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The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
3.0

Alright, folks, imagine hopping aboard a fancy train to the Riviera, and you’re expecting an enjoyable ride. Enter Ruth Kettering, the American heiress who, after a cozy night in her compartment, ends up dead and, to make matters worse, her entire private life is splashed all over the headlines. Sounds thrilling, right? Well, kind of.

Now, don’t get me wrong, The Mystery of the Blue Train gives off a vibe reminiscent of Murder on the Orient Express—the train setting, the glamorous passengers, the mystery—but without that urgent sense of drama. It’s like you’re riding along, but the tracks are a little bumpy.

For starters, Hercule Poirot doesn’t even show up until the tenth chapter. Yep, that’s right—you’re stuck with a bunch of characters and shifting POVs trying to figure out what on earth is happening, without any idea of how they fit into the grand scheme of things. It’s like watching a movie where you can’t tell who the main character is until halfway through. I’ll admit, it left me feeling a bit... adrift.

And, in case you’re wondering, this book was written under some financial pressure (yep, Agatha Christie had to support her family), and she admitted that this one wasn’t her finest work. Now, I don’t think she’s giving herself enough credit. It’s not the best of her works, no, but it’s not the worst either. It’s got all the charm of a Hercule Poirot mystery, just without the usual spark that comes with a little more polish.

In short, The Mystery of the Blue Train is a decent read, though not the one you’d point to when recommending a first Hercule Poirot mystery. It’s more of a scenic ride with a couple of stops you might wish you could skip—but ultimately, you’ll still get to your destination and enjoy the journey, if not always at full speed.