pickReading on #Litsy with Christie‘s Capers. Hosted by @Librarybelle #AgathaChristieClubR3
4 Stars • In The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928), Hercule Poirot investigates the murder of American heiress Ruth Kettering, found dead on the luxurious Blue Train to the French Riviera, her valuable ruby missing. Poirot explores a cast of suspects connected to Ruth‘s troubled personal life, unraveling a web of greed and deception to solve the case.
My brain is completely fried from last week, and I did not allow myself a lot of planning time for the discussion. My apologies, but there are 4 questions posted as spoilers that can be found on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching #ChristiesCapers or #AgathaChristieClubR3 .
Next month, we look at The Seven Dials Mystery which reintroduces us to characters we met in The Secret of Chimneys. Official post tomorrow!
janeycanuck, suvata, Aims42, MallenNC, Soscha, Cuilin, kspenmoll, BarbaraJean, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, MariaW, elkeOriginal, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, mrp27, Larkken, Suet624, Cailey_Mac, Deblovestoread, ferskner, Marmie7, MaleficentBookDragon, majkia, Bookwormjillk, StayCurious, Teresereading, Laughterhp, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, ElizaMarie, bcncookbookclub, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, BookNook, AnishaInkspill4. We explored Poirot, settings, & plot...now, let's visit the characters. Christie plays on the American millionaire (we'll see that too in Orient Express), and we also run into jewel thieves &, of course, people with secrets. Plus, Katherine Grey serves as a sounding board for Poirot. Any characters you wish to discuss with the group?
This is the first time Poirot's valet George is mentioned in the books! #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
3. The setting: the blue train. Christie uses travel in her mysteries quite a lot, and this will not be Poirot's only encounter with a mystery on a train (I'm looking at you, Orient Express). What do you think of the plot and the setting?
Incidentally, this marks the first time St. Mary Mead is mentioned in a Christie novel, which we will visit soon as the home of Miss Marple!
#ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
2. In the first question, we compared the novel to prior Poirot novels, but I want to dive a little deeper into Poirot. In The Big Four, Poirot had a persona of an action hero. In this one, he's back to the Poirot we know. We're also experiencing Poirot without the aid of Hastings. Do you miss Hastings in this one? What can we glean from Poirot's character without the help of Hastings? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
1. This is our 6th book featuring Poirot (5th novel plus a collection of short stories). What did you think of this one? How does it compare to the prior Poirot novels we read?
A few facts:
*Christie hated this novel though it was well received by critics.
*The idea came from her 1923 short story The Plymouth Express.
*She was writing this as she grieved her mother's passing & was divorcing her husband.
#ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
I‘ve waited until the last minute to remind everyone, but our next #ChristiesCapers discussion is tomorrow! I know many have finished already, so hooray (and yes, this is MUCH better than The Big Four).
Questions will be posted before 12pm US East Coast time. #AgathaChristieClubR3
janeycanuck, suvata, Aims42, MallenNC, Soscha, Cuilin, kspenmoll, BarbaraJean, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, MariaW, elkeOriginal, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, mrp27, Larkken, Suet624, Cailey_Mac, Deblovestoread, ferskner, Marmie7, MaleficentBookDragon, majkia, Bookwormjillk, StayCurious, Teresereading, Laughterhp, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, ElizaMarie, bcncookbookclub, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, Sparklemn, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, BookNook, AnishaInkspill
Harpy does not approve of the 2 page “cozy” cigarette ad in my 1971 paperback copy of this month‘s #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3 #Bookclub selection
🐈⬛She‘s so judgy. 😹😹😹
pickPICK! PICK! PICK!! This was sooooo needed after my “meh” feelings of Agatha‘s previous title (The Big Four) - I loved this one! Poirot was so sassy 😆 At first I was annoyed he didn‘t appear on page 1, but I think it actually made me stick with this book to get hooked waiting for him. I see what you (possibly?) did there, Agatha 😏
“He shifted a little and looked around him uneasily - to find Poirot almost at his elbow with a beaming innocent face”. This quote instantly made me think of The Office episode with this scene and I literally burst out laughing 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I love Poirot so much!!
