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The Mystery of the Blue Train
The Mystery of the Blue Train: Hercule Poirot Investigates | Agatha Christie
108 posts | 134 read | 2 reading | 35 to read
When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering from her slumbers. But she will never wake again -- for a heavy blow has killed her, disfiguring her features almost recognition. What is more, her precious rubies are missing. The prime suspect is Ruth's estranged husband, Derek. Yet Poirot is not convinced, so he stages and eerie re-enactment of the journey, complete with the murderer on board.
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TheSpineView
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Eggs Great choice!! 2w
57 likes2 comments
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kellock
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Pickpick

Really enjoyed. Of course already knew the story having watched all.the Poirots.

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kellock
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Next serial read . . . I am a huge Christie fan but shamefully haven't read any.

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TracyReadsBooks
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Pickpick

Agatha 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

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TracyReadsBooks
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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!

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Yuki_Onna
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💙🚂📚 6mo
Eggs #CoverLove 🩵 6mo
14 likes2 comments
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Jen2
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Pickpick

Delightful!

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Sharpeipup
Mystery of the Blue Train | Agatha Christie
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An ideal spot to read a few pages or chapters.

TheBookHippie Nice! 12mo
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 12mo
47 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Clwojick
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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.

5feet.of.fury I was thinking I hadn‘t seen you post in a while! I like your sampling approach to your TBR. Hope everything is good! 1y
willaful This is a particularly weak Christie -- I think her own personal least favorite, in fact. 1y
84 likes2 comments
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MelliMel1980

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

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MelliMel1980
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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

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MelliMel1980

On to the next poirot.. was reading the secret adversary but it wasn‘t catching my interest

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Amie
Mystery of the Blue Train | Agatha Christie
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Pickpick

Poirot book 6. Good, quick read, but the solution was a bit convoluted.

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AmyK1
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Pickpick

Another 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. 🤷‍♀️

jlhammar Love that edition! 1y
AmyK1 @jlhammar thank you! I‘ve got several of the special editions and I love them all. 1y
43 likes2 comments
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CSeydel
Mystery of the Blue Train | Agatha Christie
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Pickpick

Hey #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 ⬇️⬇️

Laughterhp Hmm, I read this one in 2020 it looks like, which means I have zero memory of this book. But I love Agatha Christie‘s books. 2y
BiblioLitten I regret not buying this book just before I got into a blue train. It was right there in a railway station book stall! 2y
Ruthiella I‘ve not read it in ages, but I don‘t think the solution or the motive is as clever or as moving as Orient Express. 2y
43 likes3 comments
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CSeydel
Mystery of the Blue Train | Agatha Christie
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Late to the party on #pantone2023 but here are four books I‘ve started with

Clwojick Looks great! Well done 2y
49 likes1 comment
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TheSpineView
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Eggs 💙🤩 2y
53 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Bethanyroe
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Mehso-so

I 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

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wideeyedreader
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another great Christie! She totally fooled me again; I didn‘t expect the end at all!

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ImperfectCJ
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My first Poirot mystery on the little screen. It's so different from the book, I don't even know what to expect.

BookmarkTavern While these adaptations do change the books, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, I love them. David Suchet makes such a perfect Poirot for me. ❤️ I hope you enjoy it! 3y
Ruthiella I love reading the book and then watching the adaptation. It‘s so interesting to see where they made changes. And I echo @ozma.of.oz , the casting is fantastic. 3y
ImperfectCJ @Ruthiella @ozma.of.oz I wasn't super impressed with the changes they made with this one. The story lost most of its subtlety and Katherine Gray was naive and silly, when in the book she was more perceptive than most but was just quiet about it. And the thing where everyone has a motive was kind of ridiculous. I have a couple more on hold at the library, so I'll give those a chance. With 70 episodes, there's likely diversity in the adaptations. 3y
48 likes3 comments
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ImperfectCJ
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Pickpick

I'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

Ruthiella I‘ve not read her books in order, but I suspect that‘s true. However, there is also sadly a noticeable decline in some of her later novels. 4y
ImperfectCJ @Ruthiella That's good to know. I have heard that there's at least one (The Big Four) that she wrote because she needed money and didn't really feel inspired, and I was wondering how many of these there would be. And there's always the risk of a famous author becoming derivative of herself over time. I'll just be sure to enjoy this middle part (although I gather that others don't find Blue Train as pleasant as I did). 4y
TheAromaofBooks Yes, I think there is an arc to her writing, personally, with many of her middle/later novels not flowing as well. But there are SO many good ones that it's worth exploring her prolific publications!! 4y
46 likes3 comments
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ImperfectCJ
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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.

