Book Club

Poirot Stories

Poirot is Agatha Christie's most famous and popular detective.  No doubt he would agree that he deserves that accolade!

Here is the place to discuss all of his stories in detail with other fans.  The most insightful comments will be added to the Stories pages.  But remember to beware spoilers!

If you can't find your favourite Poirot story here, don't worry - we'll be adding them all soon.

Warning: These discussions may contain spoilers!

Murder on the Orient Express

Jemma 07 Sep 09 at 7:40 a.m. GMT

Samuel Ratchett is not a nice man.  In fact Hercule Poirot takes an almost immediate dislike to him when they meet on the luxurious Orient Express train.  However nasty Ratchett is does he deserve to be stabbed to death?  Stabbed not once however, but stabbed twelve times.  When the train gets stuck in the snow there is no opportunity for the police to come so it falls to Poirot to investigate this complex, baffling case.

This is without doubt one of the best known and most popular of Christie’s works.  From the beginning, and most of the way through the book, it’s virtually impossible to guess what the outcome will be.  The ending is perhaps not what one might expect so did Christie play fair with her readers or should justice have been served rather better?

Login or register to add posts and reply

69 replies

Reverse order

ac3011 08 May 12 at 2:41 p.m. GMT

This one was simply remarkable.It was only my second christie and oh boy!,it was simply unbelievable.One of my all time favourites and the best poirot after Murder of Roger ackroyd

Sasha_I_Am 22 Apr 12 at 6:57 p.m. GMT

Lindelle

Like mumbojumbo I too have the same view of this novel. I actually read the book many years ago and couldn't really get into it - perhaps a little confusing is the better way to say it. Then I saw the movie and it all fell into place. So now I'm back attempting to re read the book but alas, it's still not gripping me.

May I ask you, and what of the adaptations you watched?

Sasha_I_Am 22 Apr 12 at 6:54 p.m. GMT

Posh story! I think the best story about Poirot.The ending is so unexpected!

This book will not leave you indifferent

melmank19 21 Apr 12 at 9:40 p.m. GMT

The book was great, the movie with Albert Finney was better. 

Lindelle 20 Apr 12 at 2:02 a.m. GMT

Like mumbojumbo I too have the same view of this novel. I actually read the book many years ago and couldn't really get into it - perhaps a little confusing is the better way to say it. Then I saw the movie and it all fell into place. So now I'm back attempting to re read the book but alas, it's still not gripping me.

Blanchefort 17 Apr 12 at 5:35 p.m. GMT

Great book and a great movie. Have seen it many times and hope to do so in the future. In the 1974 movie they capture the AC atmosphere very well indeed.

Raun1245 29 Mar 12 at 5:40 a.m. GMT

This was the first Agatha Christie I ever read and for me it is the best Agatha Christie I have ever read. I completed this book in just 2 days, a personal record that I have'nt been able to break till date.

I personally like crime novels that happen while travelling and this novel is the perfect example. Each word of this book is more interesting than the previous word and the ending is quite shocking.

Even the movies based on this novel are wonderful. And to those who have'nt read this novel yet, please read it as soon as possible.

mumbojumbo 24 Jan 12 at 12:33 p.m. GMT

May be it is because I had seen the film with Finney before reading the book, so I knew the ending beforehand, but to me, compared to the other AC masterpieces (And then there were none, Roger Acroyd) this one falls short.

One thing I did not like is that the characters were a bit underdeveloped (probably because there were so many of them) and the focus was mainly on the victim and his past. Did anyone else also think this? Of course given the solution to the mystery, I guess individual charactes are not as important as they would be in another book, but still I would like some more insight into their background.

That being said, it is still a good book and definitely worth reading. Just not my favourite.

On a sidenote, I recently saw the Suchet version of MOTOE and found it trully horrible, maybe one of the worst episodes of the series. I understand the episode is one of the most poorly received by fans, so apparently I am not alone in this. I certainly hope that if suchet is to film the remaining books as they say they will try to  avoid religious melodrama and stick to the atmosphere of the earlier episodes.

