Your email address will not be published. I had come to The Mystery of the Blue Train hoping that my feelings towards it might have changed with time or familiarity. Katherine also saw a man around Ruths compartment and possibly enter it. Ruth's maid, Ada Mason, says that she saw a man in Ruth's compartment but could not see who he was. He advises her to keep it at home but instead she decides to take it with her on a trip on board the Blue Train through France. The next morning, though, Ruth is found dead in her compartment, a victim of strangulation. Barbara Tuchman, Commentary on Working-Class Culture, Education, and Politics, Comments on the New Testament and Early Christianity (and related matters). [12] Her biography recounts how the total number of words in the book were carefully tallied up, showing what an ordeal Christie found it to be. The novel concerns the murder of an American heiress on Le Train Bleu, the titular "Blue Train". Poirot, still in retirement and also travelling on board the train, is asked by her father to take on the case. Ruth becomes friends with Katherine Grey. That line was retained in the television film, even though Death on the Nile was broadcast first. The book features her detective Hercule Poirot. 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. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The book also features the first appearance of Poirot's valet, George. Mere months after this novel was published, prolific French novelist Arthur Bernde published Le mystre du train bleu[6] in late 1928. . Katherine says she saw Derek enter Ruth's compartment. 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. These are some of the questions that have to be answered, and the story tells also how these strange and dramatic happenings effect the life of a quiet English girl who has felt convinced that "nothing exciting will ever happen to me." Community Reviews Summary of 4,288 reviews. The Times Literary Supplement gave a more positive reaction to the book than Christie herself in its issue of 3 May 1928. Several people would have wanted her dead. The Mystery of the Blue Train was first serialised in the London evening newspaper The Star in thirty-eight un-illustrated instalments from Wednesday 1 February to Thursday 15 March 1928. mysterious 97% adventurous 46% tense 16% lighthearted 12% dark 7% But by morning, her private affairs are made public when she . Then he opens it and finds Katherine also opening the door] Oh! The prime suspect is Ruths estranged husband, Derek. Every once in a while, I like to immerse myself in a proper British mystery novel. It makes for an appealing backstory but I really do not love the way she is provided with a really unconvincing romance. What is more, her precious rubies are missing. The entire first two chapters were omitted from the serialisation and it therefore contained only thirty-four chapters. The Big Four by Agatha Christie Mysteries Ahoy. Pages completely filled with incomplete thoughts. 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. 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. The Mystery of the Blue Train is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the United Kingdom by William Collins & Sons on 29 March 1928[1] and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year. Also named in this latter group and the second subject of the dedication of the book is Peter, Christie's beloved terrier who had been purchased for Rosalind in 1924. When the events of 1926 were starting to recede, Christie states that she "had to take stock of my friends". Timing of the murder will be extremely crucial to solving the case. Carlotta and Peter". The second relates to the setup to the murder plot which feels far too forced and mechanical. Format: Hardcover. 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. 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. He tells them that Ada Mason is really Kitty Kidd, a renowned male impersonator and actress. So with the famous Heart of Fire ruby. These are some of the questions that have to be answered, and the story tells also how these strange and dramatic happenings effect the life of a quiet English girl who has felt convinced that "nothing exciting will ever happen to me." Thanks for pointing that out. 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. He asks Van Aldin and Knighton to come with him on the Blue Train to recreate the murder. Reset in the late 1930s to match the rest of the Poirot TV series, the adaption by Guy Andrews was directed by Hettie Macdonald who also directed the 2013 adaptation of Curtain: Poirot's Last Case. Or could it be her lover who is famous for swindling women in high society? The book also features the first appearance of Poirot's valet, George. This novel features the first description of a village named St. Mary Mead. 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. Pingback: The Month in Reviews: July 2022 | Bob on Books. And Hercule Poirot is the perfect detective . A murder mystery adventure featuring Bernde's own popular detective, Chantecoq, the story is set in Paris and the plot is completely different. Moods. I thought the ending was a bit rushed/compressed compared to the leisurely pace of the rest of the story. When the fabled Blue Train, the luxury overnight passenger express to the Riviera, arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to awaken Ruth . The police arrest Knighton and the case is closed. 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). Was this just a jewelry theft gone bad or something more? I'm in oil figuratively speaking. Exc, A little slice of paradise The radio adaptation loses that and instead forces you to focus on the more melodramatic elements in characters conversations with each other. This dedication is a direct reference to the events of 1926 which included the death of Christie's mother on 5 April,the breakdown of her marriage to Archibald Christie and her famous ten-day disappearance in the December of that year. 