Nov/Dec 2017 Group Read - The Woman on the Orient Express

[Jan, Moderator]

Nov/Dec 2017 Group Read
The Woman on the Orient Express by Lindsay Jayne Ashford

With the movie Murder on the Orient Express coming out in November, I thought it would be fun to read this book. So I'm inviting everyone to join me.

**Please use spoilers when posting your comments.



Hoping to make a clean break from a fractured marriage, Agatha Christie boards the Orient Express in disguise. But unlike her famous detective Hercule Poirot, she can’t neatly unravel the mysteries she encounters on this fateful journey.

Agatha isn’t the only passenger on board with secrets. Her cabinmate Katharine Keeling’s first marriage ended in tragedy, propelling her toward a second relationship mired in deceit. Nancy Nelson—newly married but carrying another man’s child—is desperate to conceal the pregnancy and teeters on the brink of utter despair. Each woman hides her past from the others, ferociously guarding her secrets. But as the train bound for the Middle East speeds down the track, the parallel courses of their lives shift to intersect—with lasting repercussions.

Filled with evocative imagery, suspense, and emotional complexity, The Woman on the Orient Express explores the bonds of sisterhood forged by shared pain and the power of secrets.

[Jan, Moderator]

I'm looking forward to reading this! If you can't find it at your library you can get it on Amazon for $1.99 or for free if you have Kindle Unlimited.

[Linda]

I love Mysteries so I’m pretty sure I will be reading this one!

[Cecile]

I too love mysteries. I’m going to check out my library tomorrow to see if they have it.

[Denise]

If you buy the Kindle $1.99 then you can get the audiobook for $1.99. I don't know if it works that way with Kindle Unlimited.

[Jan, Moderator]

It does work...if you have kindle unlimited and check it out you can buy the audio for 1.99. That's what I did....lol.

I'm going to start this tomorrow. I have a drive to make and don't want to start another audio. I'm excited to start it!!

[Karen ♐]

Oh, thanks. I wasn't sure about the audio with KU.

[Jan, Moderator]

I started this today and am really enjoying it. I'm not loving the narrator but I have the book also. So I'm listening and then reviewing with the book. I may end up giving up on the audio but I'm going to give it a little while longer.

Prologue & Chapter One: (view spoiler)[ It's 1963 and we have a mysterious man confronting Agatha Chistie about a mystery in her past. I thought it was a good set up for the story to unfold.
In the first chapter, we are taken back to 1928 and are introduced to three women - each running away to Baghdag via the Orient Express:

✣ Agatha, traveling as Mary Miller who is grieving the end of her marriage and trying to leave the ghost of her ex-husband Archie behind.

✣ Nancy who is leaving her husband for another man

✣ Kathryn whose husband had committed suicide several years ago for some mysterious reason. And it seems she is facing a wedding when she arrives in Baghdad...hers!

It will be interesting to see how these three women become connected. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Two & Three: (view spoiler)[ I'm going to continue sharing a little about each woman. It seems easiest at the moment.

✣ Agatha thinks she sees Archie - he is continuing to "haunt her". But after a second sighting she is thinking it really must be more than a ghost.

✣ Nancy's man shows up but not with the news she wants to here. And it seems like she has a secert she is not telling him. He leaves at the next stop and a strange possibility is coming to the surface: This man really could be Agatha's ex-husband which means his mistriss could be on the train with her. Our awkward!!

✣ Katherine winds up in Agatha's cabin and we learn a little about both their pasts. Kathryn has been working on digs for several years and invites Agatha out to the dig she is heading for. But we also learn some history of Agatha. She had "disappeared" before which was a bit of a scandal and caused all kind of trouble with the public and press. I remember an interesting movie from 1979 called Agatha that addresses this disappearance. I remember liking it alot and think I'm going to track it down to watch it. (hide spoiler)]

It's a great start and has captured my attention completely!!!

[Denise]

Too bad I read Murder on the Orient Express over40 years ago it would be interesting to compare it to how the story(ies) unfold and descriptions compare to The Woman on the Orient Express. At first I thought the premise was a bit too contrived, Agatha Christie on the Orient Express, but after having read the first few chapters I think the author makes it work - lets see how that goes.