#FridayHappyReadingHour Okay, we‘re getting back on track… sorta 🤣 Just a day late! No snacks, but I‘m enjoying some vintage Price is Right in the background while I sip on my Cabernet Sauvignon with one of my current reads 😊 Leftover chili for dinner later so no rush to move from this spot 🙌
@kspenmoll
@tamara
@mcctrish
@thebookhippie
@BarbaraBB
Today is Agatha Christie‘s 135th birthday. Happy birthday Agatha Christie! I saw this Facebook post today from the British Library and wanted to share it with y‘all.
#christiescapers
janeycanuck, suvata, Aims42, MallenNC, Soscha, Cuilin, kspenmoll, BarbaraJean, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, MariaW, elkeOriginal, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, mrp27, Larkken, Suet624, Cailey_Mac, Deblovestoread, ferskner, Librarybelle, Marmie7, MaleficentBookDragon, majkia, Bookwormjillk, StayCurious, Teresereading, Laughterhp, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, ElizaMarie, bcncookbookclub, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, AnishaInkspill
We‘re less than two weeks away from our next #ChristiesCapers discussion! To anyone who has started it, how is it going? #AgathaChristieClubR3
janeycanuck, suvata, Aims42, MallenNC, Soscha, Cuilin, kspenmoll, BarbaraJean, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, MariaW, elkeOriginal, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, mrp27, Larkken, Suet624, Cailey_Mac, Deblovestoread, ferskner, Marmie7, MaleficentBookDragon, majkia, Bookwormjillk, StayCurious, Teresereading, Laughterhp, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, ElizaMarie, bcncookbookclub, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, BookNook, AnishaInkspill
Awww, found this on Threads 😍 Happy Birthday to the great Agatha Christie 🎂🎉🔎🕵️♂️
I haven‘t started reading this month‘s book yet. I saw this on my Instagram feed, reposted it to my Instagram account and wanted to share it with everyone participating in #christiescapers because I thought it was cool to see. I didn‘t know there was an Agatha Christie statue.
janeycanuck, suvata, Aims42, MallenNC, Soscha, Cuilin, kspenmoll, BarbaraJean, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, MariaW, elkeOriginal, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, mrp27, Larkken, Suet624, Cailey_Mac, Deblovestoread, ferskner, Librarybelle, Marmie7, MaleficentBookDragon, majkia, Bookwormjillk, StayCurious, Teresereading, Laughterhp, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, ElizaMarie, bcncookbookclub, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, AnishaInkspill
#FridayHappyReadingHour
Sipping on ginger-ale & snacking on mini saltines tonight. I am just emerging from 3 days of a rather violent food poisoning episode, so this hits the spot.
I‘ve noticed recently when listening to these Agatha Christie books on Audible that Richard Armitage stopped narrating them. He only narrated a few of them and then he stopped. Now the only narrator I‘m listening to is Hugh Fraser. Hugh Fraser has a nice voice but I got used to listening to Richard Armitage. I miss Richard Armitage‘s voice. I wish he would‘ve continued narrating these stories.
#christiescapers
Repost for @Librarybelle
The September #ChristiesCapers is the sixth book featuring Hercule Poirot. Let‘s hop on the blue train and solve the mystery using our little gray cells.
Discussion on September 28th. All are welcome! Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the tag list. #AgathaChristieClubR3
Original post - https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2896617
The September #ChristiesCapers is the sixth book featuring Hercule Poirot. Let‘s hop on the blue train and solve the mystery using our little gray cells.
Discussion on September 28th. All are welcome! Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the tag list. #AgathaChristieClubR3
janeycanuck, suvata, Aims42, MallenNC, Soscha, Cuilin, kspenmoll, BarbaraJean, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, MariaW, elkeOriginal, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, mrp27, Larkken, Suet624, Cailey_Mac, Deblovestoread, ferskner, Marmie7, MaleficentBookDragon, majkia, Bookwormjillk, StayCurious, Teresereading, Laughterhp, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, ElizaMarie, bcncookbookclub, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, AnishaInkspill
pickShort Review: This was an odd Poirot book for me, he doesn't appear for the first few chapters & when he does he seems to be more of a side character to Katherine Grey. The mystery itself was textbook Christie but it just didn't seem to work as well as some of her other books. I think the problem for me is that I just didn't like Katherine Grey. Don't know why, just didn't. 3.5🌟
TWs: racism/xenophobia, internalised misogyny.
