THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN
“A smashing mix of mystery, romance and tragedy”
SIDDHARTH PREMNATH
The Mystery of the Blue Train
Agatha Christie
Collins, 1928, Great Britain
385 pages
Rs.199
ISBN: 978-0-00-728260-9
Hercule Poirot, Christie’s loveable Belgian detective is back on the case. This time, love is in the air. Katherine Gray, one of the protagonist’s of this story has a chat with Ruth Kettering on the Blue Train…. But, little does she realise, that is the last time she would ever talk to Ruth again. When the train arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to wake Ruth from her sedate slumbers. Lamentably, she will never wake again as a heavy blow has killed her and marred her features beyond recognition.
‘For Poirot, no one is not suspected and everyone is suspected.’
The main character, Hercule Poirot, is a fictional detective created by Agatha Christie. His head is exactly the shape of an egg, and he always perches it a little on one side. His moustache is very stiff and military.
Katherine Gray, another protagonist is a calm, composed woman with stormy grey eyes. She helps Poirot solves the case and also has a few admirers. Katherine gives the aura of a kind, understanding woman and likes being her self.
Agatha Christie was born in a wealthy upper-middle class family in Devon, England in 1890. Towards the end of the First World War, she served as a VAD. During the First World War, she got her first book published, The Mysterious Affair at Styles featuring the character of Hercule Poirot. This launched her literary career. 1919 was a momentous year for Agatha. With the end of the war, Archie(Christie’s first husband) had found a job in the City and they had just enough money to rent and furnish a flat in London. Outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare, Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist of all time. She is best known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, as well as the world’s longest-running play – The Mousetrap .The Guinness Book of World Records lists Christie as one of the best selling novelist of all time, selling at about 2 billion copies After a hugely successful career and a very happy life Agatha died peacefully on 12 January 1976.
Christie’s sixth book a.k.a The Mystery Of The Blue Train is indubitably riveting and it’s hard for any reader to put the book down till the end. There is heavy suspicion on Ruth’s husband, Derek Kettering, who was on the same train but claims not to have seen Ruth. Katherine says she saw Derek enter Ruth’s compartment. As usual, Poirot is not convinced and believes that there is more to the case then what meets the eye. For Poirot, no one is not suspected and everyone is suspected.
I think the book is truly fascinating and enthralling. Nothing is better than a good potboiler to “calm” the nerves.
I suggest The Mystery of The Blue Train to everyone young or old. Also, I request you to please NOT ask anyone to spoil the plot for you as if you are patient enough, it will reap the rewards.