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!

The Mystery of the Blue Train

Jemma 05 Sep 09 at 11:24 a.m. GMT

This was Christie's least favourite novel, perhaps because it was written during a particularly unhappy time for her, just after her mother's death and during the breakdown of her marriage.

Accusations have been levelled at the stereotypical characters - but is this fair? The character of Gobi is arguably a gem. Christie chose not to include Hastings in this novel - is it the poorer for it?

Was this an example of Christie dabbling in the Thriller genre? And can it be used as evidence that this wasn't her forte?

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89 replies

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HeiseiHolmes 10 Feb 10 at 3:58 p.m. GMT

I have to say, I really couldn't enjoy this book. It didn't flow well for me, and I had to force myself to finish it.

skulduggery32 24 Jun 10 at 5:52 p.m. GMT

this was probably my worst Christie novel. it didn't have the usual spark to it. like helsiholmes i had to force myself to finish it.

Puffinjill 25 Jun 10 at 8 a.m. GMT

I have never found this one as weak as many others seem to do. Yes, there are some parts that are poorly done and it isn't anywhere near Christie at her best but, when one looks at the difficult circumstances under which she was writing, I think she did quite a reasonable job. It's saving grace, for me, is the creation of two very appealling characters - Katherine Grey and Mr Goby. Up until then, AC had tended to write about young women full of life and adventure but, in Katherine, she creates a more mature, more serious woman who looks on rather than rushes into action. She may be less fun than some of AC other characters (Tuppence, Bundle, Anne Beddingfeld etc) but she is more thoughtful and complete person because of it. She may create less sparkle and impact but her personality still imprints itself on the readers memory, almost because of it's lack of force. As for Mr Goby - well, he is just a pure delight! What a wonderfully quirky character he is!! AC can't have been completely off her game if she could still find this gem of a character in her imagination!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 25 Jun 10 at 11:59 a.m. GMT

I'm with you Puffinjill, this book is not one of her greatest works, but streets ahead of ones such as 'Postern of Fate' which I really did struggle to finish.  I actually didn't guess the murderer, (although I seem to be the only one of my Christie reading friends who didn't).  I don't find the characterisations weak in any way and feel that the partnership between Katherine and Poirot is really delightful.  Hastings would have just fallen in love with Katherine and complicated matters!  Mr Gobi is also superb and appears in another book, I think?  The Blue Train is one of many I have on audio book and I listen to it often.  I think it's great.

Puffinjill 25 Jun 10 at 3:13 p.m. GMT

Lucky you, Miss Eylesbarrow, being able to listen to the audio book of The Mystery Of The Blue Train as and when you wish. Alas, my copy got damaged by overplay as I loved it dearly too (it was on cassette) and hope I can replace it with a CD version that will stand up to my repeated plays soon.

I, too, didn't guess the murderer when I first read it. In fact, I was a little disapointed with who it turned out to be as this character was one I had rather liked. Trust Christie to lure us all in with an appealing and kind personality that masks a rather different and much more ruthless one underneath!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 29 Jun 10 at 9:29 a.m. GMT

If you have an MP3 player, Puffinjill, you can download the story from itunes - they are really resaonable and there are LOADS of Agatha Christie's on there - I'm like a kid in a sweet shop every time I go on

Puffinjill 29 Jun 10 at 2:59 p.m. GMT

I do, I do, Miss Eylesbarrow, but I tend to only use that when I'm out and about - running, cycling, walking, etc - not when I am at home and have a little more time to listen to the novels. I tend to put the collections of short stories on my MP4 (currently listening to Poirot's Early Cases but my big fave to run to is my complete Miss Marple short story collection) as these tend to fit more neatly into these activities. When I'm home, I have one of AC's novels on my CD player at all times (except when I occasionally listen to one by another author), so a full-length novel works better there. Plus, I actually like owning them and having them lined up on my shelves. Thanks for the tip, though! Do you have any real favourites, Miss E?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 30 Jun 10 at 9:39 a.m. GMT

I listen to mine when I'm at my allotment.  I can usually get through at least 3/4 of a story in a day down there.  I also listen in the car and when walking to work.  Sometimes I have three different stories on the go all at once, my family wonder how I can keep track of them all and not get mixed up, but when you know the stories so well, it's easy, isn't it?  I often find myself joining in with the dialogue or disagreeing with a character, such as: character 'I didn't kill him'; me 'Oh, yes you did!'.  Sad I know !

