Her father, Rufus van Aldin, gifts her a fabulous ruby The Heart of Fire. The Verdict: This dull mystery plot has never really sparked any excitement in me. William Morrow Paperbacks. Read more He reveals that the murderer and Mason's accomplice is Knighton, who is really "The Marquis". At the end of the film, the murderer commits suicide, instead of just being arrested by the French police as in the novel. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is a personal blog. It turns out she will end up far more involved than she could have imagined. THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN Agatha Christie Chapter 1 THE MAN WITH THE WHITE HAIR It was close on midnight when a man crossed the Place de la Concorde. Addeddate The book also features the first appearance of Poirot's valet, George. This dedication is a direct reference to the events of 1926 which included the death of Christie's mother on 5 April,[15] the breakdown of her marriage to Archibald Christie, and her famous ten-day disappearance in December that year. He asks Van Aldin and Knighton to come with him on the Blue Train to recreate the murder. A great source for books reviewed here. 3] Compartment number 7! The blurb of the first edition (which is carried on both the back of the jacket and opposite the title page) reads: Since the beginning of history, jewels have exercised a baneful spell. Poirot investigates the brutal murder of an American heiress and the theft of a fabulous ruby on the Blue Train between Calais and Nice.Poirot investigates the brutal murder of an American heiress and the theft of a fabulous ruby on the Blue Train between Calais and Nice.Poirot investigates the brutal murder of an American heiress and the theft of a fabulous ruby on the Blue Train between Calais and Nice. Van Aldin tries to buy Derek off, which he refuses, even though he faces mounting debts with no income besides Ruths. This novel features (as the home of the heroine, Katherine Grey) the first mention in a novel of the fictional village of St Mary Mead, which had originally appeared in "The Tuesday Night Club" published in December 1927, which was the first short story to feature Christie's other famous detective Miss Marple. See production, box office & company info, Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express, Nene Valley Railway, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England, UK. Still the good news for me is that I have nothing but fond memories of our next Poirot story Peril at End House. @Zoya I must have read Elephants can remember at school I remember a phase in 9th and 10th grade where I devoured every Poirot novel in the library. This was preceded by a lesser-known train mystery, The Mystery of the Blue Train, published six years earlier. After recounting the set-up of the story the reviewer concluded: "The reader will not be disappointed when the distinguished Belgian on psychological grounds declines to suspect the arrested husband and, by acting on the suggestion of an ugly girl who consistently derides her preposterous mother, builds up inferences almost out of the air, supports them by a masterly array of negative evidence and lands his fish to the surprise of everyone". Yet Hercule Poirot is not convinced, so he stages an eerie reenactment of the journey, complete with the murderer on board. The Mystery of the Blue Train is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie and first published in the UK by William Collins & Sons on March 29, 1928 and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year . Its got this element of humor I cant seem to shake off. The story follows the wealthy American heiress Ruth Kettering as she travels on the. Because the final story presented on the screen is far from Christie's worst - in fact, it is closer to her best. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. The book is the fifth of thirty-three full-length novels featuring her detective Hercule Poirot. He also says that the cigarette case with the "K" on it does not stand for Kettering, but Knighton. Appropriately for a Christie train-based story, its about the journey rather that the destination, at least for me. Moods. The entire first two chapters were omitted from the serialisation and it therefore contained only thirty-four chapters. This was the first of the adaptations of Poirot novels by BBC Radio. I think the latter and found her one of the most interesting of Christies characters, in her understated way. Sadly this time is no different. