herculespoirot

The Mystery of the Blue Train (Poirot) | Agatha Christie

so-so

@Librarybelle First published in 1928. BLUE TRAIN offers readers the classic ingredients of a Christie mystery—an exotic setting, a glamorous cast of characters, and a puzzling murder—but it‘s one of her more uneven works, which is why I'm a month late finishing it with the #ChristiesCapers group. The plot takes a while to build momentum. Much of the first third is setup, and the murder itself occurs relatively late. ⬇️

dabbe The investigation that follows can also feel disjointed at times. Christie reportedly wrote THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN during a personally difficult period following her mother‘s death and her own divorce. She later expressed dissatisfaction with the book, though it contains the seeds of themes and techniques she would refine in later novels. Heard of The Orient Express, anyone? 1mo

Librarybelle I‘m glad the techniques were refined by the time she wrote about the Orient Express. 1mo

dabbe @Librarybelle I love that we're reading these in progression; you can really see her playing around with the form, then making it her own and putting her own spin on it. 1mo

66 likes3 comments

MariaW

Der blaue Express: Ein Fall f�r Poirot | Agatha Christie

As a German English teacher I really like reading Agatha Christie. It definitely expands my vocabulary. 💪💪💪

BookNAround Interesting that Christie used it. It always makes me think of Maria in The Sound of Music when the nuns are singing about her “a flibbertigibbet, a will o‘ the whisp, a clown.” (edited) 1mo

Clare-Dragonfly @BookNAround Same!!! (Many a thing you know you‘d like to tell her, many a thing she ought to understand…) (edited) 1mo

49 likes2 comments

kelli7990

The Mystery of the Blue Train (Poirot) | Agatha Christie

pick

Here‘s my review for this book I just finished for the #christiescapers buddy read. This was the September short story. I can start this month‘s short story for the buddy read since I‘m caught up now.

20 likes

Sparklemn

Mystery of the Blue Train | Agatha Christie

so-so

I joined #ChristiesCapers for this month‘s read. The male characters (except for the rich American and Poirot) all seemed too alike for me. The women were more memorable. And the rubies…😍 The mystery was ok, I guess, with hints of romance. Hoping for better with the October book!

Should add that I really enjoyed the group discussion!

Librarybelle Yay! So glad you could join us! 2mo

43 likes1 comment

kelli7990

The Mystery of the Blue Train (Poirot) | Agatha Christie

This is the September short story for the #christiescapers buddy read. I‘m not finished with it yet but I‘ll finish in October.

16 likes

MariaW

Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World | Mark Aldridge

Some background reading: Aldeidge mentions that The Big Four was thrown together shortly after Christie‘s breakdown while she wasn‘t able to write another novel. No wonder it ended up like this.

dabbe 🎯🤣🎯 2mo

AnnCrystal 👏🏼😉📚💝. 2mo

54 likes2 comments

suvata

The Mystery of the Blue Train: Hercule Poirot Investigates | Agatha Christie

pick

Reading 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.

Librarybelle Yay!! 2mo

37 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

The Mystery of the Blue Train (Poirot) | Agatha Christie

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, AnishaInkspill

kspenmoll Thank you for doing this with all you have on your plate. How is your dad? 💕 2mo

Librarybelle @kspenmoll He‘s doing very well. I visited my parents yesterday, and he said that he‘s still finding he cannot quite think of the right word to say at times but has seen an improvement. He‘s waiting for his cardiologist to get back to him to set up tests; they still don‘t know where the clot came from that caused the stroke, but they‘re pretty positive it was not from the brain. Thanks for asking! 2mo

thebacklistbook So glad to hear he is doing better! (edited) 2mo

See All 7 Comments

ferskner I think I missed the news about your dad - I'm so sorry to hear all of this, but I'm so happy he's doing well!!! Sending you all my prayers, friend. ♥️ 2mo

robinb So sorry to hear about your dad but hopefully he‘ll continue to do well. Sending a big hug. 🤗 2mo

Librarybelle Thank you, @thebacklistbook @ferskner @robinb ! ❤️ 2mo

Cuilin Just catching up on all of Litsy news, so sorry to hear about your dad. Glad he‘s doing well. I read the Blue Train the first week in September so I‘m going to go find the questions now. 🤗 2mo

43 likes7 comments

Librarybelle

The Mystery of the Blue Train (Poirot) | Agatha Christie

This post contains spoilers

show me

4. 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

Aims42 I loved George!! I got a definite ‘Jeeves‘ vibe from him 🤗 2mo

kspenmoll George is perfect for Poirot & adds another relationship & dimension to Poirot.Katherine Grey was a wonderful character & addition to the book/plot. 2mo

OutsmartYourShelf Can't really remember any characters who really stood out (I read this in August) but according to my review I wasn't a fan of Katherine Grey. 2mo

willaful I would like to have seen Lenox get a happy ending, but I guess we just have to rely on Poirot's intuition. 😁

George is definitely fun and Jeeves-y, though of course Poirot would never need a Jeeves. (Hastings could use one!) The next book we read is even more Wodehousian, IIRC. 2mo

suvata Mirelle adds a layer of intrigue with her theatrical personality and questionable motives. 2mo

10 likes5 comments

Librarybelle

The Mystery of the Blue Train (Poirot) | Agatha Christie

This post contains spoilers

show me

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

Aims42 I liked the train setting! I worried it would be a copy/paste of Orient Express but this one stood on its own legs 🙌 I love a classic locked-room mystery so maybe that‘s why I liked it? (edited) 2mo

kspenmoll Since I love trains & train travel, the train setting is one I always enjoy! 2mo

OutsmartYourShelf I love mysteries set on trains & locked room mysteries so that was a point in its favour. I thought the plot wasn't as tightly written as other books. 2mo

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willaful I was surprised it was St. Mary Mead, I don't remember ever noticing that before! At first I thought, “no it's not!“ but then I remembered that at least a decade separates the stories. 2mo

Cuilin Oh, the train is almost the best part of the whole book. I love a train journey. And a mystery on a train even better!!! 2mo

Cuilin @Aims42 same I love a locked room mystery. I think they are my favorite!!! 2mo

suvata The train's isolation (a moving, enclosed space) amplifies suspense, as the murderer must be among the passengers, with no immediate escape. This mirrors Christie's knack for using travel settings (trains, boats, planes) to trap suspects and victims together, forcing secrets to surface. 2mo

Sparklemn I‘ve never read a Miss Marple! Looking forward to seeing more of St. Mary‘s Mead. (edited) 2mo

11 likes8 comments

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