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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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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Feb 19, 2017 Damaskcat rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wealthy Ruth Kettering is travelling to Nice on the luxurious Blue Train but when the train arrives in Nice Ruth is dead. The police favour her estranged husband Derek as prime suspect but Hercule Poirot is not convinced by the obvious suspect. This is a well plotted mystery in which jewel theft, the activities of the hugely rich and the disadvantages of marriages of convenience all feature.

I enjoyed this sometimes sinister story of greed and murder in which Poirot uses his usual talent for unde ...more

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Aug 26, 2025 Jackie rated it really liked it

3.5 stars rounded up because I love watching Poirot work and interact with others, but this was not one of my favorite Christie novels. I miss Hasting's narration, and found the plot less than satisfying, but it's still an enjoyable read. ...more

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Jan 29, 2024 Jazzy Lemon rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: english-authors, classics

Go, go Poirot!

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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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Jan 20, 2019 Pranit rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, hercule-poirot

Another AC novel, another Hercule poirot novel and another murder on the train. This was a very intriguing story for me right from the very start. A lot of people being suspicious of a murder that has yet to take place. I enjoyed this novel from start of the end. A very good read for this season! 

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