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie, BBC radio cast adapt, cassette version.agatha christie, bbc, radio, bbc radio, drama, bbc drama, murder,. Additionally, Ruth's lover is travelling on the train with her, and they are both fleeing her husband. But she will never wake again - for a heavy blow has . [13] It later had an effect on her in the midst of wartime when, nervous that at some future point she might be in need of funds and need a fallback, she wrote Sleeping Murder and locked it securely in a bank vault for future publication. . It wasnt one of her favorites and one she struggled to write. The critics did not agree with her. Let a good murder mystery come within his ken, and he just can't be kept out of it. Poirot finds himself dealing with several crimes at once. The novel concerns the murder of an American heiress on Le Train Bleu, the titular "Blue Train". One person who didn't was Charlotte Fisher (born c. 1901 died 1976), who had been employed by Christie in 1924 as both her own secretary and as a governess to her daughter Rosalind. currently reading . Katherine Grey is a single woman who has been an elder companion, whose service meant so much that she was left a sizable sum by the woman she cared for. Originally published in 1928Hercule Poirot #6Preceded by The Big FourFollowed by Black Coffee. Did you pick up Poirot Short Stories I think they are pretty brilliant!! Agatha Christie's Poirot Series 10: The Mystery of the Blue TrainFollow us on Facebook: https://fb.me/BritTVChannelBuy me a coffee here: https://www.buymeaco. Format: Paperback. chief among the latter group, Christie put Charlotte Fisher for her steadfast support. Purists will probably be angry at this, but it's my guess (never having read the book, mind you) that most of the changes must have been improvements. Derek did go into the compartment to talk to Ruth once he saw she was on the train, but he left when he saw she was asleep. Ruth's father, the American millionaire Rufus Van Aldin, and his secretary, Major Knighton, convince Poirot to take on the case. One other detail troubles Poirot. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. - Blaise Pascal, IFES Secretary for Dialogue and Social Engagement, "For we are God's workmanship . The events of 1926 with the death of her mother and her husband's infidelity had left a deep psychological scar on Christie. - Carlotta and Peter" also references this difficult time. (Unpaid endorsement), "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Peter's devotion to Christie at this time was never forgotten by her and she returned that affection, writing to her second husband, Max Mallowan, in 1930 that "You've never been through a really bad time with nothing but a dog to hold on to. She has just inherited a lot of money and is about to travel to visit relations in the South of France, but is nervous. While Poirot still has things to do, the closed circle nature of this crime feels all the more evident and I do feel there are chapters in the middle of the book that seem to drag as though the investigation is being stretched out. But I thought it contained some interesting plot twists and a surprise ending that I wasnt looking for. Essays, poetry, meditations, and book reviews by Jeremy Vogan, Books | Reflections For the Good of the Church, Explorations in Biblical Theology from J. Richard Middleton. I had come to The Mystery of the Blue Train hoping that my feelings towards it might have changed with time or familiarity. It looks like we don't have any synopsis for this title yet. 2 . The entire first two chapters were omitted from the serialisation and it therefore contained only thirty-four chapters. She has decided that there are things to see and experience that are now possible. Language: English. [3] The book features her detective Hercule Poirot. In the end, Katherine expresses a desire to travel, saying that she intends to take the Orient Express from Vienna. Both her husband and her lover were on the train but she had changed rooms with another passenger, Katherine Grey, so the question naturally arises as to whether she was the intended victim. There were slight amendments to the text, either to make sense of the openings of an instalment (e.g. She asks Poirot if he has taken that train, and he says he has not. The Mystery of the Blue Train is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie, first published in the United Kingdom by William Collins & Sons on 29. The plot revolves around the murder of Ruth Kettering, daughter of American tycoon, Rufus Van Aldin. Am obsessed with the color blue and no where is it, One of my favorite fantasy series written in 21st, Have been here multiple times.but never gets ti, Drone shot on a quiet peaceful quiet day over Lake, 3 ..21 ..countdown to our trip to Peru . All opinions stated are my own and not those of my employer or school. Poirot investigates the brutal murder of an American heiress and the theft of a fabulous ruby on the Blue Train between Calais and Nice. The Mystery of the Blue Train: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | AUDIOBOOK Pro+Summary:When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, aguard attempts to wake serene. The novel features a Wagon Lit conductor called Pierre Michel which is the same name of another Wagon Lit conductor who appears in Murder on the Orient Express it is never revealed whether these two characters are one and the same or different. Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890 and became, quite simply, the best-selling novelist in history. The famous detective Hercule Poirot is also on the train, and graciously offers his services to the French Police to help with the case, which he ultimately does. Incredibly blue wate, Things have been crazy busy as school year comes t, We absolutely loved the food in #athens . changing "She then" to "Katherine then"), or omitting small sentences or words, especially in the opening instalment where several paragraphs were missed. I actually rather liked the idea of Katherine the former companion who was left a huge bequest by her last employer and who is now travelling. It seems likely, however, that Bernde was hoping to benefit from Poirot's popularity. There are several points at which Poirot asserts himself over his employer and in those moments I think make him appear rather heroic. It looks like you're offline. The Mystery of the Blue Train (Hercule Poirot #6), Agatha Christie. The television film includes several changes from the original novel. [14] Curtain was written at the same time and similarly locked away, but publication of this latter book would not be possible until the end of her writing career, as it recounts the death of Poirot. The Mystery of the Blue Train Hercule Poirot #6. The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6) and the US edition at $2.00. Everyone is convinced the case is solved, but Poirot is not sure. 1972, Greenway edition of collected works (William Collins), Hardcover, 286 pp. The famous ruby, "Heart of Fire", which had recently been given to Ruth by her father, is discovered to be missing. One person who didn't was Charlotte Fisher (born c. 1901 died 1976), who had been employed by Christie as both her own secretary and a governess to her daughter Rosalind in 1924. Also, if you have read enough of Agatha Christie, at least one of the following things will definitely be true. Could Derek have done that? Poirot, still in retirement and also travelling on board the train, is asked by her father to take on the case. But she will never wake again--for a heavy blow has killed her, disfiguring her features almost beyond recognition. Your statement on Poirot confused me a bitare you saying hes not modest at all? changing "She then" to "Katherine then"), or omitting small sentences or words, especially in the opening instalment where several paragraphs were omitted. Marvel drops Loki through time to avoid the madness of the multiverse, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier bring the action back to the MCU, Wandavision - Marvel's REAL first TV show starts today on Disney+. Robert C Trube and Bob on Books, 2013-2023. [citation needed]. Katherine saw what she thought was a boy getting off the train, but it was really Mason. Then he meets Ruth Kettering. Three chapters were given different names: chapter nine (eleven in the book) was called Something Good instead of Murder, chapter twenty-six (twenty-eight in the book) was called Poirot hedges instead of Poirot plays the Squirrel and chapter twenty-eight (chapter thirty in the book) was called Katherine's letters instead of Miss Viner gives judgement. There's nothing like reading Hercule Poirot investigate. On board the train Grey meets Ruth Kettering, an American heiress leaving her unhappy marriage to meet her lover. The biggest other issues I have with the book though veer far more into the spoilery territory of discussing the villain or villains of the piece. The blurb of the first edition (which is carried on both the back of the jacket and opposite the title page) reads:"Since the beginning of history, jewels have exercised a baneful spell. The premise is simple: Mrs. Kettering, an heiress, is murdered for priceless rubies as she travels on a train to meet her lover in France. If you don't want to get spoiled about a good mystery novel 'the mystery of the blue train' that is, don't read the short story the playmouth express. A little man wi th a face like a rat. Part of that is that I really just dont dig that production but it also reflects that this plot is, for me, a bit of a snooze. Whose hand was it that struck her down? Further suspicion is thrown on Derek when a cigarette case with the letter "K" is found there. (LogOut/ Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, written towards the end of the First World War, introduced us to Hercule Poirot, who was to become the most popular detective in crime fiction since Sherlock Holmes. In spite of the handsome fur coat which garbed his meagre form, there was something essentially weak and paltry about him. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Robert C Trube and Bob on Books with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Timing of the murder will be extremely crucial to solving the case. The dedication "To the two distinguished members of the O.F.D. [3] The book features her detective Hercule Poirot. Ruth's maid, Ada Mason, says she saw a man in Ruth's compartment but could not see who he was. Your email address will not be published. The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6) and the US edition at $2.00. Rufus, Ruth's father, has a wife in the film, who became insane after the birth of Ruth, and Rufus has ensured her (his wife's) safekeeping at a convent, where she has become a nun. This is the only major work by Agatha Christie in which the UK first edition carries no copyright or publication date. Unfortunately here I rather run out of good things to say about a book that shares some of my least favorite traits of the thrillers she was writing in this decade. Lady Tamplin, Corky and her daughter Lennox also travel on the blue train. But she will never wake again - for a heavy blow has killed her, disfiguring her features almost beyond recognition. Just before departing for a trip to the Riviera on the Blue Train, a luxury, overnight train through France, she agrees to her fathers counsel to divorce her philandering husband, Derek Kettering, whose most recent bit of stuff is an opportunistic dancer, Mirelle. "[18] Peter was also the subject of the dedication of Dumb Witness (on the dustjacket of which he is pictured), published in 1937, one year before his death. Let a good murder mystery come within his ken, and he just can't be kept out of it. [17] When the events of 1926 were starting to recede, Christie states that she "had to take stock of my friends". Katherine : I'm so sorry I kept you waiting. The book also features the first appearance of Poirot's valet, George. Add These Cute Planters To Your Bookshelf! Christie's dedication in the book reads: "To the two distinguished members of the O.F.D. Ruth becomes friends with Katherine Grey. This blog is strictly for non-commercial purposes. Can you list the top facts and stats about The Mystery of the Blue Train? When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering from her slumbers. The story itself, even though derived from the 1923 Poirot short story The Plymouth Express, did not come easily to her and she referred to this novel in her autobiography stating that she "always hated it". The writing of this book (part of which took place on the Canary Islands in early 1927)was an ordeal for Christie. - Philippians 4:8, thoughts of a preacher, minister, and aspiring theologian. 1973, Greenway edition of collected works (Dodd Mead), Hardcover, 286 pp, 1974, Dodd, Mead and Company (As part of the, 2007, Poirot Facsimile Edition (Facsimile of 1928 UK First Edition), HarperCollins, 5 March 2007, Hardback, This page was last edited on 28 March 2023, at 23:20. When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, aguard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering fromher slumbers. O.F.D. It also features the first appearance of the minor recurring character, Mr Goby, who would later appear in After the Funeral and Third Girl. Another example would be Triangle at Rhodes - Evil under the Sun, or the whole book The Big Four is just a . When she takes Le Train Bleu to Nice, she is not alone. Agatha Christie's most well-known train mystery is Murder on the Orient Express (1934). Summary: A rich heiress carrying a rare ruby is murdered on the fashionable overnight train to the French Riviera on which retired detective Hercule Poirot happens to be riding. She has just inherited a lot of money and is about to travel to visit relations in the South of France, but is nervous. Poirot offers to go with her on the Blue Train. I particularly enjoyed the women Katherine cared for. to read read. The better known St. Mary Mead which is associated with Miss Marple is always described as being west of London. In the film, Ruth's lover is traveling on the train with her, and they are both fleeing her husband. Dust-jacket illustration of the first UK edition. Crime Drama Mystery Poirot investigates the brutal murder of an American heiress and the theft of a fabulous ruby on the Blue Train between Calais and Nice. Howdy! Mere months after this novel was published, prolific French novelist Arthur Bernde published Le mystre du train bleu[6] in late 1928. Were the jewels the motive for the murder, or were they only taken as a blind? There