• Author: Agatha Christie
• Series: Hercule Poirot #6
• No. of pages: 298
• Dates read: 04.05.20 – 09.05.20
• Star rating: 4
• Challenge: 2020 Sequel Challenge

Plot: When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to wake serene Ruth Kettering from her slumbers. But she will never wake again—for a heavy blow has killed her, disfiguring her features almost beyond recognition. What is more, her precious rubies are missing. The prime suspect is Ruth’s estranged husband, Derek. Yet Hercule Poirot is not convinced, so he stages an eerie reenactment of the journey, complete with the murderer on board. . . .

Another solid book in the Hercule Poirot series!

I already knew certain parts of this story already due to watching the TV episode a couple of years ago but despite knowing what I did know it did not take away from the enjoyment of the story.

This book was a super easy and fun read. I was fully engaged with the narrative every time I picked this book up. It reminds me of summertime and sitting by the pool.

I really enjoyed the fact that we didn’t meet Poirot until about 100 pages into the story. I loved how Christie instead decided to explore more into the victim and the various suspects. We got to see these characters as a whole and their motivations in life and essentially have the upper hand over Poirot. I especially enjoyed the rivalry between Van Aldin and Derek.

I really liked Katherine Grey who sort of fills in for Hastings in this book. I struggle with Hastings as I feel like the man can be a liability at times so it was fun to see Poirot with someone else.

In terms of the big reveal, while enjoyable I do think elements of it were slightly far-fetched and/or didn’t really fit together nicely in my brain. The ending felt slightly convenient rather than watching a master at work. For this reason, I couldn’t give the book 5 stars.

The next book I will be reviewing is The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo. A locked room murder mystery set in 1930’s Japan.