In spite of the handsome fur coat which garbed his meagre form, there was something essentially weak and paltry about him. - Carlotta and Peter" also references this difficult time. In the film, Ruth's lover is traveling on the train with her, and they are both fleeing her husband. The Mystery of the Blue Train Hercule Poirot #6. Why did Ruths murderer not only strangle her but also strike her face with a disfiguring blow. Were the jewels the motive for the murder, or were they only taken as a blind? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is a personal blog. Or could it be her lover who is famous for swindling women in high society? But she will never wake againfor a heavy blow has killed her, disfiguring her features almost beyond recognition. He is suspicious of Ruth's estranged husband, Derek Kettering, who was on the same train but claims not to have seen Ruth. changing "She then" to "Katherine then"), or omitting small sentences or words, especially in the opening instalment where several paragraphs were omitted. This is the only major work by Agatha Christie in which the UK first edition carries no copyright or publication date. [10] It was broadcast in six parts weekly, 29 December 1985 - 2 February 1986. However this village is in Kent. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie, 2015, HarperCollins Publishers, HARPER COLLINS edition, in English. Dust-jacket illustration of the first UK edition. Learn how your comment data is processed. [Agatha Christie; John Moffatt] -- When Miss Katherine Grey unexpectedly inherits a small fortune she books the famous Blue Train for a trip to the French Riviera. The events of 1926 with the death of her mother, her husband's infidelity and her breakdown and ten-day disappearance had left a deep psychological scar and now separated from Archie Christie and in need of funds she turned back to writing. [2][3] The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6)[4] and the US edition at $2.00. stood for Order of the Faithful Dogs and both Carlotta, hired by Christie as a secretary and Rosalind's governess, and Peter, Rosalind's much loved dog were in that camp as opposed to the Order of the Faithless Rats who had turned away from her. It makes for an appealing backstory but I really do not love the way she is provided with a really unconvincing romance. There's nothing like reading Hercule Poirot investigate. 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. I also quite like the way Poirot is brought into this story and the awkward relationship he forms with van Aldin. Publisher: Harper Collins. Van Aldin tries to buy Derek off, which he refuses, even though he faces mounting debts with no income besides Ruths. Murder and violence have followed in their wake. The final chapter, called By the Sea in the book, was unnamed in the serialisation. Lets start with the character of Katherine who serves as the replacement Hastings for this story. Katherine saw what she thought was a boy getting off the train, but it was really Mason. The book is the fifth of thirty-three full-length novels featuring her detective Hercule Poirot. Originally published in 1928Hercule Poirot #6Preceded by The Big FourFollowed by Black Coffee. When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering from her slumbers. So does Katherine Grey, who is having her first winter out of England, after recently receiving a relatively large inheritance. The series has strong story lines, good production and acting, and an unmistakable flavor of the pre-war years. So with the famous Heart of Fire ruby. An interesting fact about this book is that there are several references to St. Mary Mead (Jane Marples village), but there is no mention of Marple herself. 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. 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. She has just inherited a lot of money and is about to travel to visit relations in the South of France, but is nervous. Lets start with some positive comments about the book while I do not love the mystery, I think Christies writing continued to mature and the prose is pretty engaging. Language: English. [citation needed]. Required fields are marked *. The murder will happen IN or ON or AT the subject mentioned in the title (in this case the murder occurs ON the blue train). Get this from a library! Charlotte Fisher, together with her sister Mary, also received a second dedication in a book in And Then There Were None in 1939. #, Hong Kong Street Markets A Walking Tour, Exploring Punakha Valley in 2 days in Bhutan, Exploring Paro and hiking to Taktsang Monastery in, Walking Tour of South Mumbai: From Churchgate to, Medak Cathedral Asias Largest Diocese Church, Traveling Japan In Haikus With Matsuo Basho. Addeddate The tone for murder is set early. 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. See production, box office & company info, Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express, Nene Valley Railway, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England, UK. This was translated from the edition first published in France by Emmanuel Proust ditions in 2005 under the title of Le Train Bleu. Additional changes in the film include Ada Mason trying to kill Katherine (because Knighton had fallen in love with Katherine and Ada was jealous). Lady Tamplin, Corky and her daughter Lenox also travel on the blue train. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! There was a BBC radio adaptation starring Maurice Denham as Poirot. Ruth's maid, Ada Mason, says that she saw a man in Ruth's compartment but could not see who he was. The writing of this book (part of which took place on the Canary Islands in early 1927)was an ordeal for Christie. The Mystery of the Blue Train is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie and first published in the United Kingdom by William Collins & Sons on 29 March 1928 and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year. 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). 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. Poirot is dining alone in a London restaurant and strikes up a friendship with Katherine Grey. It wasnt one of her favorites and one she struggled to write. Agatha Christie. Some of the clues given struck me as rather unconvincing such as a dropped cigarette case which is discussed in depth yet seems to me to be far less clearly incriminating than the novel suggests. And after the arrival of Katherine and Poirot at the Tamplins' villa, Katherine is also attacked. Agatha Christie's Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot lives in London with Captain Hastings. The book features her detective Hercule Poirot. The police suspect that Ruth's lover, the Comte de la Roche, killed her and stole the rubies, but Poirot does not think he is guilty. The novel concerns the murder of an American heiress on Le Train Bleu, the titular "Blue Train". Poirot investigates and finds out that the murder and the jewel theft might not be connected, as the famous jewel thief The Marquis is connected to the crime. Or what about the French man who is interested in her jewels? There are several fruitier candidates for the title of 'worst Christie'."[9]. It seems likely, however, that Bernde was hoping to benefit from Poirot's popularity. 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. Let a good murder mystery come within his ken, and he just can't be kept out of it. The murderer would be the least suspected character, and if you were paying enough attention you could figure out how. 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. 10 travel hacks for road trips with kids! What is the French language plot outline for The Mystery of the Blue Train (2005)? They all board the Blue Train, Calais to Nice, with Poirot and his temporary protge, Katherine Grey, a commoner who has just inherited a fortune. Poirot realised that Mason was the only person claims to have seen anyone with Ruth in the compartment, so this could have been a lie. (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." A month or so ago I tweeted about how I have spent the past two decades of my life attempting to listen to the BBC Radio adaptation of this novel and never made it all the way through. It passes into the possession of the beautiful American woman, Ruth Kettering, and doom follows swift upon it. The novel was televised in 2005 as a special episode of the series Agatha Christie's Poirot, and was aired by ITV on December 11 starring David Suchet as Poirot, Roger Lloyd Pack as Inspector Caux, James D'Arcy as Derek Ketterling, Lindsay Duncan as Lady Tamplin, Alice Eve as Lennox and Elliott Gould as Rufus Van Aldin. But she will never wake again - for a heavy blow has killed her, disfiguring her features almost beyond recognition. I thought the ending was a bit rushed/compressed compared to the leisurely pace of the rest of the story. It passes into the possession of the beautiful American woman, Ruth Kettering, and doom follows swift upon it. As I mentioned, I wasnt expecting the ending, which made this all the more fun. It turns out she will end up far more involved than she could have imagined. [7], 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. He reveals that the murderer and Mason's accomplice is Knighton, who is really the ruthless "Marquis". She has just inherited a lot of money and is about to travel to visit relations in the South of France, but is nervous. He does more investigating and learns more information, talking to his friends and to Katherine, eventually coming to the truth. ." Poirot soon discovers that there are several suspects with possible motives for the crime, including Ruth's husband, her former lover, and a mysterious woman who seems to be following the train.As Poirot investigates, he uncovers a web of lies and deceit that stretches from America to Europe. The titular Blue Train appears again in Three Act Tragedy where Poirot boards the train with Sir Charles Cartwright to return to England. Let a good murder mystery come within his ken, and he just can't be kept out of it. @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. Christie's dedication in the book reads: "To the two distinguished members of the O.F.D. Actually one of the reasons I think I had no problem concentrating on the book was because her narration was sharp, clear and generally quite entertaining. In the book, Lady Tamplin's fourth husband is named "Chubby", and he has nothing to do with the ruby. There were slight amendments to the text, either to make sense of the openings of an instalment (e.g. This novel features the first description of a village named St. Mary Mead. 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". One of the characters in Death on the Nile recognises Poirot because of his involvement in The Mystery of the Blue Train: "Miss Van Schuyler said: ' I have only just realised who you are, Monsieur Poirot. Since Knighton was supposedly in Paris, no one would have suspected him. Publisher: . But she couldn't have been alone when she was brutally murdered and the ruby stolen, no matter what everyone says. The Mystery of the Blue Train was a . Were the jewels the motive for the murder, or were they only taken as a blind? 