Thursday, March 5, 2020

The Mystery of the Blue Train

The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie [read by Hugh Fraser]

As with The Big Four, I read my own paper copy of Blue Train* within the last two years. It was the first time (as far as I have recorded) that I had read it and I enjoyed it very much. I particularly liked the character of Katherine Grey. She is a down-to-earth woman who doesn't let the relatives (either the distant relatives of the woman whose money she's inherited OR her own distant relatives who are looking to touch her for some of the inheritance) pull any wool over her eyes. When she agrees to visit Lady Tamplin (her cousin), she does so with full awareness of the woman's motives. But she's determined to experience life as she hadn't as an elderly woman's companion and staying with Lady Tamplin on the Riviera will help her do that. 

Hugh Fraser once again provides an excellent reading of the novel. And even though Hastings does not appear in this book it was still a delight to have Captain Hastings delivering the story to me. Another enjoyable audio book experience and, despite remembering the solution, I was still very much caught up in the mystery and action of the plot. ★★★★

*Previous, more in-dept review at the title link above.

First Lines: It was close on midnight when a man crossed the Place de la
Concorde. In spite of the handsome fur coat which garbed his meager form, there was something essentially weak and paltry about him. 


Last Line: "Trust the train, Mademoiselle," murmured Poirot again. "And
trust Hercule Poirot. He knows."


***********
Deaths = (one strangled)
Calendar of Crime: March (Original pub month)
Pick Your Poison: Selfies #2 (Narcissistic character--Mirelle)
Vintage Mystery 2013 Gold Scattergories (#19 Planes, Trains, & Automobiles)
 

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