ImperfectCJ Actually, there's apparently some debate about whether Alfred Wainwright originated this quote, but the sentiment stands. 4y
48 likes1 comment
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yvo_about_books
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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! 🤞🙈

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yvo_about_books
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I felt like doing some #DIY, so I decided to try making this #mosaic garden border tile... If I like the result, I 'only' have to make 25 more. 🙈😂

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CallMeIshmael
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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

Megabooks Cool! 4y
britt_brooke Love these kinds of treasures! 4y
24 likes1 stack add2 comments
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galueth28
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Pickpick

This one was a fun read, with a good mistery. Loved the supporting cast, especially Katherine.

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clabhi1989
Pickpick

Amazing book and the mystery unfolds on last 3 pages. It creates a surprise package on every page.

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tdrosebud
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I covered 3 more squares egg is month.
New Series: The Crepes of Wrath
Favorite author: tagged
Bookish: The Plot is Murder
#mandmchallenge2020 @BarbaraTheBibliophage

BarbaraTheBibliophage Awesome!! ♥️👊🏻📚 4y
16 likes1 comment
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tdrosebud
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Pickpick

A murdered woman on the train, missing jewels worth a large fortune, and Hercule Poirot employing his little grey cells. A reread that I luckily didn't remember the outcome. #cozyinthesun #doublespin #bookspinbingo #ReadingEurope2020 #Monaco @TheAromaofBooks @ferskner @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

Librarybelle I recently reread this and had also forgotten how it ended! 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4y
ferskner This is a fun one! 4y
25 likes3 comments
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larah17
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Pickpick

Another very enjoyable Poirot mystery (although I'll be honest, I missed Hastings - what is wrong with me?) The mystery was interesting enough but I really enjoyed the characters in this story, especially Katherine Grey. 3.5⭐

Cathythoughts What a great title 👍🏻 4y
69 likes1 comment
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ferskner
This post contains spoilers
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4. Christie loves to use actors in her mysteries, often casting them as the villain. Having read a Christie a month, do you notice these repeated plot points and clues? Does Christie plagiarize herself too often? #agathachristieclubR2

Librarybelle Haha...didn‘t realize that! Shows how observant I am! Maybe not plagiarizing herself; but decisions like that are a style choice, I think. 4y
TheAromaofBooks Like @Librarybelle I hadn't even really noticed that much! 😂 I don't mind when authors use their own plot devices in different ways, and I think that overall Christie keeps things from being too same-y. 4y
ferskner @Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks yeah it almost feels more like a trademark than plagiarizing herself? From reading her books so often, it can sometimes make me focus in on a character more than I would otherwise, but I think she keeps everything else interesting. Jess, can you speak more to what you mean about a style choice? 4y
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Librarybelle @ferskner @TheAromaofBooks By Christie using actors or other individuals that are the least likely to commit a crime in the list of suspects, I think it‘s her way to keep the reader guessing and that sometimes it‘s the least suspected culprit. The unveiling of Roger Ackroyd‘s murderer is a good example - who would have thought that, unless you‘re extremely good at finding the slip ups by the culprit! I like trademark as a better term! 4y
ferskner @Librarybelle ah yeah that makes sense! I confess that I've solved many mysteries by looking for the least likely person - it seemed to have become the standard for a while! I like that Christie plays with that, too. @TheAromaofBooks 4y
Librarybelle @ferskner @TheAromaofBooks I fully admit - I‘m gullible! I hardly ever discover the murderer, unless it is so obvious! You‘d think with all of the mysteries I read that my skill set would improve...😂 4y
TheAromaofBooks @Librarybelle @ferskner - I love mysteries and yet am still TERRIBLE at figuring out whodunit! I'm consistently surprised! 😂 4y
ferskner @TheAromaofBooks @Librarybelle I really only start to be able to do it when I read a bunch in a row. Then I can recognize the patterns. Otherwise I'm a lost cause (other than with Still Life by Louise Penny. I love that book but I knew the murderer and reason before the murder even happened). 4y
Linsy That cover! 😱 4y
14 likes9 comments
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ferskner
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3. This book features a supernatural element in the form of the murder victim's ghost. Did you enjoy this addition or did it go against the informal rules of mystery writing? #agathachristieclubR2