LizzieLovesAgatha 12 Jan 12 at 11:40 p.m. GMT

Play fair with her readers? She did us a huge favour! Baffled us! It is like recieving a gift when an ending to a book is so unexpected it takes our breath away! Justice couldnt be served, we dont know which stab killed him! Gosh you all pick her books to pieces, if she felt the book went as it should, it went as it should!!!

felly 10 Jan 12 at 12:44 a.m. GMT

unpredictable! the best book i ever read! 

polishedshoes 13 Nov 11 at 7:28 a.m. GMT

Well I dissagree. MOTOE is by far my favorite Agatha Christie book, because it displays Poirot in different light, not just as a dedicated detective, bt also as a human being, although his inner battle in the book is not as obvious as in the film with David Suchet. The story itself is full of suprising twists and the ending is just unbelievable. It's different than any other Agatha Christie book.

I read it several times and I would read it again.

murder_is_easy123 16 Oct 11 at 10 a.m. GMT

Brilliant! I read this book when I was 12, and I read it in one night. I have loved it since, and I particularly love the 1974 film with Albert Finney and Lauren Bacall. Not too sure about the 2010 film, it seems a little bit gloomy. The modern-day version in 2001 is slightly random and off-topic, but nevertheless a good remake Those who haven't read it, read it now!

azumangadaioh 20 Sep 11 at 1:32 p.m. GMT

I just finished it tonight! It was indeed a great book. While I was reading it, I could not guess who the murderer was. And of course, it contains a surprising ending. Very great book, highly recommended.  :D

Read more about this story: Murder on the Orient Express

markkos 16 Sep 11 at 4:30 p.m. GMT

I saw the film many years ago, and I like it very much. A stars constellations played the principal roles. But I want to read the book, because it's more interesting.

HerzeY 01 Sep 11 at 5:54 p.m. GMT

this book is too good! It really worth. The story is adictive and the situation is so imaginative. I love it.

All the time i was thinking who could be the killer, but I could never thought the answer! This was the first AC book that I read, and I wanted more books when y finish this one.

Simply brillant, like Agatha was.

svcodeman 24 Aug 11 at 1:16 a.m. GMT

My mind was constantly rolling with this one....certainly a masterpiece, was not expecting it to be who it was

butico 08 Aug 11 at 8:59 p.m. GMT

Não consegui entender o porquê da fama desta obra. É talvez a mais previsível de todas. Apesar de ser uma boa estória, existem muitas melhores. Pelo menos a metade.

TerryroseM 31 Jul 11 at 5:46 p.m. GMT

I read this book while traveling back from Europe to the United States by plane....  Intriguing, captivating and entertaining!   And as I left the plane, I handed the book to my seatmate, who was a young college student that had never heard of Christie's works!   Need to broaden that young man's horizons!

MsBuckley 24 Jul 11 at 2:30 p.m. GMT

I was so thrilled and amused during the whole plot! But the end is quite flawed. Anyways, I enjoyed!

ErkutSoyer 15 Jul 11 at 7:20 p.m. GMT

Thanks.I understood the truth.Second solition is true but passengers and Bouc don't agree this.They agree first solution.But Poirot thinks second solution is true.I agree to Poirot.Because eleven right handed and a left handed in express.And they were in relationship with Armstrong family.

And I think this book has different end than other books. (I know.This word is wrong)

poirot1999 15 Jul 11 at 12:03 p.m. GMT

The first solution is the one that involved a mystery man boarding the train at Belgrade or Vincovci, disguising himself as a Wagons-Lit conductor, killing Ratchett (Cassetti), and getting off the train before it started. The second solution is the one where each of the 12 people stabbed Ratchett.