Gosh, real favourites? Er, 'The Hollow' has to be right up there, and also 'The Moving Finger', Practically all the books from the 30's through to the mid 50's I could read/listen to time and time again.  I do prefer full length novels to short stories, but some of the shorts are fab, like The Unbreakable Alibi' and 'Blue Geranium'.

MissQuin 30 Jun 10 at 3:25 p.m. GMT

Miss Eylesbarrow has recommended this book to me. Ive not read any of the other posts, as I'm too wary of spoilers!

Ive found that I must always use my own personal judement, if it's a book, a programme or piece of music. I'm not easily swayed by others opinions. I'd heard Blue train might no be the best AC book. But I would have read it anyway. But I did see part of the Suchet, adaptation. That put me off reading the blue train for years! It seems it wasn't much like the book though??

HarleyBarley 30 Jun 10 at 4:28 p.m. GMT

I can't speak about the adaptation, Miss Quin, but the book was quite interesting. Not quite AC's worst (personally, I give the nomination to Elephants Can Remember, although it's a matter of taste), but not AC in her shining moments either. The culprit was a bit unexpected to me, and the crime quite baffling, but the book seems a bit winded about. But if one is prepared for long dialogues and fillers, then go ahead, by all means.

MissQuin 30 Jun 10 at 4:35 p.m. GMT

Your putting me off Harley!! I'm now puzzled. I'll try and get hold of a copy anyway, to make my own mind up.

Worst AC book? Ive not read them all but my least favourite was Dead Mans Folly. I havent anything good to say about it. I read it years ago and hardly rmember anything, except I lost the will to carry on reading it. I guessed the plot too easily, from the beguining.

HarleyBarley 30 Jun 10 at 4:46 p.m. GMT

Well, sometimes the one where we guessed the plot are not quite the worst ones for me. The title And Then There Were None made the ending a foregone conclusion (except for the actual denouement of sorts, that is), and one of the stories where I deduced the guilty party is actually branded as one of AC's finest: Death on the Nile. I still enjoyed it, though - I feel quite proud of myself when I can crack the mystery.

Back to the Blue Train: it has all sorts of AC's characteristic, er, characters. There's the female ingenue, the Betty and Veronica situation (TVTropes can help clear you up on that one), the "Modern Girl", the mother whose hobby seems to be marriage, and so forth. Altogether an amusing story for me, although not one of my favourites either.

MissQuin 30 Jun 10 at 4:58 p.m. GMT

No, Ive guesses quite a few Chisites and still been amongst my favourites. But there's something about Dead Mans Folly I don't like. I think it as too dull for me.

On the other hand I didn't enjoy Endless Night, but it wasn't dull. It was just very tense and I felt on edge permantly. Probably just me being spooked too easily

There's no way I'm looking up anything about Blue train Harley! spoliers lurk everywhere. Ive already read Crooked house  by accident.

But i'm glad my first Chrisite book was Marple/Poirot short sotries, follwed by Ackryod, as it got my atention and I wanted to read MORE!!

Bundle_ 30 Jun 10 at 6:47 p.m. GMT

Hey! Crooked House was ruined for me too

But as everyone knows I love Endless Night. But I didn't care too much for Dead Man's Folly either, MQ. I know the reason for this though. I thought the solution was too easy, too melodramatic, and a little unbeliveable. I also thought the culprit(s) was/were an easy way out. AC, I felt, could have picked {a} better culprit(s).

Puffinjill 01 Jul 10 at 6:58 a.m. GMT

Miss_Eylesbarrow

I listen to mine when I'm at my allotment.  I can usually get through at least 3/4 of a story in a day down there.  I also listen in the car and when walking to work.  Sometimes I have three different stories on the go all at once, my family wonder how I can keep track of them all and not get mixed up, but when you know the stories so well, it's easy, isn't it?  I often find myself joining in with the dialogue or disagreeing with a character, such as: character 'I didn't kill him'; me 'Oh, yes you did!'.  Sad I know !