Librarybelle I did not mind it... 4y
TheAromaofBooks I don't mind supernatural elements in general as long as they aren't suddenly presented at the end of the book as the “solution,“ which has happened to me before! @Librarybelle 4y
ferskner @TheAromaofBooks yeah agreed! I thought that it was done tastefully and just added to the mystery, rather than a deus ex machina solution. @Librarybelle 4y
Linsy @ferskner @Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks Agreed! I want to know that could be in for a solution like that and it not come out of the blue, always seems unfair. I like that Christie is always seems fair with her solutions! At least so far (edited) 4y
50 likes4 comments
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ferskner
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2. Christie said that this is one of her most hated books, but that it made her into a real writer since she learned to write even when she didn't feel like it. Do you get any sense of her animosity toward the book when you read it? #agathachristieclubR2

Librarybelle What an intriguing statement! I did not pick up on any animosity. 4y
TheAromaofBooks How funny is that! I had no idea and wouldn't have guessed it. I do know that in general she began to get rather tired of Poirot after a while, but I wouldn't have picked this one out as a book she didn't enjoy writing. @Librarybelle 4y
ferskner @Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks so my understanding is that she wrote this out of financial necessity after her husband's betrayal/divorce and her disappearance, so it's understandable that it would have bad memories attached. The need to write for money also made her feel like it was drudgery rather than enjoyment, but that's being a professional. I think she felt the same way about The Big Four. Both are expanded from previous short stories. 4y
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TheAromaofBooks @ferskner - Interesting! And writing this while still in the midst of a lot of feelings about her divorce would also explain why all the menfolk in this one are kind of stinkers! @Librarybelle 4y
ferskner @TheAromaofBooks that's a great point! It's definitely more of an issue in this book than others. I also think this is the book that made her decide to write a something finished that she could keep just in case she needed to publish something fast. I can't remember what the result was... maybe Curtains? @Librarybelle 4y
Linsy @Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks @ferskner Fascinating! It‘s crazy that she could write somethings to so good and yet be in such a terrible place. Shows even more what an incredible writer she was. Love her even more now! 4y
45 likes6 comments
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ferskner
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Oh. My. Gosh. Guys. I COMPLETELY forgot about posting #agathachristieclubR2 questions for last month's book! My only defense is that it's been a doozy of a month on the news front, and I've thought about little else. Still, I'm sorry!

Okay, to the questions! Please remember to tag everyone who has commented to keep the conversation flowing.

1. Did you enjoy the book? Why or why not?

Librarybelle I did like this one! I felt it was a little different structurally, with a concentration more on a female main character than Christie‘s previous mysteries. Hopefully I‘m remembering the right story - I listened to a bunch of her books back to back, so the storylines are kinda meshing together! 😂 4y
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Lizpixie This is one of my top ten Dame Agatha stories. The fact it‘s so female centric with Poirot and the other male characters as kinda set dressing is highly unusual for both Christie and the time period. 4y
Laughterhp @Lizpixie I can see why. I really liked this book too. I realized I really like train mysteries. It also didn‘t have Hastings in it. 😊 4y
TheAromaofBooks @Librarybelle - I feel you - I just read Death in the Air yesterday for the #ReadYourSign challenge and I'm having trouble remember this one instead! 😂 4y
TheAromaofBooks I did overall enjoy this one. I felt like Poirot was delightfully pompous! I don't always enjoy the mysteries where Poirot isn't there in the beginning, but it seemed to work in this one, although unlike @Laughterhp I rather like Hastings so I missed him! 😂 @Lizpixie @Librarybelle 4y
ferskner I like this one too! It's not my favorite, but a locked room mystery is always a good thing in my book. I also liked the female-centered mystery: it felt tied to his thrillers which usually have a clever young woman at their heart. Lol I'm also a Hastings fan and I missed him! I was raised on the show and he's great there. @Librarybelle @Lizpixie @Laughterhp @TheAromaofBooks 4y
48 likes8 comments
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JenlovesJT47
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Pickpick