Jan did such a good summary I won't repeat it. I'll add on when I can (I have a new puppy that came from the Cayman Islands hurricane area and is quite nervous - it is hard to be around such a stressed out animal and remain calm yikes!).

[Linda]

Jan, I was not thrilled by the author either, I listened to a sample to see if I wanted to go that route, I'm going to go with reading the book and should get started this weekend! I'm excited!

Your posts are taunting me! LOL!

[Jan, Moderator]

Linda wrote: "Jan, I was not thrilled by the author either, I listened to a sample to see if I wanted to go that route, I'm going to go with reading the book and should get started this weekend! I'm excited!

Your posts are taunting me! LOL! ..."

That's what they are supposed to do Linda!!!

I started out liking the narrator but she began to grate on my nerves after an hour. Oh well....

[Jan, Moderator]

I read another couple of chapters!

Chapter 4-5: (view spoiler)[
I loved this line in chapter 4 when she is thinking about Hercule Poirot: "How is it, she thought,that one can create a character who is more intelligent, more observant, more perceptive than oneself?"

And I really like Max - I think it was sweet how he took Agatha under his wing in Venice. (hide spoiler)]

[Rosina]

Hi Jan.....

I will join you in this read....started and part way through Chapter one.....definitely an interesting start.....

Anyone going to see the new movie later this month?

[Jan, Moderator]

Glad you are joining me Rosina!

I would really like to see the movie...think I need to twist my daughters arm.

[Karen ♐]

Rosina wrote: "Hi Jan.....

I will join you in this read....started and part way through Chapter one.....definitely an interesting start.....

Anyone going to see the new movie later this month?"

Hubby and I are planning to see it.

[Bev(baglady)]

I'm gonna join you in reading this one. I just downloaded it to my kindle and plan to start it tonight

[Jan, Moderator]

Yay!!! The more the merrier :)

[Jan, Moderator]

Chapters 6-8: (view spoiler)[ Agatha saves the day and Katherine discovers Agatha's secret. I'm not sure what I think of her - she seems a bit cold and I don't completely trust her though I don't think there is anything sinister about her. She just seems like she uses people to get what she wants. (hide spoiler)]

[Jan, Moderator]

Chapter 9-11: (view spoiler)[ The three women are forming a curious relationship. I found Katherine's fever episode to be a little strange - I would have thought they would have called a doctor. And then she wakes up fine and all is well. Not sure what was the purpose of that in the story. Maybe something more will show up later.

Agatha "hires" Nancy to be her secretary in an attempt to help her out. I'm wondering what's going to happen if Nancy ends up really being Archie's mistress.

I was hoping for more details about the Orient Express part of the trip but now that they are in Asia and off the Express there are more details about the surrounding country which I'm enjoying.

I thought their camel ride and spa visit was fun but I am finding these last few chapters to be a little on the slow side. Maybe its because it has been several days since I've read it and I lost my momentum. (hide spoiler)]

Anyone else making progress on this???

[Denise]

I finished the audiobook but I've not been well and couldn't concentrate enough to write anything. sorry! (hiding)

[Jan, Moderator]

Sorry you have been sick Denise! No need to hide...hope you feel better soon!

[Karen ♐]

I should get to it in the next week.

[Jan, Moderator]

Great Karen!

[Jackie]

I will be able to read it this weekend.

[Karen ♐]

Jan wrote: "I started this today and am really enjoying it. I'm not loving the narrator but I have the book also. So I'm listening and then reviewing with the book. I may end up giving up on the audio but I'm ..."

Started it today and I'm really enjoying it. Prologue & Chap 1 (view spoiler)[I also wonder how these 3 womens' stories are going to intersect. (hide spoiler)]

Chap 2 & 3 (view spoiler)[Archie was with Nancy? Do I have that right? Well, this is certainly getting interesting...And Kathryn is now sharing a room with Agatha? Oh boy. (hide spoiler)]

I am really enjoying this book already.

[Karen ♐]

Jan wrote: "I read another couple of chapters!

Chapter 4-5:
I loved this line in chapter 4 when she is thinking about Hercule Poirot: "How is it, she thought,that one can create a character who is more inte..."

