Murder, Mystery & a Train Full of Suspects: Murder on the Orient Express

Murder, Mystery & a Train Full of Suspects: Murder on the Orient Express

There’s something about a murder mystery set on a train that immediately makes me want to make some popcorn, grab a blanket, get comfortable, and start playing detective. Add Agatha Christie to the mix, and you already know things are about to get interesting.

Murder on the Orient Express is one of those classic mysteries that has been referenced, adapted, parodied, and discussed so much that you may think you already know the story—even if you’ve never actually read it. Which was me, this was my first time reading an Agatha Christie novel and I was not disappointed in the slightest. There’s nothing quite like experiencing the mystery for yourself and watching Hercule Poirot put the pieces together.

All Aboard… But Someone Isn’t Getting Off

The story follows the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot as he boards the luxurious Orient Express for a trip across Europe. What should be a fairly ordinary journey quickly turns into something much darker when the train becomes stranded by snow. What follows is murder. A passenger on the Orient Express is found dead inside his locked compartment, and suddenly everyone on the train is looking like a potential suspect. And when I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE. On this train it is filled with passengers from different backgrounds, each with their own personalities, secrets, and reasons to potentially lie. Which is quite challenging when you are stuck on a train in the snow where there is a killer on board. This is the perfect setup for a classic whodunit.

Enter Hercule Poirot

Of course, we can’t talk about this book without talking about Hercule Poirot. Poirot isn’t your typical detective. He isn’t running around chasing suspects or dramatically searching for fingerprints. Instead, he summons the passengers to him, interviews them, observes them and surveys their answers and body language. He is short in stature, but exudes bold confidence, and proudness in his appearance and genius. And even during conflict and confrontation he remains cool, calm and collected. He examines everyone's stories, seeing if their stories are logical and reasonable. He is presenting them with questions while answering his own, taking mental notes to see if their explanation adds up with the evidence that is presented. And that's what makes the mystery so much fun. You get to explore the mystery and truth that lies on the Orient Express through the lens of the Hercule Poirot. Who uses his brilliance to determine what everyone is hiding.

Everybody Has Something to Hide

One thing I love about classic mysteries is how much attention they give to characters. Christie gives us a train full of personalities, and as Poirot investigates, we slowly learn more about each passenger. Some characters immediately seem suspicious. You can tell they are hiding secrets they thought were buried beneath the surface. Others seem completely harmless. And then there are those characters who make you think, Hmmmm… I don’t know about you. That’s the fun of a mystery like this. Christie keeps giving you little pieces of information and allowing you to make your own theories. You start making your own analysis and connecting all the dots. Then another clue appears. And after calculating the newfound evidence, suddenly your theory doesn’t make sense anymore.

The Fun of Trying to Solve It

Reading Murder on the Orient Express feels a little like sitting at a table with a giant puzzle spread out in front of you. You have the murder, suspects, their stories, and the evidence along with the truth. What I enjoy about this authors work is how she keeps you in suspense. Just when you think you’ve figured something out, another detail makes you question your entire theory. And this is what I enjoy about a murder mystery.

Why This Mystery Still Works

I personally enjoy film, music, writings and more from the past, so the fact that the Murder on the Orient Express was originally published in 1934, did not negatively impact me in the slightest. This book offers a basic mystery setup that still feels incredibly enjoyable and entertaining. And come on who would not love a book with a premise like this?

Final Thoughts

Murder on the Orient Express is a classic for a reason. It has an intriguing setting, memorable characters, plenty of secrets, and a mystery that encourages you to put on your imaginary detective hat and start investigating right alongside Poirot. Agatha Christie understood how to make readers suspicious of everyone—and honestly, that’s exactly what I want when I pick up a murder mystery.

Thank You.