Introduction: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Murder on the Orient Express: A Hercule Poirot Mystery (Hercule Poirot Mysteries)
by Agatha Christie is a book that I have been wanting to read for a while now, and I just got around to reading it. I love mysteries because the well-written ones enable you to hone your problem solving skills, as you use the clues to figure out who committed the crime. Oftentimes, as with life, you do not have all the information, then you have to make assumptions. Additionally, all information is not created equal, so how much weight do you place on each clue, and which ones are red herrings, that you need to toss aside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdPKxNnKJGE
The Story: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Murder on the Orient Express is a Hercule Poirot Mystery, and I have said before when I reviewed The Murder of Roger Ackroyd: A Hercule Poirot Mystery (Hercule Poirot Mysteries)
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“After I finished reading the book, I realized that the end made perfect sense and the clues were right there, but I didn’t ask enough questions and I let my feelings get in the way of good judgement. The private detective Hercule Poirot’s personality drove me nuts, and he reminded me of Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo, who I didn’t like as well. This dislike of Hercule Poirot prevented me from closely looking at the clues and evidence. There were a few times when I raised my brows while reading, but I let it go because the information appeared insignificant.”
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While reading Murder on the Orient Express, I found myself reacting the same way I did while reading The Murder of Rodger Ackroyd. I caught myself, which is a good thing, but the end wasn’t quite as I expected, and my ability to foreshadow, was a bit off. I placed too much emphasis on some of the clues, which were red herrings that took me down the wrong path. This is an excellent exercise because it teaches us that we should never take things at face value, and judge what we hear and see, but alas, this is easier said than done.
Hercule Poirot gets called back to London, so he takes the Simplon Orient Express. For the time of year, it’s surprising the number of people who are on the train. While on the train, someone murders Samuels Edward Ratchett. Before his untimely death, the victim asked Poirot to work for him because someone wants to kill him. Although Ratchett looks cultured, his eyes give away the evil that lurks within, so the detective turns him down. Monsieur Bouc, a director of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons Lit, and a friend of Poirot, appoints him to solve the case. Because of heavy snowfall, the train is stuck for an undetermined period of time, so no passengers are able to get on or off.
Bouc says of his friend Poirot,
“But have I not heard you say often that to solve case a man has only to lie back in his chair and think? Do that. Interview the passengers on the train, view the body, examine what clues there are and then—well, I have faith in you! I am assured that it is no idle boast of yours. Lie back and think—use (as I have heard you say often) the little grey cells of the mind—and you will know!”
After examining the body, Dr Constantine finds something odd – the force of the 12 stab wounds are not equal, indicating that a man and a woman committed the crime, one of which is left-handed. The doctor estimates that Ratchett died before 2:00 am, and when he examines the body again in Poirot’s presence they find a stopped watch, in the victim’s pocket, which suggests that he died at 1:45 an. Through ingenuity, the detective figures out that Ratchett is an alias for Cassetti, who kidnapped and killed a little girl, Daisy Armstrong, before he and his gang received the ransom. Ratchett changed his name and left the United States. Daisy’s death impacts her mother, father and nanny. After finding the clue, Poirot deduces that it is a revenge killing, so the murderer is related to the Armstrongs.
The detective requests passenger tickets and passports. He interviews the 12 passengers and records his notes and thoughts after each interview. After the interviews, Poirot reviews his notes, constructs a timeline for when events occur, and is left with more questions than answers. Some of the information makes no sense to Poirot. For instance, the maid says she saw a conductor, but it isn’t any of the three that are working on the train. Her description of the fourth conductor matches the description of the man Racthett claims was after him. The only person who discloses that she knew the Armstrong is Princess Dragomiroff.
Even when Poirot interviews the passengers again, and searches their luggage, it is still not clear to him who committed the crime. He remembers a comment M. Bouc made earlier that it is very unusual for people from so many different economic and social classes to be traveling together, and the wheels start to turn, allowing him to eventually figure things out, interpreting the information and solving the case. If you look at the clues carefully, you will be able to solve the case yourself. I missed a couple of the clues myself.
Conclusion: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Murder on the Orient Express: A Hercule Poirot Mystery 
Agatha Christie's Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express
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Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie is an excellent book to help you to hone your problem solving skills. A big lesson from this book, is to listen to what others tell you, but do not let it unduly influence your thought processes, then place the evidence into perspective.
Agatha Christie Books
And Then There Were NoneThe Early Classics of Agatha ChristieAgatha Christie's Sparkling CyanideThe Secret AdversaryThe Murder of Roger Ackroyd: A Hercule Poirot MysteryThe Mysterious Affair at Styles (Classical Book)Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short StoriesHercule Poirot Complete Collection: Miss Marple MysteriesThe A. B. C. Murders: A Hercule Poirot MysteryMiss Marple: The Complete Short StoriesAgatha Christie's Seven Dials MysteryDeath on the Nile: A Hercule Poirot Mystery (Hercule Poirot Mysteries)The Secret AdversaryThe Agatha Christie Hour: Complete CollectionHercule Poirot's Christmas (Hercule Poirot Mystery)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eBxHWga31s
