectly aware of the ulterior motives behind her distant cousin's invitation to stay. Kettering, while being presented as an aristocratic wastrel, begins to make us wonder whether the spoiled daddy's girl was more to blame for the marriage going bad than he. I particularly like that he says no to the pay-off (bribe, as he calls it)--knowing that daddy can bury him in court no matter what evidence of counter-suit he might bring should he stoop to do so.

Poirot is, of course, Poirot and follows his own path even when the police are at first convinced that the Comte is the villain of the piece and then, when that falls through, going so far as to arrest Kettering. Poirot is not so sure that the motive is as evident as it appears and he produces the correct one...and the correct villain... with his usual panache.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
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Mar 12, 2021 Grisette rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: my-kind-of-detective-thriller, 3rd-pers-narration

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
3.7 stars

⏳ [Re-read project #2 of 2024, 1st proper review, rating upgraded from 3 to 4 GR stars]

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🔹️ Number of death/s: 1
🔹️ Motive for the crime: Money
🔹️ Method of crime: Strangulation
🔹️ Main location: France, England
🔹️ Notable element: A short story (The Plymouth Express: a Hercule Poirot Short Story) cobblered well into a full novel
🔹️ Book type: Novel, H. Poirot
🔹️ Reference to SH: -

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Another year, and another Agatha Christie read challenge on!

From memory, this ...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Abbey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: myst-set-andor-auth-uk, own, reviewed, myst-fems-project, favorites, series, vintage

1928, #6 Hercule Poirot, London, Paris-to-Nice, The Riviera
[classic timetable with a twist, still very good]
Rich and spoiled heiress brings famous jewel along on trip despite warnings and gets herself messily murdered on board the train; not as predictable as it sounds, and is NOT an early version of her much more famous Murder on the Orient Express (which was apa Murder on the Calais Coach).

Not quite "a 20s thriller" (a.la MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT or SECRET ADVERSARY), this does have many of the 1928, #6 Hercule Poirot, London, Paris-to-Nice, The Riviera
[classic timetable with a twist, still very good]
Rich and spoiled heiress brings famous jewel along on trip despite warnings and gets herself messily murdered on board the train; not as predictable as it sounds, and is NOT an early version of her much more famous Murder on the Orient Express (which was apa Murder on the Calais Coach).

Not quite "a 20s thriller" (a.la MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT or SECRET ADVERSARY), this does have many of the fantastical 1920s mystery tropes so popular then, including A Master Criminal, A Master Jeweler, and A Rich American Financier and his Brash Young and Spoiled Daughter, plus the obligatory nice-girl-companion-heroine, ditzy rich ladies, stalwart male secretary, and a couple of other thieves and opportunists attempting to batten on the rich folks as well. Sounds predictable, right?

Well, being Christie... she manages to infuse this flummery with a solid plot beneath all the trappings, and the writing is strong enough to pull you into the somewhat fantastical story. Be warned, however, that the beginning, at least, may put you off if you don't like That Sort of Thing (20s thrillers) - it's quite fantastical and odd by today's standards. The story starts out very much in that fashion, but rapidly gets its mysterious act together when Poirot enters the scene, which he does, thankfully, fairly early on.

The net result is a tidy, well-planned mystery plot with all the trappings, and although the ending is, in general, fairly predictable, Christie inserts nice edges and bits along the way as well. She clues fairly, though, so you *might* be able to pick up on the actual murderer along the way, although I doubt if you'll be able to get to all the relevant bits before Poirot explains them at the end. Upon my initial reading I was actually suspicious of the murderer, but Christie manages to lull you into a nicely false sense of security along the way; further rereads have still been fun. Good stuff, and an entertaining - and quick - read. ...more

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Jul 06, 2015 Julie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: detectives, reviewed

I really enjoyed this one, although I wonder how much of that is because The Big Four was so bad, I'm inclined to think of any other Christie as better than it actually is. There was a lot of setting up in the first part of the novel; the action just starts to pick up by the middle, when the crime happens, and Poirot appears. I liked Ms. Grey and her habit of listening, and I like plucky young Lenox. What I dislike is (view spoiler) ...more

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