You sound like someone after my own heart, Miss Eylesbarrow!!! I spend more time with AC's books/audiobooks than I do with my partner or any of the other 'real' people in my life! They are my one true and constant companion and I would be lost without them - now THAT'S sad, or would be considered so by many!!!

Out of the two favourites you mention, I would have to say I prefer The Moving Finger to The Hollow (which has never really worked for me). Do you find yourself preferring the audiobook of some to the written word? I know I do. Some books I'm not that keen to reread again but find I could still listen to them and enjoy them at any time. And I have actually changed my mind about some once I've had them bought to life for me by a wonderful reading.

Sorry, everyone! I know I'm WAY off topic!!!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 01 Jul 10 at 2:20 p.m. GMT

Puffinjill.

Some books I'm not that keen to reread again but find I could still listen to them and enjoy them at any time. And I have actually changed my mind about some once I've had them bought to life for me by a wonderful reading.

Yes, I totally agree Puffinjill.  I love the Poirot's read by Hugh Fraser (Hastings in the TV adapts).  He does fab voices, including the female ones.  I think he's better for the audio books than David Suchet (sorry David!).  I've really come to love 'Blue Train' through listening to the audio book, better than when actually reading it for myself. 

I find that when listening to the audio books, I can often pick up details which I miss when reading because I always read at such a fast pace to get to the end and find out 'who dunnit'.  When listening, you have to go at the reader's pace and sometimes their emphasis makes you aware of something you wouldn't otherwise notice. 

Puffinjill 02 Jul 10 at 6:58 a.m. GMT

ABSOLUTELY!!!! I couldn't agree more!! I have to say that Hugh Fraser is my first choice to read them too. He has a wonderful voice and is brilliant at portraying each character (his Mrs Oliver is a sheer delight!!) without ever projecting his own personality into the narrative, and that is quite a difficult thing to achieve. I've always found David Suchet's readings overdramatic and very theatrical, and too full of him rather than the story so the flow of the action always seems a little stilted. Hugh Fraser, however, reads them is such a way that the story always comes first and the flow of the narrative draws the listener into the storyline in a completely involving way. Joan Hickson is my first choice for the Miss Marple audiobooks as her voice (and her portrayal of Miss M), for me, is simply the best there is for these stories.

Great to know I'm not alone in how I feel, Miss Eylesbarrow!!

Puffinjill 02 Jul 10 at 6:58 a.m. GMT

ABSOLUTELY!!!! I couldn't agree more!! I have to say that Hugh Fraser is my first choice to read them too. He has a wonderful voice and is brilliant at protraying each character without ever projecting his own personality into the narrative. I've always found David Suchet's readings overdramatic and very theatrical, and too full of him rather than the story so the flow of the action always seems a little stilted. Hugh Fraser, however, reads them is such a way that the story always comes first and the flow of the narrative draws the listener into the storyline in a completely involving way. Joan Hickson is my first choice for the Miss Marple audiobooks as her voice (and her portrayal of Miss M), for me, is simply the best there is for these stories.

Great to know I'm not alone in how I feel, Miss Eylesbarrow!!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 02 Jul 10 at 9:06 a.m. GMT

Oh yes, I love the Joan Hickson narratives too, pity there aren't more of them.  Stephanie what's her name just isn't the same - I've got Stephanie thingummy bob reading 'At Bertram's Hotel' and I'd dearly love to hear the 'real' Miss M do it!  Describing 'real linen tea cloths without pictures of lemons to distract you when you are washing up' - heaven! 

Am I right in remembering that there is a tale that AC saw Joan Hickson in something once, many years before she protrayed Miss M and said that she (Joan) was her ideal Miss Marple (or am I just making that one up?).

Puffinjill 02 Jul 10 at 2:57 p.m. GMT

No, you aren't making that up, Miss Eylesbarrow, as I recently read that story too. In fact, it was whilst I was in the Agatha Christie Gallery in the Torquay Museum a few weeks ago and it had that written up next to a case containing a costume worn by the great Joan Hickson in the BBC adptations of Miss Marple.

The name you are searching for is Stephanie Cole and I, too have At Bertram's Hotel, and also Sleeping Murder, read by her (she also did The Body In The Library but I no longer have a copy of this). They're OK but lack that extra touch of magic that JH could bring to them. Sadly, I think Ms Hickson died before she could record them but at least have some of them read by her.