The Mystery of the Blue Train: A Hercule Poirot Mystery (Hercule Poirot Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Agatha Christie (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hercule Poirot Mysteries | Publication Date: March 30, 2007

Bound for the Riviera, detective Hercule Poirot has boarded Le Train Bleu, an elegant, leisurely means of travel, free of intrigue. Then he meets Ruth Kettering. The American heiress—bailing out of a doomed marriage—is en route to reconcile with her former lover. But by morning, her private affairs are made public when she is found murdered in her luxury compartment. The rumour of a strange man loitering in the victim's shadow is all Poirot has to go on. Until Mrs. Kettering's secret life begins to unfold...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Empress of the crime novel." Sunday Express --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Agatha Christie was born in 1890 and created the detective Hercule Poirot in her debut novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920). She achieved wide popularity with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926) and produced a total of eighty novels and short-story collections over six decades. Twenty-four of Christie's best whodunits are now available from Black Dog & Leventhal as part of their bestselling hardcover Agatha Christie Collection.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers (March 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579126952
• ISBN-13: 978-1579126957
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #284,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great atmosphere and well drawn characters, August 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Mystery of the Blue Train (Hercule Poirot) (Mass Market Paperback)

I first read this book at the age of 13 and loved the story. I was also struck by the great atmosphere of England and the French Riviera created by Christie. I found the characters of Katherine and Derek sympathetic and believeable and that of Lenox, very sad. I also liked the way Poirot is able to bring them together while simulataneously pursuing the killer. My only complaint was that I felt the actual mystery was less complex than some of Christie's other works (like "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd"). However, the overall story was so enjoyable that I don't think anyone would care. Definitely one of my sentimental favorites for its happy ending and the way it leaves you with a feeling of optimism at the end.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christie Is On Track With Excellent Tale of Murder/Robbery, April 21, 2001

By 

Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mystery of the Blue Train (Hercule Poirot) (Mass Market Paperback)

In his sixth adventure, Hercule Poirot is on board the famous Blue Train from Calais to Nice. He encounters four different people and groups of people who are all after the Heart of Fire, a spectacular ruby purchased by American tycoon Rufus Van Aldin and presented to his daughter Ruth. Ruth is unhappily married to British aristocrat Derek Kettering, a richly layered character about whom the reader is still trying to decide if he is hero or villain up to the final chapter. This novel is filled with exciting characters: Mirelle, the exotic dancer with a passion for Derek; Armand de la Roche, the attractive but notorious swindler; and most refreshing of all is Katherine Grey, one of Mrs. Christie's best heroines.

When Ruth Van Aldin Kettering is found murdered on the Blue Train en route to her annual winter trip to the French Riviera, it is up to Hercule Poirot to discover if she was murdered because the famous jewel was in her possession or was she murdered by her husband or his mistress or was there yet another sinister motive.

This excellent tours de force is a landmark book for Christie fans because from this point until sometime in the late 60's every novel she published was brilliantly plotted and never failed to challenge the mystery reader.

Agatha Christie was known for experimenting with plots in short stories before developing them more fully in novels. The Mystery of the Blue Train is a prime example of this, so you might wish to go back and read her earlier short story "The Mystery of the Plymouth Express" if you enjoyed this one.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really Good and of course---surprising, October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mystery of the Blue Train: BBC (BBC Radio Presents) (Audio Cassette)

Okay now I'm only 13, but I have to say that I love Agatha Christie's books. This one, was very very good. It was interesting throughout the whole book, and the end was very surprising, you'll never guess it. It was a pretty easy read, but it is still a must read, and I really recommend it to anyone.