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jlwilson's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
2.0
I can't really work out what to think about this book. I know early books by an author can be... formulaic (and this is an early Poirot book). I know that this is an Agatha Christie novel, so it's almost definitionally formulaic, and even if it weren't, it's Christie, so it's never going to be the literary equivalent of The Magnificent Ambersons, but hells teeth this was formulaic.
In this book, Hercule Poirot is travelling on the "Blue Train" to the south of France for a holiday. He's travelling with the usual group of potentially nefarious upper middle class, and upper class toff who either have money, want to gain money, or want to keep the money they have, when one of them is murdered.
Poirot doesn't do much investigating. He sits in on an interview here. He makes discreet inquiries there. He talks to his contacts in the underworld, somewhere else, and kapow, he's solved the case. All in all, if you've read any other Christie books, or watched anything by her on the television, you're going to be able to guess who the murderer was. To be honest you'll need the experience of the shows too, because there's no way you can work out who this murderer was, based on the scant clues she leaves for you in the book.
Before, I close, I'd like to apologise to P.D. James. I've accused her in reviews of being like a modern day Agatha Christie. She isn't. She's a much better writer. And her stories are more intricately plotted too.
In this book, Hercule Poirot is travelling on the "Blue Train" to the south of France for a holiday. He's travelling with the usual group of potentially nefarious upper middle class, and upper class toff who either have money, want to gain money, or want to keep the money they have, when one of them is murdered.
Poirot doesn't do much investigating. He sits in on an interview here. He makes discreet inquiries there. He talks to his contacts in the underworld, somewhere else, and kapow, he's solved the case. All in all, if you've read any other Christie books, or watched anything by her on the television, you're going to be able to guess who the murderer was. To be honest you'll need the experience of the shows too, because there's no way you can work out who this murderer was, based on the scant clues she leaves for you in the book.
Before, I close, I'd like to apologise to P.D. James. I've accused her in reviews of being like a modern day Agatha Christie. She isn't. She's a much better writer. And her stories are more intricately plotted too.
mamabear10's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
misslpietrobon's review against another edition
3.0
It is always great to stumble upon a Poirot novel I haven't read yet! I especially loved the references to St. Mary Mead, the hometown of Miss Marple! However, Agatha Christie has done murder on trains multiple times, and this is nowhere near as good as Murder on the Orient Express. It does have its merits however. Poirot seems particularly charming and the supporting characters are hilarious.
quills_and_typewriters's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
irinat44's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
janlc's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Fair skal være fair. Jeg var lidt fraværende i starten af bogen, og det gik ud over at holde styr på persongalleriet et stykke hen af vejen.
Det gør nu ikke det helt store, for der er tale om en lige ud af landevejen Hercules Poirot historie. Det er kompetent, men ikke revolutionerende eller overraskende. Fin, fint underholdning hvis man er i humør til en solidt fortalt krimi.
Hørt som lydbog, der bærer præg af at være produceret en del år siden.
Det gør nu ikke det helt store, for der er tale om en lige ud af landevejen Hercules Poirot historie. Det er kompetent, men ikke revolutionerende eller overraskende. Fin, fint underholdning hvis man er i humør til en solidt fortalt krimi.
Hørt som lydbog, der bærer præg af at være produceret en del år siden.