ErkutSoyer 14 Jul 11 at 12:57 p.m. GMT

This book have a different place in my hearth.Because it started Istanbul/Turkey.But I don't understand something.Is first solution true or second solution?Bouc says ''First solution is true'' but I don't understand who is the killer in first solution

kieranlandregan 10 Jul 11 at 11:48 a.m. GMT

I love the idea of this novel. After The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, it is the benchmark for detective fiction. No detective story has come close. But, for me, it was narrowly beaten by The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

bertuahki 28 Jun 11 at 5:22 a.m. GMT

The most shocking detective story i've ever read! Never before in my life occur in my head the idea that every body is the.....

anitneil 13 Jun 11 at 7:44 p.m. GMT

suspect everyone...............basic thing of any detective story

bt here everyone is also the criminal

fantastic storytelling!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Epsilon14 02 Jun 11 at 4:36 p.m. GMT

I got this book on the way back from India. It is the second book of AC I've read, the first being Hercule Poirot's Christmas. These two books are the ones which made me read even more of her books. I loved the book and even after I finish the whole AC series, I will still regard this as the best book. The method of murder adopted in this book is the kind you will find in no other book.

Tommy_A_Jones 31 Mar 11 at 4:55 p.m. GMT

The fact it is far fetched is not imortant IMHO after all if we had no far fetchedscenario's we would have very few Agatha Christie books if any, I enjoyed it but there aree better.

Skizo 31 Mar 11 at 12:39 a.m. GMT

Not her best book. It's Way far fetched. But I did enjoy it.

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Dec 10 at 4:52 p.m. GMT

I have just seen a Clip of the making of the Adaptation, It sounds Great.

JDENG10 28 Nov 10 at 11:13 a.m. GMT

I loved reading this book while i was on holiday. It definately sprung some surprises on the way to finding out who the murderer(s) was. The way Agatha Christie wrote this book is just mindblowing. It's brilliant, definately recommended. 

Read more about this story: Murder on the Orient Express

Booklovr46 26 Sep 10 at 9:42 p.m. GMT

I fondly remember reading this book and using it as the topic for an oral book report. I loved describing the storyline to the class and how Agatha Christie created the perfect setting for murder. I had to bite my tongue in order to prevent myself from giving away the ending.

 I few months ago i saw  the movie version with David Suchet and wasnt too displeased. They may have left out a few details, but the ending was still as powerful as it is in the book. A few of my family members, who have never read an Agatha Christie, watched it with me and enjoyed it. The shocked looks on their faces was all i needed to remind me of why i liked this story so much.

AgathaPoirotFan 26 Sep 10 at 5:31 p.m. GMT

This book is the most beautiful of the hercule poirot cases.It's very interestin the psihology.It's clear that Agatha had something better than intelligence,than talent,she had...the sixth sense.She had very much experience in human psihology.She could feel what's inside of a human.That's why she is my idol.I read Orient Express,and I now what's my vocation.To be a detective.To resolve cases.

In she's book,Agatha wants to show that,when the juistice fails,everybodu try to resolve that in particulary.I love Agatha Christie.R.I.P.

birtwistle1 24 Sep 10 at 3:51 a.m. GMT

I have just read this book and I thought that it was great. I am almost tempted to read it again.

christie_greece 23 Sep 10 at 11:32 a.m. GMT

Well, in my opinion this book is very clever. And AC is even cleverer because she didn't just blamed one of the suspects, but all of them. The outcome was unexpectable. The hints were there, I think. But we couldn't have seen them because we were looking for one murderer.

Something similar happened at a greek series called "The red bedroom". The victim was shot, though. And while I was watching it, I was thinking: "It looks like MOTOE". Of course nothing can be compared to AC and her books!

Pongo 23 Sep 10 at 9:17 a.m. GMT

SPOILERS...

Anyway, on some substance, from my point of view I never see Poirot in the novel as being a kind of judge or even a kind of policeman.  Poirot's role is as a private detective, not as a judge.  He is "hired" so to speak by Bouc and the company, so the fact that he propounds two solutions and leaves the ultimate choice to M. Bouc is entirely consistent with Poirot's role.  Thus, strictly professionally speaking, Poirot's mandate is to give M. Bouc the theories and nothing more.  

Now, Poirot is at the same time a man of honor and contains the spirit of justice.  I think especially of his great, great line in One Two Buckle My Shoe where he says that he is concerned not with nations but with the lives of ordinary people who have the right not to have their lives taken away from them.  However, I never sense that he himself acts as an executor of justice as much as an illuminator of the truth.  Thus, in many Poirot novels, including this one, Poirot's role is finished once he reveals the truth; it is then up to others, such as Japp, Spence, or M. Bouc, to use that truth in the way they see fit.  Here, M. Bouc decided to adopt the first solution, upon which Poirot resigns from the case.  Now, Poirot himself could be thinking that he let the murderers get away with it, but I personally do not believe that Poirot as a character (at least at this stage of his career) would have the great moral dilemma that the Suchet version dramatizes.  

