Murder on the Orient Express

Oooh, I can see why people really enjoyed this one. You slowly piece together the mystery with our detective and you don't know any evidence that he doesn't. I hate mysteries that keep a key clue hidden from you or add a clue last minute...this doesn't do that. As I was following along I almost got it wrapped up, a great story.

I will say i'm glad I got this on audio.

One thing I didn't care for was the constant comments on cultures/race to guess someone's actions or personality. That got tiresome

Complicated and stuffy! Lots of fun!

The story was interesting, but not riveting.

Knowing there was snow involved, I was expecting the story to have a more seasonal feel, instead, it simply added to the logic surrounding the mystery and threw a wrench in the original plan; however, there wasn't anything really wintry or nostalgic as I expected (i.e. a snowy winter train ride). But that's my incorrect assumption and no fault of the author.

A murder mystery classic. I was very pleased that I was able to not recall anything I'd ever heard about this book and so I was absolutely delighted at the revelation at the end.

I am not sure the audiobook reader really did justice to Poirot's voice, though. He came off as rather bland and uninteresting.

Re-reading for BOB. Even better than I remembered. Christie's cleverness & humor still stand up, even if her milewide country stereotypes don't (oof). Still have a bunch of kids reading and asking for Christie in the library so plan to add some newer editions this year.

According to the book's cover information, Murder on the Orient Express is the most widely read mystery of all time. I have read one or two Agatha Christie novels over the past decade or so, but probably 8 or 10 when I was a teen. Murder on the Orient Express was not one of those that I have previously read and I did not know the actual story when I picked it up.

The audiobook I listened to was narrated by Kenneth Branagh, and released in conjunction with Branagh's movie in late 2017. I have not seen the movie, but I can see how it would work well as a movie. 

As I have said before, I am a relatively recent convert to the mystery genre. Older Sherlock Holmes and similar novels that are about obscure clues and puzzles are not particularly interesting to me. I assume that an author can trick me as a reader into going off on the wrong track. Instead I am more interested in the people, the setting, the motivations and psychology. 

Murder on the Orient Express is one of the Christie books that is more focused on the parts of the mystery that I like and is less focused on the parts of the mystery that I do not. Christie writes in a fairly simple style but Branagh is an excellent narrator and gave real voice to the characters. 

I will not give away any of the details but this was worth reading. I am not sure I will pick up another Christie novel quickly. But this was a good change of pace that I was glad to have listened to.

I have never read an Agatha Christie book before this one. I had decided to read it because the movie is coming out and I usually like to read the book (if applicable) before I see the movie. I enjoyed this more then I thought I would and at some point would like to go back and read book 1-9

This book was... not good. I wasn't a fan of the writing style; it was similar to [b: The Great Gatsby 4671 The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490528560l/4671.SY75.jpg 245494] (but less word-y). I was bored and confused 75% of the time and there was really no plot? The ending still confuses me. I just wish I hadn't had to force myself to finish this.

01/13/2018
What a finale!!!! RTC

01/25/2018
(You can also find this review on my blog.)

I'll be honest — I was a little nervous going into this book. Classics (this is kind of a classic, right?) tend to be hit or miss for me, and mostly miss. I just find the writing so difficult to get into. Luckily for me, Agatha Christie truly is a master of the mystery genre.

The story did start off pretty slow for me, but I loved how witty and sarcastic Poirot was. I found myself cackling at his commentary more than once. I actually sent most of my friends a picture of this line:

Poirot rose. “If you forgive me for being personal — I do not like your face, M. Ratchett,” he said.And with that he left the restaurant car.

My biggest issue was probably the number of characters. I lost track of everyone almost immediately and got extremely lost trying to figure out who was who. To be fair, there is a list at the beginning of the book, but I didn't want to keep flipping back and forth or taking notes.

Things picked up a lot toward the end and I flew through the pages, eager to find out who the killer was. The finale honestly blew me away. Obviously I can't say anything without giving away spoilers, but Agatha Christie did an incredible job of pulling it all together. It helps that Poirot has a flair for the dramatic.

I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is interested in reading something by Christie, or anyone interested in solving the Murder on the Orient Express!

This will hopefully be just the first of many of Christie's novels I read - I loved this story. I read this novel in particular after hearing so much about the movie and am in awe of a story and writing that is still as entertaining in 2017 as it was when first written in the 1930s. This was a page turner, as I had to know what other evidence and connections would appear or be made. I didn't guess the ending and was pleasantly surprised with how the story unfolded. Would highly recommend!

Reading this, it's obvious why it's such a classic. Poirot is the very archetype of the detective, the setting is unique and fanciful, and the titular murder is accomplished under mysterious and seemingly impossible circumstances. Throughout the story, Poirot deftly uncovers the most subtle of clues to arrive at a fascinating conclusion. If there's any drawback to the story, it's that for a modern audience some of the clues might be too subtle, as they rely on outdated cultural references that most modern readers wouldn't be familiar with. On the whole, that doesn't detract from an enjoyable story, however.

Visto que não dedicarei espaço a este livro no blogue, embora merecesse um lugar de destaque, “O crime no expresso do oriente” foi o segundo livro de Agatha Christie que eu tive a oportunidade de ler, recentemente.