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 . At the end of the film, the murderer, Major Richard Knighton, commits suicide by having himself run over by an oncoming train, instead of just being arrested by the French police as in the novel. These were events which disturbed her for the remainder of her lifeand Christie learned that people she expected to be allies in her time of need turned away from her. She was the daughter of wealthy industrialist Rufus Van Alden and very much wanted a divorce. New characters were added to the film; at one point, one of the other passengers visits Rufus' wife, who mistakes the passenger for her daughter Ruth. Kindle Edition. 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 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. Her new milieu includes millionaire Ruth Kettering, Ruth's estranged . She is a avid reader and loves traveling around the Globe. Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian detective, is on the same train and is asked by Ruth's father to investigate the murder. chief among the latter group, Christie put Charlotte Fisher for her steadfast support. Maybe it was just a robber who knew that the gems were aboard. Katherine : I'm so sorry I kept you waiting. Language: English. When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, aguard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering fromher slumbers. But she will never wake againfor a heavy blow has killed her, disfiguring her features almost beyond recognition. Charlotte Fisher, together with her sister Mary, also received a second dedication in a book in And Then There Were None in 1939. Hopefully I will find it holds up! Katherine, who is now being pursued by both Derek and Major Knighton is drawn into Poirots counsels. One other detail troubles Poirot. 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. Ruth Kettering, an American heiress, is in an unhappy marriage to an English aristocrat. Poirot says at 28 min 27 sec that he doesn't like odd numbers, only even numbers He tells them that Ada Mason is really Kitty Kidd, a renowned male impersonator and actress. This was the first of the adaptations of Poirot novels by BBC Radio. Publication date: 29 March 1928. fiction classics crime mystery mysterious medium-paced. 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. Every once in a while, I like to immerse myself in a proper British mystery novel. He agrees to take on the case, comparing himself to a retired doctor who has stumbled upon someone needing medical treatment. Howdy! 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. Then he meets Ruth Kettering. When the events of 1926 were starting to recede, Christie states that she "had to take stock of my friends". In the end, Katherine expresses a desire to travel, saying that she intends to take the Orient Express from Vienna. 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. 383 pages first pub 1928 ISBN/UID: 9780007120765. This was preceded by a lesser-known train mystery, The Mystery of the Blue Train, published six years earlier. \"The Mystery of the Blue Train\" is a classic detective novel by Agatha Christie, first published in 1928. Whose hand was it that struck her down? Additionally, Ruth's lover is travelling on the train with her, and they are both fleeing her husband. But I thought it contained some interesting plot twists and a surprise ending that I wasnt looking for. Poirot offers to go with her on the Blue Train. In spite of the handsome fur coat which garbed his meagre form, there was something essentially weak and paltry about him. What is more, her precious rubies are missing. It also features the first appearance of the minor recurring character, Mr Goby, who would later appear in After the Funeral and Third Girl. She and Fisher (to whom Christie referred affectionately as both "Carlo" and "Carlotta") divided her acquaintances into two separate categories; the Order of Rats and the Order of Faithful Dogs (O.F.D.) 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. When the train stops, the jewel is missing, and the woman is found dead in her compartment. He also knows Ruth has resumed an affair with the Comte de la Roche, who is a rogue and a swindler who thusfar has escaped the reach of the law. 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. Poirot investigates and finds out that the murder and the jewel theft might not be connected, as the famous jewel thief "The Marquis" is connected to the crime. Because the final story presented on the screen is far from Christie's worst - in fact, it is closer to her best. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie - Agatha Christie Stories Hercule Poirot Novel 1928 Aboard the luxurious Blue Train running from London to the Riviera, pampered millionaire's daughter Ruth Kettering is murdered, her expensive jewels stolen. 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. The book features her detective Hercule Poirot. William Morrow Paperbacks. Moods. When the train stops, the jewel is missing, and the woman is found dead in her compartment. Poirot investigates the brutal murder of an American heiress and the theft of a fabulous ruby on the Blue Train between Calais and Nice. We earn a small commission on purchases made through any Amazon affiliate links on this page. [2][3] The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6)[4] and the US edition at $2.00. Ruth becomes friends with Katherine Grey. 