were slight amendments to the text, either to make sense of the openings of an instalment (e.g. These were events which disturbed her for the remainder of her life[16] and Christie learned that people she expected to be allies in her time of need turned away from her. There's amusing lines, complex mysteries and interesting characters - even if they're not always likeable. The book features her detective Hercule Poirot. I went through a couple of books after this and realized how true it is. So does Katherine Grey, who is having her first winter out of England, after recently receiving a relatively large inheritance. Eventually, the avaricious Mirelle, who was on the train with Derek -- with whom she had been having an affair but, now spurned, is seeking revenge against him -- tells Poirot she saw Derek leave Ruth's compartment around the time the murder would have taken place. Several people would have wanted her dead. The novel's plot is based on the 1923 Poirot short story "The Plymouth Express" (later collected in book form in the US in 1951 in The Under Dog and Other Stories and in the UK in 1974 in Poirot's Early Cases). Katherine is saved by Lenox jumping on Mason and biting her on the neck. etina (cs) . Derek did go into the compartment to talk to Ruth once he saw she was on the train, but he left when he saw she was asleep. Community Reviews Summary of 4,288 reviews. The New York Times Book Review of 12 August 1928 said, "Nominally Poirot has retired, but retirement means no more to him than it does to a prima donna. Her new milieu includes millionaire Ruth Kettering, Ruth's estranged . Publisher: . 383 pages first pub 1928 ISBN/UID: 9780007120765. Having read Chriss complete works, even her nonfiction, The Mystery of the Blue Train is one of my favorites. The book features her detective Hercule Poirot. She uses very nearly those words to a chance acquaintance on the Blue Train - a little man with an egg-shaped head and fierce moustaches whose answer is curious and unexpected. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 3 Chapter 1 The Man with the White Hair It was close on midnight when a man crossed the Place de la Concorde. Poirot boards Le Train Bleu, bound for the French Riviera. The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6)and the US edition at $2.00. mysterious 97% adventurous 46% tense 16% lighthearted 12% dark 7% Moods. After traveling on the Blue Train from Calais to Nice, Hercule Poirot is pressed into service to help solve the murder of heiress Ruth Kettering who is found savagely beaten in her compartment. Ruth becomes friends with Katherine Grey. Unfortunately for the murderer, Hercule Poirot was also aboard Le Train Bleu. Bound for the Riviera, detective Hercule Poirot has boarded Le Train Bleu, an elegant, leisurely means of travel, free of intrigue. He agrees to take on the case, comparing himself to a retired doctor who has stumbled upon someone needing medical treatment. In the brief making-of feature included with the DVD of this episode, the screenwriter points out that Agatha Christie considered this one of her weakest novels, and that they had taken quite a few liberties in its adaptation. It makes for an appealing backstory but I really do not love the way she is provided with a really unconvincing romance. We earn a small commission on purchases made through any Amazon affiliate links on this page. In the novel, Lady Tamplin's fourth husband has nothing to do with the ruby. What is more, her precious rubies are missing. She was the daughter of wealthy industrialist Rufus Van Alden and very much wanted a divorce. As I mentioned, I wasnt expecting the ending, which made this all the more fun. Heiress Ruth Kettering, daughter of American billionaire Rufus Van Aldin, is married to what her father believes to be a scoundrel, and has a lover that her husband believes to be another scoundrel. The international setting makes for a good varied read, but there is a plethora of sixth-form schoolgirl French and some deleterious influences from the thrillers. The book is a classic example of Christie's skill at crafting complex and intricate plotlines, filled with unexpected twists and turns.In conclusion, \"The Mystery of the Blue Train\" is an engaging and entertaining detective novel that will appeal to fans of the genre and those new to Agatha Christie's work. Accept Read More, The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie. Pingback: The Month in Reviews: July 2022 | Bob on Books. Agatha Christie's beloved detective Hercule Poirot solves the murder of an American heiress by restaging her final journey by night trainwith all of the suspects aboard. Katherine saw what she thought was a boy getting off the train, but it was really Mason.
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