Review: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Murder on the Orient Express is a gripping murder mystery with a surprising ending.  Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is traveling by train through Europe.  It is snowing hard, and the train has to stop on the tracks for a few days in the middle of nowhere until it can get past the snow.  While stopped, a gruesome murder takes place.  Who stabbed wealthy American Mr. Ratchett twelve times?  It has to be someone in the same car, yet no witnesses have come forward.  Poirot takes it upon himself to solve the murder and interviews and studies all of the passengers.  Will he catch the murderer?

I really enjoyed Murder on the Orient Express.  It's been years since I've read anything by Agatha Christie, and this was my first Poirot story.  I couldn't put the book down because I was so engrossed.  I was worried when I picked it up that I might get bored.  After all, the entire story takes place on a train.  However, Poirot is such an intriguing character and asks the suspects really interesting questions.  I could not for the life of me discover who murdered Mr. Ratchett until Poirot revealed it.

I really love Christie's writing.  I love a good mystery and crime novel, but often I find that the story undermines the writing.  I can let this slide sometimes if the story is really awesome, but thankfully Christie didn't allow that to happen.  Even though the story is really what makes the book, the writing is excellent and isn't just tossed on the wayside.

Agatha Christie really is one of a kind.  I've never read a story like hers by another author.  She is able to weave a web of characters, lies, and half-truths that create the ultimate murder mystery.  Murder on the Orient Express was genius in my opinion and I adore Poirot.  I'll be reviewing another Poirot mystery in a few weeks.  I can't wait to read more from the queen of murder mysteries :)

Title: Murder on the Orient Express
Author: Agatha Christie
Date of Publication: First Publication was 1934, my copy is 2011
Number of Pages: 315
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Source: Personal Copy