Pongo 23 Sep 10 at 9:17 a.m. GMT

SPOILERS...

I always chuckle when I think about this book, and in particular, about the murder plot and the plotters.  They all were planning this murder for some time, and arranging their lives and schedules so that they all could be active on this one night.  And then, suddenly, the train has one extra passenger, and it is not just any ordinary passenger, but it is in fact the WORLD FAMOUS PRIVATE DETECTIVE HERCULE POIROT!!!!!!!!!!!!  Talk about BAD LUCK!!!!!!!    

beccalouj9 16 Sep 10 at 12:58 p.m. GMT

I love the David Suchet version of this- It's so scary! Although i must admit i scare quite easily; the woman holding the dagger at the window! Ah gets me everytime! 

Pongo 11 Sep 10 at 12:16 p.m. GMT

I might be one of the few people who enjoyed the Suchet version.  Granted, I love the book, and I really love the Sidney Lumet film.  However, Suchet's version was undeniably powerful in places.  

If I were thinking about a progression in the Poirot character, I think that this version of MOTOE really sets the scene very nicely for Poirot should they decide to make Curtain.  I can see some threads that were established in MOTOE that could be further explored and developed in Curtain.  Of course, I do not think that this Suchet version was great, but it was good, and very good in places.  

216816 10 Sep 10 at 10:08 p.m. GMT

For those who have not seen the movie starring David Suchet, i must say that it was a bit of a dissapointment. The ending did not change, but there seemed to be a big stress on the wrong issues. In the movie, it is mentioned several times how Poirot is a strict Catholic, which I never encountered in the book at all. This wouldn't have made a difference to me, until Poirot goes into this big internal struggle about whether or not he should forgive the murders. At first, when he solves the case and the murderers confess, he flies into a rage and yells at the guilty ones how they "shouldn't take the law into their own hands". This was a side of Poirot which I believe was added just for the purpose of the movie. In my opinion, the constant mentioning about legal vs. moral issues completely changed the tone of the movie; and not necessarily for the best.

katecpayne 22 Jun 10 at 1:23 p.m. GMT

Does anyone have any publication info for Murder on the Orient Express/Calais Coach (such as number of original copies sold, the editor's name, number of re-printings)? If not, does anyone know where I could find this information (books, websites, articles)? I'm looking more specifically for the U.S. publication info, but the U.K. info would be useful as well. Any help anyone could provide me with would be greatly appreciated!

Mr_Graves 16 Jun 10 at 9:21 a.m. GMT

It's hard to say where I stand with the whole "Christie Classic" and "Stereotype" issue... I think during the middle it was a bit of a non-event, particularly telling the passengers that the victim was Cassetti, and it was pretty repetitive during that part. But I was genuinely baffled at times, even though the solution was not a complete surprise, and I think it is a wonderfully typical murder mystery- the claustrophobia so well associated with Christie is beautifully displayed here. A murder on a train with twelve suspects, how delightful!

This novel definitely had it's originalities, and you have to love Poirot's enigma, fantastically written! All in all,  I would warn anybody that they should not get their hopes up- this book is not quite the fast-paced, guns-a-blazing thriller it may be cracked up to be. But the bottom line is that it's a Christie, and with that comes it's own unique stamp and ingenuity.

Lone_Wolf 14 Jun 10 at 4:38 a.m. GMT

From what I know, Poirot had never spoken against death penalty (Christie was stringly in favor of it, which is slightly weird, considering all her "murder solved wrong in the past" plots). And the murderer/s of Orient just carried out the penalty that Ratchett only managed to escape because of his $$$.

It's not the only time Poirot forgives the murderer, because he considers the killer's cause to be just - see the short story "The chocolate box", and, of course,

SPOILER

I

I

I

I

I

"Curtain", where he is actually a murderer, and where his motivation is far more ambigious.