I really enjoyed these chapters too (view spoiler)[The thought about Poirot was great! Wonder if Max will somehow end up with one of our ladies... (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ♐]

Chap 6-8 I agree. (view spoiler)[as if right now, I think Kathryn is just a user. I wonder what she’s going to do with the information that she knows who Agatha is (hide spoiler)]

Chap 9-11 (view spoiler)[I wonder about her fever too. Was she just run down or was there something else going on. I think people in this era were not so quick to call a doctor because most of the time they were told to just rest and eventually they would recover.

I think it’s too easy for Archie and Nancy to have been together. But, of course, I might be surprised. I thought it was a lot of fun reading about their camel ride and the spa. I also hoped the orient express part of the book would be longer and more descriptive. (hide spoiler)]

[Jan, Moderator]

Wow...you are making great progress Karen!! And I'm enjoying your comments. I agree about (view spoiler)[ your comment about Archie and Nancy. And I keep thinking Agatha's comments about him getting married soon means she isn't the one with Archie. But maybe he isn't telling the truth about that and just told Agatha that to hurt her. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12 - 17: (view spoiler)[Everyone has a secret and several of the secrets are being revealed. Nancy didn't seemed bothered by Agatha's secret. I think she would have known who Archie's wife was so that might settle that question.

I'm feeling sorry for Katherine marrying someone she doesn't care for. But she made the decision and its keeping her from having to return to England.

Agatha and Max's visit to the Yezidi Shrine was fascinating. And I think its funny that she is writing a book about it.

Nancy's visit to the consulate was interesting. I'm wondering if the mysterious death (murder?) of her aunt is going to get solved by Agatha.

And finally Nancy's secret is out. I was a little worried that Agatha was going to throw her out. But she came around and found her compassion and forgiveness. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ♐]

Or I wondered (view spoiler)[if he has someone else besides Nancy because she was wanting him to get too serious (hide spoiler)]

[Jan, Moderator]

That's an interesting thought Karen....hmmmm!

[Jan, Moderator]

Read a few more chapters last night.

Chapters 18-21: (view spoiler)[
So Agatha and Nancy have arrived in Ur to visit the archaeolical site. There is something about Leonard that seems a little "off". Maybe he is just obsessed with his work. I guess he is based on a real person who did have an excavation in Ur and is highly acclaimed as the first to excavate methodically, and use records to reconstruct ancient life.

It seems that Agatha has a bit of a crush on Max and is finding herself jealous of Katherine who is still up to her tricks of getting what she wants and using people.

I guess Agatha's husband did really get married since Katherine received the announcment in a newspaper clipping. The more I think about Karen's comment in message 30 the more I think it could be a real possibility. Archie may have even used a different name with Nancy so she didn't know who he really was.

I'm still not sure where this friendship between Agatha and Katherine is going...its an interesting dance as they both try to learn more about the other. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ♐]

Hope to catch up to you today, Jan!

[Linda]

Prologue - (view spoiler)[ I love the way this book has started. Who is the man who found Agatha and asking all of these questions that Agatha does not want answer. She does not recognize his face but his voice does sound a bit familiar. (hide spoiler)]

[Jan, Moderator]

I"m excited you started Linda!!! (view spoiler)[ It does have a great beginning that gets you totally interested right away! (hide spoiler)]

And I'm sure you will manage to catch up with me Karen. You've been flying through this book.

[Karen ♐]

Chap 12-17 (view spoiler)[I love all of these secrets. Obviously, Kathryn had figured out who Agatha a while back but I was concerned that when Nancy found out who she was, we would have found out that Nancy was with Archie, so I'm guessing Archie wasn't with Nancy.

I also feel sorry for Kathryn. I wonder why she finds it necessary to marry someone she doesn't really love.

And Nancy's aunt (or is it cousin? I'm not sure). I think they're going to find out who killed her also. I would have been upset if Agatha hadn't found her way to help Nancy once she discovered her secret.

And Max. What a sweetheart. I was hoping he would end up with Nancy but it seems he is attracted to Agatha. And I wonder what happened between him and Kathryn. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ♐]

Linda wrote: "Prologue - [spoilers removed]"

I'm sure you'll enjoy it, Linda. I really am. I don't usually read this type of book (mostly romance for me) but it's so good.

[Jan, Moderator]

I'm glad you are enjoying it Karen even if its out of our normal genre!

I listened to 2 chapters while driving around today and have to post!!!