pickI finished another Poriot murder mystery. This time the point of view wasn‘t the one of Hastings, but the one of Katherine. She does have her own suspicions, even though she does not have all the information of Poirot. But in the end she comes to the same conclusion on her own - without Poirot. 😂
pickAgatha Christie seldom fails to tickle the little grey cells with her Poirot novels. This was no exception. She had me guessing everyone but the one who did it. (That's not entirely true but I don't want to spoil anything). Wonderfully written. I was sucked in immediately and had trouble putting it down. My wife will likely be glad it's finished. I don't know why. She knows another book is in the queue.
pickReally enjoyed. Of course already knew the story having watched all.the Poirots.
Next serial read . . . I am a huge Christie fan but shamefully haven't read any.
pickAgatha Christie never disappoints and while this one isn‘t the best book she ever wrote, it is nevertheless entertaining to follow along as Hercule Poirot solves the murder of the daughter of a rich American and determines what happened to the rubies that went missing during the commission of the crime. Poirot remains a favorite
It‘s a grey, rainy day perfect for murder…by which I mean reading some Agatha Christie! 😬 If I‘ve read this one, it was so long ago I don‘t remember it so I‘m counting it as a new read!
Taste testing some more books from my personal collection before I decide what books are getting donated. Although I have enjoyed some Agatha a Christie, I can definitely say she‘s not a favourite. I‘m about 60 pages in, and I‘m thinking this is a DNF & donate.
This was the last AC book I read about a week ago and I think my challenge is over I don‘t think I‘m going to read any more of her books before the 20th I think I have AC burnout but I will definitely revisit this challenge to myself maybe read at least one of her books per month
Victorian London Fog tea, marmite on crackers and Agatha Christie‘s Poirot.. evening in my garden(backyard I‘m slowing turning into a nice garden) #britishnovels#agathachristie#herculepoirot#englishsuthors
On to the next poirot.. was reading the secret adversary but it wasn‘t catching my interest
pickPoirot book 6. Good, quick read, but the solution was a bit convoluted.
pickAnother excellent mystery. I did suspect both of the people involved but not at the same time and it seemed they had explanations for their actions. So Agatha fooled me again. 🤷♀️
pickHey #agathachristie fans! I want to hear from you. I just listened to this, and I thought it was good, but not one of her best. Perhaps just because I listened to it over several weeks instead of reading it, but I thought there were some strange loose ends and scenes that didn‘t really add up.
Now, I‘m listening to a podcast host saying this book was BETTER than Murder on the Orient Express! What?!?
Let me know what you think about it ⬇️⬇️
so-soI love Agatha Christie. They‘re fun, easy reads and intriguing. This one was a bit more predictable and “stock” than some of the others, but it did make for an enjoyable travel audio book
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another great Christie! She totally fooled me again; I didn‘t expect the end at all!
My first Poirot mystery on the little screen. It's so different from the book, I don't even know what to expect.
pickI'm starting to feel hopeful that reading Christie in publication order will give me one of my favorite reading experiences: watching an author hone her craft. Christie's skill is noticeably improved in this novel. Her characters are more distinct, she writes Poirot's idiosyncrasies with a lighter touch, and her "lady detective" is genuinely likeable (and her main goal is not marriage, a refreshing change).
May #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks
To paraphrase Alfred Wainwright, there's no such thing as bad housework, only unsuitable audiobooks.
On the outside, I'm cleaning litterboxes, scrubbing bathrooms, changing bed linens, and doing lots and lots of laundry, while on the inside, I'm preparing for an intrigue-filled trip to France and dodging distant relatives' claims on my inheritance.
Update: just added the grout! I'm wondering if I should have gone for gray instead of white... 🤔 But I like how it looks with the grass. Can't wait for it to dry properly so I can hopefully take it out of the mold in one piece! 🤞🙈
Just bought this book from my local resale store in WV and found this as a bookmark....from 1989 in Saginaw Michigan. Old books are so cool
MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN. | 