"What struck me about Ratchett was that when Christie describes him as having a benevolent personality"

I don't remember that. He was described as unlikeable from the start, from what I

ctown28 14 Jun 10 at 12:51 a.m. GMT

Jsut finished reading this one.  Been holding back on reading it for a while.  Once I finally got it I couldn't put it down and read it in less than a week.

While I don't really have a problem with all of them being guilty, this detracts from what Poirots character is all about.  I mean throughout the entire Poirots series, the one thing that stays constant is he feeling son murder.  He simply does not condone it.  Here he seems to detract from that because Ratchett is such a horrible person.   

Like most of AC's novels, I suspected everybody at some point, so it was nice to finally be right (well sort of!  lol), I thought it was a great ending if not for the part where it is determined they will all get away with it.  Although technically speaking, whoever stabbed him first is the only mudererer, the rest who planned it are simply accomplices!

Agathasmykid 08 Jun 10 at 7:09 a.m. GMT

Very interesting reading everyones comments.  I just finished Murder on the Orient Express (my 4th time reading it), however I am going through Agatha's works in order.

In terms of quality, I think this maybe one of the best, if not the best, murder mystery books of all time.  The setting, the suspects, Poirot's dialogue, his use of deduction were all incredible and well done.  Sure, some of his ideas seem like pretty incredible guesses, however I feel this does not detract from the novel.  This book is so well paced, and even though there are a lot of suspects, you get the sense you get to know each one equally, and it is hard to guess whodunnit.

In terms of the ending, I will leave it up to each of you to decide where you stand morally on Poirot's 2 solutions.  In terms of the ending, I remember reading it the first time, and I thought it was a bit of a cop out.  I was rooting for a clear murderer.  I do get the ending, the idea of some type of justice happening for all, however I still wonder how it would have read if there was one single solitary murderer.  Anyways, for me this book is what defines an Agatha Christie book.

Grade A+

cameronjhw 01 Jun 10 at 4:27 p.m. GMT

What struck me about Ratchett was that when Christie describes him as having a benevolent personality but later he has a more evil and malvolent character and we only see him alive in at least three chapters. I know it may seem wrong to some that Poirot allowed the first theory to be presented to the police but what could Poirot do out there in a snowdrift plus he knew they have suffered a lot of emotional pain from the tragedy. I think one of the most important themes of this novel is that one's corrupt actions can affect others and their actions will not go unpunished.

skulduggery32 30 May 10 at 1:12 p.m. GMT

Murder in the orient express was my first poirot novel and my third agatha christie novel. Poirot was a really amusing character and thats probably why i was addicted to agatha christie novels ever since. i ending was ingenious and i think the interrogations were really cool.

Lone_Wolf 28 May 10 at 7:21 p.m. GMT

Obviously, the train passengers didn't deserve to be punished. There's no moral ambiguity in their actions for me.

cameronjhw 28 May 10 at 4:40 p.m. GMT

I am anxious to see David Suchet in this story. Hopefully it will not be changed too much from the novel as long it has all the main characters and the ending does not change. This novel is remarkable and unique for any mystery writer. Out of all the passengers the ones I really like were Macqueen, Hardman, Masterman, Foscarelli, Mrs. Hubbard and Countess Andreyni. Yet all of them interest me because of their nationalties, personalities, and emotional background when they are revealed as taking part in Ratchett's murder. Should the reader not feel glad they got away with it or not. To me although they are killers I nevertheless was relieved in a way that they were not punished after all they endured

Lone_Wolf 25 May 10 at 5:01 p.m. GMT

Missed your post, sorry.

Mr_west 25 May 10 at 11:52 a.m. GMT

this is just a name why do you asking?

Lone_Wolf 24 May 10 at 8:19 p.m. GMT

"but like Mr West rightly says"

Who's Mr West? Miss Marple's nephew?

