Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Revenge is a powerful emotion that directs action and intent. As Hercule Poirot (HP) perfectly puts it – “It takes the fracture of a soul to murder a human being.”

I will not do a formal review here where I rant about the book, the author, list the positives, negatives, and finally, rate the book and end with an audience recommendation.

Death on The Nile by Agatha Christie | Book review

25 Creepy Scary Book Covers that will haunt your dreams

The Queen of Mystery (Agatha Christie) merits better treatment, and I also wanted this post to be more fun. Of course, everyone should read this book, which goes without saying. Agatha Christie's cozy mysteries are always my go-to genre when I'm not in the mood to read. This small-faced, 350-page book is packed with a brilliance and sprinkled with humor.

What I am going to do here is create a summary or give a blow by blow of the story with pictures. Don’t worry, I am not going to give away the murderer in the story. I leave that to you to guess. But I will reconstruct the plot in comparison with the 2017 movie based on the book by the same name.

Warning : I will be talking about the plot in detail here, so those who want to read the book without any background please skip this page. But rest assured I have not given away the Murderer at any stage.

Book vs Movie

Similarities and Differences in the Plot

Books

Hercule Poirot is on his way to Stamboul for a holiday.
On his first train journey he encounters a graceful English lady and Indian Doctor, having an awkward conversation.
An urgent letter in Stamboul puts HP on the Orient Express alongwith his old friend Bouc, the director of the Railway Co.
Bouc and HP are surprised to find that every compartment in the Calous coach is booked at during an off season period.
The Simplon Orient Express embarks on its journey at 9 in the night.
Evidence and facts found – body stabbed 12 times – some blows weak, some strong, and both left and right-handed wounds suggesting two murderers. A burnt note, A pipe cleaner. A handkerchief with the initial H. A broken watch stopped at 1.15. A cup with drugs used to sedate Ratchett.
The burnt note becomes the key as it highlights the word Armstrong, and because all other evidence seems planted for misdirection.
The murder victim’s true identity is revealed – Casetti, the man who kidnapped and then murdered a favorite child in a happy household. But three other people are killed –the child’s mother who is carrying a baby dies due to the shock and a premature delivery along with the unborn baby.
Interviews with each of the passengers on the couch conducted.
HP and Bouc are shocked by the discovery that most of the passengers are related to the Armstrong case in one or another way.
Luggage is searched which leads to true identity of Countess Andreneyi and also the murder weapon.

Movie

Hercule Poirot is in Jerusalem about the theft of an antique.
After the case is solved he departs on a boat to Stamboul where he happens to hear the conversation between a lady and an Indian Doctor.
Here the story is similar here only Bouc is a dashing young man, quite unlike that suitable for the post of the director of the company.
The story matches here even the mention by Bouc where he observes, we are surrounded by people of all classes, of all ages, of all nationalities.
The Simplon Orient Express embarks on its journey at 7 in the morning.
Similar findings.
In the movie here there is a rescue party arriving to shovel away the snow.
A French maid in the house who becomes the accused kills herself and the father Colonel Armstrong shoots himself after his life is doomed in despair due to the tragedy.
The murder victim's identity is discovered in the same manner as the original. Casetti, the man who kidnapped and then murdered a darling child in a happy household. The entire family is shattered and lost due to the loss of the child. The case has a sensational appeal and Casetti's identity was made in the case very late.
Interviews with each of the passengers on the couch conducted.
HP and Bouc are shocked by the discovery that most of the passengers are related to the Armstrong case in one or another way.
Luggage search on reveals Contess’ identity. Someone stabs Mrs Hubbard in the back with the murder weapon.

Similarities:

10 things that need explaining...

A kimono seen by HP on the fatal night is found in his luggage.
The 10 questions that need answers to solve the mystery.
HP is lost in thought, arrives at 2 solutions to discover the murderer.
Solution 1 – Improbable as it does not cover many facts that surfaced during investigation
Solution 2 – Impossible due to its sheer scale and absurdity, but the facts line up and is the real truth of the mystery.

Conclusion – Solution 1 accepted because Solution 2 will create more fractured souls and more pain.

The timeline that Hercule Poirot

creates in the book based

on the evidence and interviews

Pluses of the book.

There is a map of the coach, with the seating arrangement of the passengers, there is the 10 question list, there is a detailed timeline and of course its more in-depth, and original.

The book follows a very methodical approach for readers with three parts to the story and chapters within the story with insightful titles to track the progress of the case.

The twists are shocking and page-turning.

Negatives of the book

A detailed reference to HP’s earlier success of his work would’ve added to the mystery content of the story of how he does the impossible.

Pluses of the movie

The unimaginably beautiful landscape that the Orient Express runs through is absolutely majestic. It has to be seen. Also the glamour of the coach and the characters needs to be watched by the eyes, unfolded effortlessly. I even liked the romance shade accorded to HP, a soft side to him is portrayed.

And Poirot was so perfect, I almost wanted to kiss him 🙂

Negatives of the movie

An unnecessary chase and altercation between HP and MacQueen could've been avoided.

HP is shot in the hand by Arbuthnot, why of why? The story had enough drama already. And of top of that he walks as if nothing hurt him.

Final Verdict

I am not someone who recommends a movie over the book, but I have to make an exception this time and say, this movie must not be missed.

I would recommend you first read the book and then watch the movie if you haven’t already. Both are worth it.

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her Books have sold over a billion copies in English with another billion in 100 foreign languages. She is the most widely published author of all time and in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections., 19 plays, and six novels written under the name of Mary Westmacott.

More About her on Goodreads