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. The entire first two chapters were omitted from the serialisation and it therefore contained only thirty-four chapters. Poirot boards Le Train Bleu, bound for the French Riviera. You will find her tips and reviews on best travel destinations, books and movie/tv shows on Shades of Words. It wasnt one of her favorites and one she struggled to write. The character of Mirelle is changed to be Rufus's mistress, who visits Rufus's wife. It seems likely, however, that Bernde was hoping to benefit from Poirot's popularity. See production, box office & company info, Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express, Nene Valley Railway, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England, UK. Murder and violence have followed in their wake. Poirot asks Van Aldin and Knighton to come with him on the Blue Train to recreate the murder. The final chapter, called By the Sea in the book, was unnamed in the serialisation. Ruth's father, American millionaire Rufus Van Aldin, and his secretary, Major Knighton, persuade Poirot to take on the case. The writing of this book (part of which took place on the Canary Islands in early 1927) was an ordeal for Agatha Christie. However, in a bit of foreshadowing, Poirot says that he would like to take the Orient Express someday, while Katherine talks about the romance of the train. When the train stops, the jewel is missing, and the woman is found dead in her compartment. Donate . This was translated from the edition first published in France by Emmanuel Proust ditions in 2005 under the title of Le Train Bleu. And Poirot, retired and seeking to enjoy the world, is also on the train, talks wisely to Katherine, who thinks detective stories are just something fictional people are part of. Rufus Van Aldin: [Introducing himself] Mr. Poirot, Rufus Van Aldin. But she couldn't have been alone when she was brutally murdered and the ruby stolen, no matter what everyone says. 1972, Greenway edition of collected works (William Collins), Hardcover, 286 pp. She is a avid reader and loves traveling around the Globe. When the train stops, the jewel is missing, and the woman is found dead in her compartment. 1973, Greenway edition of collected works (Dodd Mead), Hardcover, 286 pp, 1974, Dodd, Mead and Company (As part of the, 1976, Ulverscroft Large-print Edition, Hardcover, 423pp, OCLC 2275078, 2007, Poirot Facsimile Edition (Facsimile of 1928 UK First Edition), HarperCollins, 5 March 2007, Hardback. 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. The Verdict: This dull mystery plot has never really sparked any excitement in me. . At the risk of looking past it with Van Aldin, Poirot keeps looking, and particularly for a shadowy figure known as the Marquis. As I mentioned, I wasnt expecting the ending, which made this all the more fun. 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. 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. The Mystery of the Blue Train begins with the introduction of distantly related characters, each with their own nuances, dark secrets, and ambitions. There are several points at which Poirot asserts himself over his employer and in those moments I think make him appear rather heroic. Agatha Christie. But Poirot is at hand to solve the case. A reference to the continental Daily Mail at the start of chapter six (chapter eight in the book) was changed to "the newspaper" to avoid mentioning a competitor to The Star. The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6) and the US edition at $2.00. Getting, Street side messages #greece #napflio #bikelife #b, Nice relaxing weekend at #peppervinehomestay She asks Poirot if he has taken that train, and he says he has not. Whose hand was it that struck her down? 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. Katherine is saved by Lenox jumping on Mason and biting her on the neck. Unfortunately for the murderer, Hercule Poirot was also aboard Le Train Bleu. 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,. Apart from Poirot and Katherine, others on the train include the Tamplin family (Katherine's cousins), millionaire Rufus van Aldin and his daughter Ruth Kettering, Ruth's penniliess husband Derek, and her boyfriend - and Ruth has a very valuable ruby with her called 'The Heart of Fire'. 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. 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. In the film, Ruth's lover is traveling on the train with her, and they are both fleeing her husband. Maybe it was just a robber who knew that the gems were aboard. I went through a couple of books after this and realized how true it is. Charlotte Fisher, together with her sister Mary, also received a second dedication in a book in And Then There Were None in 1939. 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. Moods. Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890 and became, quite simply, the best-selling novelist in history. 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. changing "She then" to "Katherine then"), or omitting small sentences or words, especially in the opening instalment where several paragraphs were missed. - Carlotta and Peter" also references this difficult time. Ruth is the daughter of the notorious American millionaire Rufus Van Aldin, and she is travelling to join her husband in the south of France.During the journey, Ruth is found murdered in her compartment, and her valuable rubies are missing. Originally published in 1928Hercule Poirot #6Preceded by The Big FourFollowed by Black Coffee. 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. But she will never wake againfor a heavy blow has killed her, disfiguring her features almost beyond recognition. 