Tommy_A_Jones 24 May 10 at 1:29 p.m. GMT

I do agree with all your points cameronjhw about the Characters and the fact it being based on a true story gives it a semi-Autobiographical feel but there are other Poirot books would reach out for if I wanted to re-read one which I have many times and will do in the future but like Mr West rightly says the investigation part of this one is the less interesting part of the book but MOTOE is one of the more well-known by Non-Christie Fans so it has that in its favour also, I think 'And Then Thgere Were None' is another that doesn't live up to its hype but still enjoyable IMHO.

Mr_west 24 May 10 at 11:20 a.m. GMT

you right, the investigation part is realy boring but this book is steel a classic for it colorful characters, surprising ending and the unusual place the murder takes. 

SteveR 19 May 10 at 10:33 a.m. GMT

I am just trying to follow the "book of the month". I can't keep up with what this months and what is next months book is. Is there a book for each detective? Do you discuss this months book this month, or the following month after everyone has chance to read it? Is it  June's book is "X" and we will discuss it in July after you have read it? Is there a list for the books for the remainder of the year so we can plan our reading?

Great site, great author

cameronjhw 14 May 10 at 3:04 p.m. GMT

I actually disagree.  This I believe is one of the most popular and unique murder mysteries of the genre as well as for the Christie canon. The characters are colorful and different because this is not your average British whodunit since this one features Americans, Hungarians, Russian, Swedish, German, Italian, etc. This book is also great because it is inspired not only by Christie's own experience of being on the Orient Express but also the tragic and notorious murder and kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh's baby which gives the book a semi-historical flavor to although Christie adds her own changes when she talks about the fictional Armstrong kidnapping. This is one of the novels that challenges and makes one question and debate about morality and justice. Although the passaengers murdered Ratchett in order to punish him for his crime one would debate that they should not have taken the law into their own hands. However, the passengers I felt sorry for and sympathize with and understood their cause. Ratchett was a flithy, cruel, and heartless man and he caused the deaths of five innocent people. I'm not sorry that Ratchett is dead. This novel is excellent.

Tommy_A_Jones 22 Mar 10 at 4:56 p.m. GMT

I totally agree Lone Wolf with all your points, this book doesn't live up to its reputation. 

Lone_Wolf 22 Mar 10 at 4:43 p.m. GMT

It's not a bad book by all means, but I don't understand why it's considered a Christie classic. Dame Agatha wrote much better books then that one. "Orient Express" suffers from a certain lack of plot dynamics (better part of the book is spent asking the suspects banal investigation questions and searching their luggage) and an extremely unlikeable victim ("Appointment with Death" compensated the unlikeability of the victim with really sympathetic suspects that made you care about their future, "Orient" did not).

In books with large amounts of questioning and searching the suspects, AC usually included scenes which were responsible for the characterisation and general athmosphere (see "Death on the Nile", "Appointment with Death", and even there the questioning-and-searching parts were smaller then in "Orient"). But in "Orient" she can't really do that due to the nature of the plot.

All that makes the book feel emotionally dry - only in the end Mrs. Hubbard's speech slightly counters that dryness.

aquaflute 02 Feb 10 at 5:56 a.m. GMT

This is my all time favorite book. Although I must say I loathe the movie adaption of this great book, it completely ruined the character of Mrs. Hubbard. I just never understand why they must change that most interesting and important character of this book to something totally different. The ending of the novel to me is so powerful because of that monologue from Mrs. Hubbard. And I believe that was the ultimate reason why Poirot made his choice in the end. None of that was seen in the movie. I actually think Angela Lansbury would be a perfect choice for this role and would definitely win her an Oscar for that reason.

But anyway, this is just another perfect example how AC can write crime novels, she always had the most innovative and bright ideas. And she knew how to touch upon reader's emotions.

floraberastury 01 Feb 10 at 11:13 p.m. GMT

read this in less than a day, loved it, but i think Hercules must have known who did the stab that must have killed the guy! doesn't Hercules supposed to know everything? anyways, the guy wasn't somebody good so...

MissQuin 01 Feb 10 at 7:40 p.m. GMT

good thinking detective conan The Italian being portrayed as hot tempered and money minded, (but then turns out he has a big heart after all!) All the English characters are reserved and unemotional, they don't like dispaying feelings. That really was a stereotype!

