Novel : Agatha Christie : The Mystery Of The Blue Train

Van Aldin is a millionaire. He has achieved lot of name and fame in his profession and is respected and admired all around. He leads a very simple life and does not have desires like the other millionaires.

Ruth is the daughter of Van Aldin. She is an easy going lady who enjoys her life. Van Aldin seems to have some influence on her as she listens to him to an extent (at least that is what Van Aldin Believes). Van Aldin loves his daughter and frequently showers surprises on her which she loves.

Derek Kettering is Ruth's husband. He has not been an achiever in life. He does not have anything to show to the world. Moreover he is in deep debt. Van Aldin Hates his son-in-law and often wonders as to what made him accept Derek as his son-in-law. He wants here daughter to divorce Derek.



Knighton is a secretary of Van Aldin. He takes care of Van Aldin's official responsibilities. Van Aldin is impressed with Knighton's sinceriarity. Knighton also does small errands for Van Aldin when required.

Katherine is a care taker of an old lady called Emma. Emma has passed away and has left all her fortune in the name of Katherine. This has created headlines in newspaper. Katherine who till now led a very simple somber life is bombarded with messages and calls from her relatives whom she had not heard of since ages. She also gets a message from Mary Ann, cousin of Emma to meet her. Mary wants a pie in the treasure left by Emma. Katherine very well understands that.

Lady Tramplin is a relative of Katherine who has heard of the money that Emma has got and she to desires to get a part of the pie. She invites Katherine to her home to stay for some time. Katherine, inspite of knowing the intentions of Lady Tramplin, decides to go to her house. She has booked a ticket on The Blue Train to visit Lady Tramplin's house.

Lenox is Lady Tramplin's daughter who is straightforward and forthright and does not like the way her mother is behaving of late. She is a no-nonsense girl and wishes not to be part of any of Lady Tramplin's plans.

Comte de la Roche is a French guy who is a master swindler. French police have suspicion on him on various accounts but are not able to catch him red handed. Comte de la Roche is good at his job and chooses his prey carefully. Before Ruth got married to Derek, she was madly in love with Comte de la Roche. Her father had taken great pains to prove to her daughter that Comte was a swindler. But of late Van Aldin had got news that her daughter was seeing the guy again. Von Aldin has a feeling that Derek is aware of Ruth's new found closeness to Comte. Von Aldin feels that this might create problems during the divorce.

Mirelle is a dancer. She is good at charming people. Derek has fallen for Mirelle and wants to marry her. But Mirelle is a shrewd lady. She does not want to fall into the trap unless she is going to get something substantial.

Ruth has also boarded The Blue Train on the same day Katherine has taken the train. She has told her father that she wishes to visit the Riviera. However Van Aldin is not aware of the true intentions of her daughter. Derek is also on the same train unaware that Ruth has boarded the train as well.

On the fateful night there is a murder on the train.
What follows is an interesting story.


Me Thinks
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TO be frank I got to know the killer halfway through the novel. So the who-do-it suspense was kind of lost. After I went through the end my suspicions were confirmed twice over.

Who-done-it novels hinge one final punch. But if the blow is taken out of the punch, mid way through (not by the author, but by the reader), what follows next is mere corroboration of facts.

Agatha Christie, Earl Stanley Gartner, Edgar Wallace are masters of who-do-it novels. You pick any novel by them, it will be very entertaining.

The Mystery Of The Blue Train is an interesting murder mystery and should be read for the tactfulness and resourcefulness of Hercule Poirot. Hercule Poirot will not disappoint you in this Novel. This is probably my 5th Agatha Christie. I am a big fan of hers and I will be digging more into her Repertoire.

I would give 6 out of 10 and a thumbs up for the novel.
One should read the novel for Hercule's cunningness and occasional Slips.