I like the fact that not all of Dame Agatha‘s books are exactly the same. This one follows a slightly different format (no Hastings!) and is a compelling mystery. With AC I try not to guess too much and just enjoy the ride. I enjoyed this and now have a hankering to watch Murder on the Orient Express, since I won‘t be able to stop thinking about trains for the next few days. 4⭐️

#AgathaChristie

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Laughterhp
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Almost forgot to do by #BookReport - Finished 3 books this past week. And have 2 in progress. I might bail on Truth or Beard, I thought I was in the mood for a contemporary romance but I don‘t think so. I have 5 hours left on the audio. 🤷🏻‍♀️

#WeeklyForecast - Not 100% sure what I‘ll read, but I‘m thinking I‘ll start Chilling Effect and a mystery.

Cinfhen I listened to the audio for Lock Every Door ~ it was really good!!! 4y
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hes7
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Pickpick

#24b4Monday Book 5 ✔️

Time: 13h3m

I love a good train mystery. I can never keep up with Poirot, but it‘s fun to try. #agathachristieclubr2

Andrew65 You are doing so great. 👏👏👏🙌 4y
Linsy I enjoy the train ones too! Extra fun 💙 4y
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Laughterhp
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Pickpick

This was a quick read and a compelling mystery. Honestly, any Poirot mystery without Hastings is an A plus 🤣

I was definitely interested in this mystery and my opinion kept changing on who the killer was. I‘ve discovered I like train mysteries.

#AgathaChristieClubR2 #BookSpinBonanza - Book 7 Read

Linsy Poor Hastings! Christie really gives him a poor shake. 4y
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TheAromaofBooks
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Pickpick

My 6th #BookSpinBonanza book was a Christie I am sure I have read before but didn't really remember. While this wasn't especially brilliant, Poirot is at his most pompous and made me laugh on more than one occasion.

“It is true that I have the habit of always being right - but I do not boast of it.“ 😂

Laughterhp I just started this one last night! 4y
TheAromaofBooks @Laughterhp - it wasn't my favorite, but it still had its moments! 4y
BookishMe ❤️❤️ I just got to know about Google Podcasts with her books narrated! So excited to relive listening to familiar titles and ticking off the unread ones ;D 4y
TheAromaofBooks @BookishMe - Oh, that sounds fun!! 4y
84 likes4 comments
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janeycanuck
Mystery of the Blue Train | Agatha Christie
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Pickpick

I was probably a little too delighted with the references to the Negresco through out this Poirot mystery. We stayed at the Negresco in Nice in 2017, having literally the most expensive cocktails of our lives there (we expected cocktails at the casino in Monte Carlo to be more but nope!) And somehow, I had the villain in this one pegged really early. Felt so obvious after the Big Four!

Book 9 for #bookspinbonanza

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! This one is in my Bonanza stack, too! 4y
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NeedsMoreBooks
Mystery of the Blue Train | Agatha Christie
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Pickpick

#agathachristeclubr2
Enjoyed this Hercule Poirot mystery where a murder on the Blue Train involves rubies, robberies, hidden identities, and an unexpected finale. I enjoy Christie‘s novels and Poirot is the best.

ferskner Ooooooo you're done so quickly! Good job! 5y
NeedsMoreBooks @ferskner thanks! It‘s hard to resist a good mystery 😁☺️ 4y
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Lizpixie
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Pickpick

