The Mystery of the Blue Train (Hercule Poirot Mysteries (Paperback))

Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK LACKS OF IMAGINATION
Review: Actually, I think this book is well written, but I think it does not have that personality that Agatha Christie used to write in her books. I think that it is very well written, as I did write, but it is not Christie's at her best. It is a pity.

Rating:
Summary: Agatha Christie was wrong!
Review: Christie felt that The Mystery of the Blue Train was her weakest book and in fact stated on occasion that she hated it. While it is not one of her top ten books in my estimation, it is still an excellent book, with good writing, fascinating characters, good plot development and classic Christie style and flair.

Rating:
Summary: Great atmosphere and well drawn characters
Review: I first read this book at the age of 13 and loved the story. I was also struck by the great atmosphere of England and the French Riviera created by Christie. I found the characters of Katherine and Derek sympathetic and believeable and that of Lenox, very sad. I also liked the way Poirot is able to bring them together while simulataneously pursuing the killer. My only complaint was that I felt the actual mystery was less complex than some of Christie's other works (like "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd"). However, the overall story was so enjoyable that I don't think anyone would care. Definitely one of my sentimental favorites for its happy ending and the way it leaves you with a feeling of optimism at the end.

Rating:
Summary: Not one of her greatest
Review: I have to admit, this one left me a bit confused and uninspired. The final whereabouts of the Heart Afire ruby were a bit vague and I'm not sure how it ended up with who it did, plus the identity of the murderer is easy to guess, as well. In this one in particular, Poirot seems grumpy and pushy and in some passages, downright surly and rude. I didn't find this to be one of his more riveting cases. Murder on the Orient Express uses the train setting much more cleverly and even Miss Marple's 4:15 from Paddington was more involving. This, I hate to say, because I love everything Christie writes, came off rather flat. The characters aren't really interesting, either

Rating:
Summary: A Good Read......
Review: I just finished reading this book and I very much enjoyed it. The characters are well developed, although from many areas of the world and the setting flits around. The only things that stood out to me as being very unrealistic is how so many people could have the same initial (K) and also how so many connected people could be on one train at the same time without each other knowing! But the ending is very good-not what I thought it would be at all. For a good read, I recommend this book though.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining read
Review: I thought it was pretty good, much better than the "Tuesday Club Murders". The ending was not all that contrived, as stories go, and the characters interesting and developed. It was fairly easy to figure out the murderer(s) though. Maybe she made it easy because she wanted to avoid a contrived ending; and having the reader figure it out may placate the reader's ego and forgive/not notice the contrivancy of her story -- hmmm? I have only read two Christie books, however, so I am no expert. Her style is much more comprehensive than Conan Doyle's, however, whose stories seem sketch like. Apparently this wasn't her favorite of her mysteries, but I thought it was okay.

Rating:
Summary: An Unexpected Pleasure
Review: Of all her novels, Agatha Christie reportedly felt MYSTREY OF THE BLUE TRAIN was her weakest effort. But artists are not always the best judge of their own work, and while I wouldn't rank this Christie novel quite as highly as some others, I certainly don't consider it among her weaker efforts. A wealthy father's gift of a famous jewel to a headstrong daughter sets murder in motion, and Poriot must unravel a complex plot involving jewel thieves and con-artists to reach one of Christie's more satisfying solutions. Lightweight, perhaps, but no less charming for that.

Rating:
Summary: Superb Ending
Review: The book offers all of the usual Agatha Christie touches: Hercule Poirot in fine form; a young woman who ends up getting married; a few rogues; and numerous likely suspects. As usual, she makes fun of Poirot and of some of the other characters.
The ending caught me completely by surprise - it is one the best endings in all of her books.
Unlike some modern authors, Christie did not pride herself on filling up endless pages. Her writing is lean and well plotted. Each scene has a purpose in the story. There is no excess language or bloated descriptions. She gets to the point quickly.

Rating:
Summary: Superb Ending
Review: The book offers all of the usual Agatha Christie touches: Hercule Poirot in fine form; a young woman who ends up getting married; a few rogues; and numerous likely suspects. As usual, she makes fun of Poirot and of some of the other characters.
The ending caught me completely by surprise - it is one the best endings in all of her books.
Unlike some modern authors, Christie did not pride herself on filling up endless pages. Her writing is lean and well plotted. Each scene has a purpose in the story. There is no excess language or bloated descriptions. She gets to the point quickly.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Return to Form
Review: The Mystery of the Blue Train is not Agatha Christie's most famous or best train mystery, that would come a few years later, but it is a worthwhile addition to the Hercule Poirot series. It marks a return to the kind of mysteries Christie wrote best and away from the earlier spy thriller, The Big Four. This novel is full to bursting with interesting characters from secretaries to jewel thieves to countesses to companions for crusty old ladies, and all drawn with effortless skill by the author in a few simple strokes. There may even be a few too many characters for some reader's tastes as a few of them are quite obviously not actively involved in the plot but it is fun to watch the author parade the cast of characters all about the villas of the Riviera and the streets of Paris. A very nice Christie whodunit.