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. The dedication "To the two distinguished members of the O.F.D. 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. Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian detective, is on the same train and is asked by Ruth's father to investigate the murder. Incredibly blue wate, Things have been crazy busy as school year comes t, We absolutely loved the food in #athens . chief among the latter group, Christie put Charlotte Fisher for her steadfast support. Bound for the Riviera, detective Hercule Poirot has boarded Le Train Bleu, an elegant, leisurely means of travel, free of intrigue. The Mystery of the Blue Train Hercule Poirot #6. "The Mystery of the Blue Train" is a classic detective novel by Agatha Christie, first published in 1928. Frost, Review: James Patterson by James Patterson, Review: Christianity and Critical Race Theory, Growing Up in Working Class Youngstown The Wick Building. Poirot boards Le Train Bleu, bound for the French Riviera. The series has strong story lines, good production and acting, and an unmistakable flavor of the pre-war years. - Blaise Pascal, IFES Secretary for Dialogue and Social Engagement, "For we are God's workmanship . There's amusing lines, complex mysteries and interesting characters - even if they're not always likeable. 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. She has decided that there are things to see and experience that are now possible. It had its effect on her in the middle 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. 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 . It looks like we don't have any synopsis for this title yet. Derek is then arrested. 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. The only way he will get anything from her is if she dies. 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. (LogOut/ Sadly this time is no different. Also, the television film shows Lady Tamplin's fourth husband who acquires a ruby for her. 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. Poirot realized that Mason was the only person who saw anyone with Ruth in the compartment, so this could have been a lie. He advises her to keep it at home but instead she decides to take it with her on a trip on board the Blue Train through France. In spite of the handsome fur coat which garbed his meagre form, there was something essentially weak and paltry about him. Agatha Christie. What is the French language plot outline for The Mystery of the Blue Train (2005)? When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering from her slumbers. At the end of the film, the murderer commits suicide, instead of just being arrested by the French police as in the novel. Lady Tamplin, Corky and her daughter Lenox also travel on the blue train. Katherine says that she saw Derek enter Ruth's compartment. Add These Cute Planters To Your Bookshelf! Ruth Kettering, an American heiress, is in an unhappy marriage to an English aristocrat. Throw in a rather unexciting group of suspects and you have a recipe for a book that just seemed to drag on for me. I didn't find my silly comb. Then he meets Ruth Kettering. Hercule Poirot mentions at the end that he has never traveled on the Orient Express, raising viewer expectations of his most famous case, "Murder on the Orient Express.". Be the first to contribute. I particularly enjoyed the women Katherine cared for. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Mystery of the Blue Train was released by HarperCollins as a graphic novel adaptation on 3 December 2007, adapted and illustrated by Marc Piskic (ISBN 0-00-725060-6). 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. But even Hercule Poirot, for it is he, does not guess how soon he will be called upon to unravel and complicated and intricate crime when the Blue Train steams in Nice the following morning and it is discovered that murder has been done.". Poirot investigates the brutal murder of an American heiress and the theft of a fabulous ruby on the Blue Train between Calais and Nice. Copyright Shades Of Words 2019. 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. When she takes Le Train Bleu to Nice, she is not alone. And where else to turn to but to the Queen of Crime and her favorite detective, Hercule Poirot. Poirot is dining alone in a London restaurant and strikes up a friendship with Katherine Grey. Publication date: 29 March 1928. fiction classics crime mystery mysterious medium-paced. The prime suspect is Ruth's estranged husband, Derek. This is our blog. Agatha Christie's most well-known train mystery is Murder on the Orient Express (1934). Lenox Tamplin, Lady Tamplin's daughter, Charles "Chubby" Evans, Lady Tamplin's much younger husband, Kyrios (Mr) Papopolous, jewellery dealer and an acquaintance of Poirot, Joseph Aarons, Poirot's acquaintance, an expert in people involved in the "dramatic profession" (acting) who advises Poirot about the skilled impersonator Kitty Kidd, known by a different name for most of the novel, 1928, William Collins and Sons (London), 29 March 1928, Hardcover, 296 pp, 1928, Dodd Mead and Company (New York), 1928, Hardcover, 306 pp, 1932, William Collins and Sons, February 1932 (As part of the, 1956, Pocket Books (New York), Paperback, 194 pp. (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." 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. William Morrow Paperbacks. 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. So does Katherine Grey, who is having her first winter out of England, after recently receiving a relatively large inheritance. Its got this element of humor I cant seem to shake off. Grey may also have had enemies as she had recently inherited a very large sum of money and greedy relatives had suddenly taken an interest in her. Katherine, who is now being pursued by both Derek and Major Knighton is drawn into Poirots counsels. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. He tells them that Ada Mason is really Kitty Kidd, a renowned male impersonator and actress. 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.) "Books are humanity in print." Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. But she will never wake again - for a heavy blow has killed her, disfiguring her features almost beyond recognition. That did make me smile. Literary fiction, poetry, first editions, classics Communication Strategies for Bridging Differences, "In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't." On board Grey meets Ruth Kettering, an American heiress leaving her unhappy marriage to meet her lover. Summaries Poirot investigates the brutal murder of an American heiress and the theft of a fabulous ruby on the Blue Train between Calais and Nice. A mysterious woman, a legendary cursed jewel, and a night train to the French riviera ingredients for the perfect romance or the perfect crime? Murder and violence have followed in their wake. It's the perfect mystery, filled with passion, greed, deceit. [citation needed], Dust-jacket illustration of the first UK edition, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Mystery_of_the_Blue_Train&oldid=1147115997, Rufus Van Aldin, the American millionaire, Ruth's father, Ruth Kettering, Van Aldin's only daughter, Derek's wife, Hon Derek Kettering, Van Aldin's son-in-law, Ruth's husband, Mirelle, a Parisian dancer, Derek's gold-digging and later vengeful French lover, Major Richard Knighton, Van Aldin's secretary, Armand, Comte de la Roche, former lover of Ruth, Katherine Grey, formerly companion to the recently deceased Mrs Harfield, who has left her entire estate to Grey, Dr and Mrs Harrison, Katherine's friends in the village of St Mary Mead, Amelia Viner, an elderly, terminally ill spinster and friend of Katherine Grey in St Mary Mead, Rosalie, Viscountess Tamplin, cousin of Katherine, owner of a villa on the Riviera, Hon. Never guessed whodunnit either. Did you read Elephants can remember and if not, do read it. The novel also features the first appearance of the minor recurring character, Mr. Goby, who would later appear in After the Funeral and Third Girl. Poirot solves the case only after digging into old and new secrets and seeing through multiple treachery. The television film includes several changes from the original novel. Learn how your comment data is processed. When the train stops, the jewel is missing, and the woman is found dead in her compartment. Christie's dedication in the book reads: "To the two distinguished members of the O.F.D. A reference to the continental Daily Mail at the start of chapter six (chapter eight in the book) was changed to "the newspaper" to avoid mentioning a competitor to The Star. The Mystery of the Blue Train Hercule Poirot #6. Agatha Christie's Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot lives in London with Captain Hastings. There were slight amendments to the text, either to make sense of the openings of an instalment (e.g. to read read. This unabridged audiobook version is read by Hugh Fraser. It also features the first appearance of the minor recurring character, Mr Goby, who would later appear in After the Funeral and Third Girl. 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. In spite of the handsome fur coat which garbed his meagre form, there was something essentially weak and paltry about him. When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, aguard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering fromher slumbers. The plot revolves around the murder of Ruth Kettering, daughter of American tycoon, Rufus Van Aldin. The police suspect that Ruth's lover, the Comte de la Roche, killed her and stole the ruby, but Poirot does not think that the Comte is guilty. Poirot and Katherine match each other in very different ways in their own self-possession. 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. The next morning, though, Ruth is found dead in her compartment, a victim of strangulation. But even Hercule Poirot, for it is he, does not guess how soon he will be called upon to unravel a complicated and intricate crime when the Blue Train steams into Nice the following morning and it is discovered that murder has been done. 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. Ruth's father, the American millionaire Rufus Van Aldin, and his secretary, Major Knighton, convince Poirot to take on the case. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. chief among the latter group, Christie put Charlotte Fisher for her steadfast support. Howdy! Katherine : [Poirot hesitates at Katherine's door. It looks like you're offline. Poirot offers to go with her on the Blue Train. He also says that the cigarette case with the K on it does not stand for 'Kettering', but for 'Knighton'. Ruth Kettering, an American heiress, is in an unhappy marriage to an English aristocrat. He agrees to take on the case, comparing himself to a retired doctor who has stumbled upon someone needing medical treatment. Agatha Christies most well-known train mystery is Murder on the Orient Express (1934). The Mystery of the Blue Train is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, 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 Mystery of the Blue Train Hercule Poirot #6. 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 famous ruby, "Heart of Fire", which had recently been given to Ruth by her father, is discovered to be missing. According to several sources I have read this novel was one of Christies least favorites and unfortunately I rather share her feelings (although I suspect her reasons were rather different from mine). Lady Tamplin, Corky and her daughter Lennox also travel on the blue train.
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