Bk3 of May is done! This months pick for the #AgathaChristieClubR2 it was a welcome trip back to the world of Dame Agatha. With an American heiress,jewel thieves,a reserved Englishwoman & Hercule Poirot swanning around in a beautiful train on the way to the Riviera, what could possibly go wrong? Plenty of course. Loved it. #ReadingEurope2020 #France #MysteryBookBingo #CozyMystery #MayBookBingo #BeginsWithM #PageAThon #267pgs #StartOnYourShelfAThon

charl08 Nice cover! ❤ 5y
Librarybelle I also love this cover! 5y
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batsy These editions are stunning! 5y
BarbaraBB 😍 5y
Linsy I loved this one as well! So fun 💙💙💙 (edited) 4y
66 likes6 comments
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Lizpixie
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Just because I‘m supposed to be helping my son move into his new house today, doesn‘t mean I can‘t bring a book to read does it? This kitchen is wasted on this lot, how‘s about a house swap. Guys. Guys?? #AgathaChristieClubR2 #isolationinteractions #youremovingagain?

BookishMe Such a pretty cover! 5y
60 likes1 comment
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Lizpixie
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Wasn‘t really feeling my #doublespin book tonight so I‘m switching to this months #AgathaChristieClubR2 pick. I‘m loving these special edition hardcovers, I believe Death On The Nile is the next to be released🙌

erzascarletbookgasm That‘s a lovely cover! 5y
JamieArc Beautiful! What publisher is doing these editions? 5y
JaclynW Really cool cover! 5y
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JazzFeathers It's a fantastic edition. 5y
Lizpixie @JamieArc Harper Collins is. There‘s about 7 so far with more coming later in the year. @erzascarletbookgasm @JaclynW @JazzFeathers I love them all, they‘re very Art Deco. 5y
JamieArc @Lizpixie Thanks! I may have to treat myself 😊 5y
Loreen That cover! ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
Jaimelire Great book, gorgeous cover. 5y
TheAromaofBooks Wow that is fabulous! 5y
slategreyskies Wow, that is a great cover!! :) 5y
JaclynW @Lizpixie I may have to get me one. Or two.😊 5y
Linsy So so pretty!!!!! ✨ 4y
62 likes12 comments
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ferskner
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Our book for #agathachristieclubR2 for May is The Mystery of the Blue Train. We hope you'll join in the discussion!

NeedsMoreBooks Finally got my copy! 5y
50 likes1 comment
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Scochrane26
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Pickpick

I put this one on hold thinking it would be a few weeks, but it came in fast. This one had me guessing the whole time, & I couldn‘t figure out if the MC was good or bad. Has some similarities to Orient Express since the murder takes place on a train. A fast read.

32 likes1 stack add
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BooksAndTea97
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I fell asleep last night before I posted it.
So here is my final time for the readathon.
I'm really happy with it, I managed to complete three books and I have made a huge progress on A Name in the Dark.
#24b4monday

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alisiakae
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Happy with my progress for #FancifulFebruary! I have one bingo, and will get two more when I finish with my current #romantsy read.

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alisiakae
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Mehso-so

I seem to be in the thick of the mediocre books, written after the death of Christie‘s first husband. Better than The Big Four, but that‘s not saying much.

I will give her credit, I was convinced I knew all the twists, and I was completely wrong on all accounts. 🤣

It was fun to see the Miss Marple‘s village, St Mary Mead, mentioned for the first time.

#mandmchallenge2020 #faraway (France)
#pop20 #setinthe20s

Scochrane26 I haven‘t read that many of hers yet, but I definitely like some better than others. 5y
alisiakae @Scochrane26 Since I'm reading them in publication order, I'm definitely learning that some of her earlier books were....rough. I'm almost up to the first Miss Marple, who has always been my favorite! 5y
Scochrane26 @4thhouseontheleft I‘ve read them in series order mostly, but I‘m not very far along. So far, I like Miss Marple the best. I‘m thinking I should read one a month or I‘ll never read them all. 5y
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alisiakae @Scochrane26 I forgot to mention in this review (so just went back and added it), that Miss Marple‘s village is mentioned for the first time in this book. So that was fun! 5y
BiblioLitten I almost picked it up a few years back when I was travelling in a blue coloured train😄 5y
Weaponxgirl I have never read any Agatha Christie shockingly enough but I am watching poirot as we speak 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Nice — sorry for the mediocre streak. Hopefully you‘re out of it by now! 5y
93 likes7 comments