Agatha Christie – The Mystery of the Blue Train, With Hercule Poirot
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Agatha Christie was a master of mystery whose plotting expertise is legendary. Inspector Poirot is one of her most famous characters, and he is at the heart of "The Mystery of the Blue Train," which Agatha Christie had published in 1928. Before coming out in book form, this novel was serialized; it ran in "The Star," a London paper, in 38 different installments. 
"The Mystery of the Blue Train" is a novel that is notable among Agatha Christie fans for including the first mention of St. Mary Mead, the village that would later gain prominence as the hometown of the spirited Miss Marple. Along with Poirot, Marple is the most famous of Agatha Christie’s detectives. Additionally, this mystery is the first to include Mr. Goby, a character who would go on to have a role in two later novels.
Captain Hastings, who is a major character in several previous Agatha Christie novels that feature Poirot, does not appear in this novel, which takes place about a decade after the first World War. The mystery indicates that Poirot himself is no longer an active detective but instead is in retirement, though his cleverness has not diminished with age. He also seems to have a way with the ladies in this novel.
In "The Mystery of the Blue Train," Hercule Poirot is on board the Blue Train, headed for the French Riviera, when American heiress Ruth Kettering dies mysteriously in her compartment, a victim of strangulation and, as Poirot soon discovers, theft. He takes on the case at the urging of Ruth’s father, Rufus Van Aldin, who is grieving not only the loss of his daughter but of the enormous ruby that he had given to her. By Van Aldin’s side is Major Knighton, who serves as his secretary.
Prime suspects in the case include Ruth’s lover, the Compte de la Roche, and her husband, Derek Kettering. Poirot’s sights are upon the latter, especially after a fellow Blue Train passenger, Mirelle, seems to implicate him. Strengthening his case is a piece of evidence bearing the letter "K" that is found during the investigation. However, further complications cast doubt upon this initial conclusion. It wouldn’t be an Agatha Christie novel without a few twists and turns!
One of the most interesting characters in "The Mystery of the Blue Train" is Katherine Grey, who befriends Ruth and later Poirot. Agatha Christie describes her eyes, the same grey as her last name, as "shining steadily out on the world with a kind of happy serenity nothing could shake." The detective considers this alluring woman an important witness as well as a good judge of character, and her input is crucial in unraveling all the facts behind what really happened to Ruth.
Agatha Christie adapted "The Mystery of the Blue Train" from the short story "The Plymouth Express," which was published five years earlier. The story eventually made its way onto television with a 2005 movie directed by Hettie Macdonald and starring David Suchet as Poirot. Other actors to portray the character include Ian Holm, Tony Randall, Alfred Molina, Peter Ustinov, John Moffatt and Albert Finney. Additionally, "The Mystery of the Blue Train" was turned into a graphic novel by Marc Piskic and released in 2007.
Poirot is the central character in 33 novels written by Agatha Christie; "The Mystery of the Blue Train" is one of the first, but he had already become well-established by that point. Poirot also was featured in 51 short stories before Agatha Christie’s death in 1976. This particular book came at a difficult time during Christie’s life, when she was overcome with grief over the death of her mother and her husband’s philandering. While Agatha Christie herself didn’t count it among her favorite books, critics have praised the intricate plotting of "The Mystery of the Blue Train" and held it up as an example of one of her finest works.
The mystery of the blue train must have been one of the masterpieces that Agatha Cristie has been proud of since it got me hooked once I have a few paragraphs from the summary.
I haven’t seen the movie version of this novel before but I’m sure that this is good since I have gotten its way on the big screen.
Hi Machida,
To be honest with you, I wasn’t really aware that there was a movie adaptation until I saw the above article. I’m always afraid that the movie portrayal will not bring out the true essence of the book. I wonder, though, if they movie is available online.
Some of the best movie comes from a novel like Harry Potter, Lord of the Ring, and the list goes on.
To be honest I would rather watched the movie adaptation then to read a novel since reading the novel takes the excitement away from me since I already know the plot of the story. I don’t like the idea of watching a movie where I already know the story.
Agatha Christie’s – “The Mystery of the blue train” is one of the best Novel releases of the recent time.I am sure the picturization is as good as the Novel. All the characters would connect with the common people through the big screen.Its an oppurtunity for the common crowd to understand the emotions involved. It would definetely be another stepping stone to success and an increase in the fan base for Agatha Christie.
I agree with you that this is an excellent novel. I really hate though when a novel of this magnitude is turned into a movie or tv show for that matter. I think it damages the book in a sense.
Not only that it is an opportunity for us to connect with the emotions of the people in the story but I think that we could learn something more about the life of those real people since the story is made from the old times.
This is a chance for young people like us to relive and know more about the life of our grandparents.
There are lot of people who actually cant spend time reading a Novel, However, they can manage to watch a movie as an act of relaxation.I think an Author would be very happy if the message has reached the audience. The mode is not a major concern as long as the content/message is delivered without any tampering.
I agree from an authors standpoint that their story is getting out there, but I feel that often the true essence of the story is lost. Often time the movie is created more out of the directors vision than the authors vision.
I totally agree with you, These days its very common. Directors would actually do anything to get their audience’s attention. I feel in this case its slightly different its an awesome movie with the actual story line. There has been no deviation what so ever till the end.
Well, maybe I’ll take the time to find this movie. It’s easier now than it was in the past with youtube, Netflix, and the other online movie sites. In the past it was a whole lot more difficult to find anything that wasn’t considered main stream.
Was just curious to know that it any one else read this Novel, Could you please advise us what the various things you enjoyed the most. Also, would appreciate if you can comment on the charaterisation and how you all enjoyed it you reached the last page…
It has been a long time since I have read a novel before. I think that it has been 10 years since I have read a novel, the last one that I have read has a title of “Woman”. I can’t remember the author of the story since it has been too long.