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. - Philippians 4:8, thoughts of a preacher, minister, and aspiring theologian. Money will be involved in the crime, most likely a coveted inheritance or valuable jewels. New York: William Morrow, 2005 (originally published in 1928). He asks Van Aldin and Knighton to come with him on the Blue Train to recreate the murder. Could Derek have done that? Thanks for pointing that out. I may tell you that I have heard of you from my old friend Rufus Van Aldin." [3] The book features her detective Hercule Poirot. Then Mirelle, who Derek has decided to ditch in his interest in Katherine, goes to Poirot and tells him that she saw Derek leave Ruths compartment at about the time the murder was purported to occur. 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. 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. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Christie's dedication in the book reads: "To the two distinguished members of the O.F.D. 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. Some of these clichs apply to The Mystery of the Blue Train, too, but its an interesting enough story where the fun part is actually discovering clues along with Poirot and putting them together. The critics did not agree with her. I went through a couple of books after this and realized how true it is. The novel also contains a number of firsts: there is a reference to the fictional village of St. Mary Mead, which would later be the home of Agatha Christie's detective Miss Marple; the first appearance of the minor recurring character, Mr Goby, who would also appear in After the Funeral and Third Girl and the first appearance of Poirot's valet, George. Also, if you have read enough of Agatha Christie, at least one of the following things will definitely be true. One of the things I think that this story conveys very effectively is that Poirot considers the dead woman (and the truth) to be his client rather than the man who hired him. This is the only major work by Agatha Christie in which the UK first edition carries no copyright or publication date. "[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. When the train stops, the jewel is missing, and the woman is found dead in her compartment. Mere months after this novel was published, prolific French novelist Arthur Bernde published Le mystre du train bleu[6] in late 1928. Katherine says that she saw Derek enter Ruth's compartment. And where else to turn to but to the Queen of Crime and her favorite detective, Hercule Poirot. 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. 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. Now separated from Archie and in need of funds, she turned back to writing. Solving Crimes From Los Angeles to Kolkata, The Palace of Illusions Draupadis Story. In the novel, Lady Tamplin's fourth husband has nothing to do with the ruby. Poirot solves the case only after digging into old and new secrets and seeing through multiple treachery. Nice review. - Blaise Pascal, IFES Secretary for Dialogue and Social Engagement, "For we are God's workmanship . The Mystery of the Blue Train begins with the introduction of distantly related characters, each with their own nuances, dark secrets, and ambitions. The prime suspect is Ruth's estranged husband, Derek. The Times Literary Supplement gave a more positive reaction to the book than Christie herself in its issue of 3 May 1928. Agatha Christies most well-known train mystery is Murder on the Orient Express (1934). In contrast to the book, the setting of the film appears to be the late 1930s, given the music styles played, including the song "Sing, Sing, Sing", as well as the clothing and hair fashions depicted. The Mystery of the Blue Train (Hercule Poirot #6), Agatha Christie. He also says that the cigarette case with the "K" on it does not stand for Kettering, but Knighton. Several people would have wanted her dead. Poirot is dining alone in a London restaurant and strikes up a friendship with Katherine Grey. Both ignore she has a lover too, Count La Roche. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It's the perfect mystery, filled with passion, greed, deceit. The Big Four by Agatha Christie Mysteries Ahoy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Having read Chriss complete works, even her nonfiction, The Mystery of the Blue Train is one of my favorites. To tie in with the rest of the series, the setting is changed to the late 1930s. Robbery and brutal murder aboard a luxury transport ensnares the ever-attentive Hercule Poirot in The Mystery of the Blue Train, from Queen of Mystery Agatha ChristieWhen the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering from her slumbers. So with the famous Heart of Fire ruby. She has been invited to stay with her cousin, the Viscountess Tamplin and her daughter, who also hope to benefit from Katherines new found wealth. 1972, Greenway edition of collected works (William Collins), Hardcover, 286 pp. Barbara Tuchman, Commentary on Working-Class Culture, Education, and Politics, Comments on the New Testament and Early Christianity (and related matters). Then he meets Ruth Kettering. I'm a blogger, dammit, not a philosopher. US industrial tycoon Rufus Van Aldin and his right hand Major Knighton tried everything to get suave British son-in-law Derek Kettering, an unfaithful gambling addict, to divorce his daughter Ruth, for whom he bought a priceless ruby with a bloody history.
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