I’ve now finished my third venture into the world of Agatha Christie, switching from the genteel world of Miss Marple to the adventures of famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot…and one of the most famous mysteries of all time: Murder on the Orient Express.
Several observations came to mind after reading this most famous of novels:
This could well be the most plotless novel I have ever read. The murder is committed in clinical fashion…and the rest of the books consists of (a) Poirot interview EACH and EVERY suspect, and (b) chapter after chapter of deduction.
The solution to the murder is something I wasn’t expecting. Especially since it all hinges on a massive amount of coincidence…which transforms into a massive amount of conspiracy that even Poirot finds hard to believe…but trust me…you WILL believe it!
Never have I read a more historical exercise in human psycho-analysis! Poirot and his companions discuss the foibles, cliches and characteristics of each suspect…and it offer Mrs. Christie the chance to showcase delicious (almost throwaway) lines covering feelings foreigners had for each other, and the very British way certain people looked at the world in the 1930s…for good, and for ill. Some of it borders on hilarity…but some of it remains extremely pointed, and holds up well in the light of the early 21st century.
This was about as far removed from the style of the Miss Marple mysteries as one could imagine…but the same rich vein of character detail and observation is present,and mined for all its worth. It’s like sitting in a warm & luxurious bubble bath…surrounded by comfortable familiarity that never manages to bore.