HeiseiHolmes 01 Feb 10 at 5:51 p.m. GMT

Stereotypes:

Evil Italian,

Old Army guy,

Poirot himself,

Mean rich guy.

That's 4! I hope you enjoy them.

Sahara 28 Jan 10 at 10:31 a.m. GMT

I think that justie was served very well in this particular instance. Sometimes when the legal system fails, extraordinary measures have to be taken, and in this case, it was very well deserved. Of course the fantastical idea of all these very different people agreeing to the plan and actually making it work may be a tad unrealistic but this is one of the few instances when Poirot assumes the role of judge and makes the decision whether to proclaim innocence or guilt. It also makes it easier for us the readers to condone his decision because the victim was a truly heinous person so we dont feel sorry for him, much like we don't feel sorry for Lady Westholme's demise in Appointment with Death.

kilogttam 27 Jan 10 at 10:36 p.m. GMT

What are some stereotypes in Murder on the Orient Express? Please post aleast 4. Thanks

HeiseiHolmes 25 Jan 10 at 5:11 p.m. GMT

What I like most in the book... would be the way it could only be a closed circle of suspects and yet the answer still amazes us.

go_leafs_nation 25 Jan 10 at 1:12 p.m. GMT

Brilliant post, Puffinjill. Flowery stuff about about Truth and Justice and so forth sound lovely in courtroom speeches (particularly those fictional dramatic trials), but did they apply in this case?

The victim here did some pretty awful stuff, but escaped his rightful punishment because of a technicality- Inspector so-and-so probably didn't wipe his feet before entering the house where he collected a clue, or something equally ridiculous. Hoorah for Justice.

MeganJayJay 17 Jan 10 at 8:12 p.m. GMT

Hello. =] i am writing a review in this book as school work and thought i'd come here for help.

Could any of you tell me what it is you like most about this book? i would appreciate any help. =]

Fishcake16 10 Jan 10 at 3:57 p.m. GMT

I am reading this at the moment and it is really good!!! Haven't quite got to the end but the bit I've read so far is fantastic!!! I love Poirot's power of noticing things that no one else would pay attention to. And finally he manages to put the clues together like a jigsaw puzzle!! Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple are going to live on forever as the greatest detective sleuths ever.

aurorajayne 18 Sep 09 at 11:40 p.m. GMT

Also, Poirot's actions come back to face him again later on, when the incident is alluded to in, as far as I can recall, "Appointment with Death."  Poirot is unchanged in his belief that to commit murder is wrong (one thing he has in common with Jane Marple) and brushes aside the reference to what happened on the train.  I feel that it was a rare situation but one that Poirot could live with, for he has shown a fondness and gentleness when it comes to the eventual happiness of others.

Puffinjill 16 Sep 09 at 10:16 a.m. GMT

Could justice have been served rather better? I rather expect it could but only within 'normal' society and Poiriot is not working within his normal environs. The Orient Express, trapped in snow, becomes a mircocosm - a seperate world, unable to make contact with any authority who might debate and dispense judgement in the usual way.Therefore, any decision on justice belongs only to that frozen moment in time, not to be considered as a way of upholding it at any other time.

Poirot has constantly stated throughout his career that he did not agree with murder. I don't think that his way of handling the murder of Rachett goes against his long held belief. He is confronted with the death of a man who has inflicted unspeakable suffering on many people (and taken the lives of children). His life is taken by one of his fellow passengers but, due to the fact that they all inflicted a stab wound, Poirot can never be certain which individual actually took his life.

I know they are all accessories, at least, and conspired to bring about the end of Rachett. Bringing some form of justice to bear on them all almost perpetuates Rachetts crimes.The evil he bought into their lives will stay with them and ruin them all. Bringing it all to a close, as Poirot does, one could argue that he gives them back their lives, free of the past, and allows happiness a chance where only pain and memories would have remained had Rachett lived. He uses the unique situation of them all, removed from the world, to give the Doctor and M. Buch the choice of how to bring some kind of closure to it all. And, in giving others the choice, Poirot isn't going back on his beliefs on murder. He doesn't judge, he gives others a humane choice.