Ao contrário da minha primeira experiência, e talvez devido a isso, não me deparei com dificuldades em adentrar na trama, apesar de toda ela seguir aquela que me parece a fórmula da autora: capítulos curtos, factos contidos, história inicial de ritmo lento e, após as alternâncias de ideias, um ritmo mais alucinante, mais para o final da história. Não que isso funcione como um empurrão de todos os factos para o final, tornando tudo mais aliciante, mas sim como um método de nos tornar completos viciados na obra que nos é apresentado.

Não sei discernir se se tratou de pura preguiça lógica, se de uma extrema ansiedade de mãos dadas com a curiosidade, ou mesmo tudo isto junto e o talento de Agatha, mas a verdade é que me senti extremamente encurralada pelo desnorte, sem saber o que pensar, ou de como fazê-lo.

“Um crime no expresso do oriente” é um livro que nos deixa abananados, confusos, intrigados e todos os adjetivos relacionados com o quão absurdo é já não nos reconhecermos como seres de uma dedução lógica fascinante.

Aconselho mesmo MUITO a sua leitura, principalmente se estiverem num período das vossas vidas em que necessitam de uma companhia rápida, bem construída e, de certa maneira, um gatilho para os nossos pensamentos mais profundos!

Read this in anticipation of the movie and really enjoyed it! Quick read with a wide array of colorful characters. Perfect over-the-holidays book to read under a warm blanket.

I read this book a long time ago as a teen, and enjoyed it then. For some reason, I thought this book didn't hold up as well upon re-reading. It was okay.

4.5/5 stars

I have, of course, read this classic detective novel before, but it has been at least 20 years since. I am so glad I re-read it. It is wholly satisfying.

‘'Some crimes God does not forgive!''

Last week, I watched (for the gazillionth time...) ITV's 2010 production of ‘'Murder on the Orient Express'' with the inimitable David Suchet in the role of our beloved Hercule Poirot and it prompted certain thoughts in my mind. Why is this considered one of Christie's finest creations? Many say that, arguably, it is her best work and this view I do share.

I don't think any of us need a synopsis. To say the story is well-known would be an understatement. Even people who haven't read the book know of the outstanding outcome and the resolution of, possibly, the most controversial murder (but is it a ‘'crime''?) in Christie's marvellous works. So what is it that makes this novel by the Lady of Crime so iconic and a point of reference?

Is is the exceptional cast of characters, each one battling with the demons of the past? Is it the wintry atmosphere? The intense feeling of claustrophobia, of being trapped in a train, within a snowstorm, in a foreign country with a dead body lying in a compartment? Or is it the absolute, ultimate questioning of the moral values we have come to adopt? What is right and wrong? When injustice isn't punished, to what extent can we bend the human limits? God and Law can't always protect us...Here, Hercule discovers that his little grey cells are only a small part of the solution. It is his heart that has to do the rest.

This is a jewel not only of Crime Fiction, but of Literature in general, regardless of the genre. A work that doesn't ask the reader to think of the ‘'who has done it'' question, but to contemplate on the ‘'what would you have done'' issue. And as for me, I fully agree with Greta Ohlsson. Some crimes God doesn't forgive....

My reviews can be found in: https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

I picked this up to give me a sense of achievement while reading It. I was particularly looking forward to the movie which is coming soon, so I thought this short novel would be a good choice. This is the first Agatha Christie I've ever read, and I found it enjoyable.

Firstly, I do not often read crime novels. Its just not something I reach for often. I enjoyed reading this book, particularly for how fast I was getting through it. It felt like a quick, intriguing read that kept me going. I enjoyed all the characters, and thought the interactions between this large cast was well written. In addition, I thought the book was a good length for the period of time that it considered.

One note, I felt the descriptions of the reasons behind the deductions were a bit overwhelming and unclear, but I think the movie will clear things up for me.

I finished this with a very skeptical look on my face. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. Engaging, sure, hence the three stars; I enjoyed reading it. But Poirot made some wild assumptions that made me give him the side-eye on more than one occasion. (I wanted to know why M. Bouc and Dr. Constantine escaped suspicion, in Poirot's eyes, given the limited number of people it could have been.) Am I allowed to say I just don't care for him as a detective much? The conclusion was not very satisfying, even though I didn't know whodunnit until the end.

This was a very interesting mystery. I was stumped and couldn´t figure it out. It reminded me a lot of the game of clue. Very fun.

I had no clue who the murderer was. This is one of my favorite Agatha Christie novels.

Is there a point in reading an Agatha Christie mystery when you already know the plot? The writing is dry, a “just the facts mam” approach which I kind of appreciate. But the mystery genre holds no sway over me. CSI like series are not my thing.

Read 2:17 / 6:49 34%

Figured I should read an Agatha Christie and found this in a second hand bookstore so took my chance. The writing is very good, I can't argue with that. It's a great skill to sketch out about 15 unique characters in such short time, and balance the unveiling of the mystery without giving too much away. The evidence is laid out neatly and well summarised at various points using devices such as maps, reproductins of Poirot's own notes and helpful conversations amongst the investigators.

Unfortunately, though, it seemed to be totally pointless even trying to play along, let alone work out ‘whodunnit', since the ending is such a ludicrous cheat: everyone's the murderer! I mean, sure, it makes sense, but the fact that this guy was the driver and that woman was the cook is something we can never have known. All the ‘evidence', therefore, is pure lies. Everything is a red herring.

Just seemed like a massive cheat to me.

I might like to try another Christie at some point, but I'd prefer it if it was just a straightforward murder mystery with one assailant!

crazy good

L'un de mes deux romans préférés d'Agatha Christie, à égalité avec Dix petits nègres.