Chapter 22: (view spoiler)[OMG - I thought Max was just being nice to Agatha! I didn't think he was really interested. I think I keep forgetting that she isn't old. I can't wait to see how this plays out. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 23: (view spoiler)[ WHAT!?!?! I would never had thought up that malady for Kathryn. Is that even possible? I had to google it and I guess it happens. But to basicall call her a man - that was cruel. (hide spoiler)]

[Linda]

Karen ♐ wrote: "Linda wrote: "Prologue - [spoilers removed]"

I'm sure you'll enjoy it, Linda. I really am. I don't usually read this type of book (mostly romance for me) but it's so good."


I’m all about a good Mystery!

[Karen ♐]

Chap 18-21 (view spoiler)[I’m really concerned about Leonard too. He seems kind of creepy to me. I understand they don’t love each other and in order for Katharine to stay there, she would need to be married but something isn’t right with them as a couple.

I agree that Agatha has a crush on Max and I believe he feels the same. Something is up with him and Katharine though. Not sure what though.

I think Archie did string Nancy along and still is. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ♐]

Chap 22 (view spoiler)[I knew it! I thought Max was really interested in Agatha! And what’s this about Katherine only letting Leonard watch her bathe? She made it sound as though he didn’t want her. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ♐]

Chap 23 (view spoiler)[that’s actually a condition? Yikes! Poor Katharine. I keep changing my mind about these characters. What next??? (hide spoiler)]

[Jan, Moderator]

Karen...in response to:

Chapters 18-21: (view spoiler)[ Yes! Leonard is creepy! And I agree that it is probably Archie which makes me happy that he is no longer in Agatha's life. But if that is so, it will be quite a scene when they both find out. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22-23: (view spoiler)[ The bath thing is weird! Though after reading Chapter 23 I understand it a little more.

I'm with you though and can't decide how I feel about everyone!!
(hide spoiler)]

[Karen ♐]

I cannot stop reading this book!

[Jan, Moderator]

Karen ♐ wrote: "I cannot stop reading this book!"

LOL...that's a good thing Karen!!!

[Linda]

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ I’m looking forward to seeing how the story brings these three women together, the three of them have such interesting back stories and they are all fleeing to Baghdad! (hide spoiler)]

[Jan, Moderator]

Chapter 25: (view spoiler)[ Leonard is forced to sleep in Katherine's room but she can't bring herself to share her secret. She decides to leave him a letter as she runs off to picnic with Agatha and Nancy on their last day at the dig. She has a lot to lose from doing this. I'm proud of her for taking the step.

The baby comes while picnicing!!! Agatha coaches Nancy through the birth and Katherine saves the day by helping the baby breathe!! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 26: (view spoiler)[Leonard actually takes Katherine's news well and tells her he just wants to be loved. ...aaw. That's kind of sweet. (hide spoiler)]

[Jan, Moderator]

Linda (view spoiler)[ It is fun to see how these three women's stories become entwined. (hide spoiler)]

[Linda]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[How extremely awkward if Nancy’s guy ends up being Agatha’s ex-husband! Of course Nancy & Agatha have not met face to face yet but I’m sure they will at some point. So far Archie sounds like a man who takes what he wants no matter the consequences and I think Agatha may have let him overtake her, she broke up with her previous fiancé to marry Archie. And if this is Archie, then is He possibly lying to Nancy, he and his ex wife are no longer married, could there be another woman waiting for Archie in the wings???(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Jan, Moderator]

Linda on Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ Archie is a cad and Agatha is better off without him though she's still grieving the loss of the marriage because she really did love him.

But I think you pegged him right when you wrote: sounds like a man who takes what he wants no matter the consequences.
(hide spoiler)]

[Karen ♐]

Chap 25 (view spoiler)[My heart was pounding throughout this chapter. First, when Katharine was writing that letter to Leonard. I was afraid of what he might say or do. But I have a feeling he will accept this. I'm starting to like Leonard for some reason

And then, the picnic! Yikes. I had a feeling that Nancy was further along than she thought. But for a moment, I was afraid the baby wasn't developed enough. When Katharine helps the baby start to breathe, I let out a breath I was holding! Fantastic chapter (hide spoiler)]

Chap 26 (view spoiler)[I was so happy that Leonard didn't turn out to be a jerk. It's amazing how my perception of these two kept changing (hide spoiler)]