WeaveReads

Agatha Christie had always been a daunting prospect for me, just because a lot of the “classics” I come across never really become my favorite. As much as I can appreciate the effort and influence many of the classics provide — books like “Don Quixote” and “Ulysses”, or even the works of Charlotte and Emily Brontë  — I’ve found that many of them don’t resonate with me the way they might have with readers of their time. That said, “Murder on the Orient Express” was pleasantly surprising. While some of the language, structure, and cultural context of “dated” novels are present in this one, Christie constructed a narrative that is altogether timeless, suspenseful, and full of personality.

While my experience with Christie is still fairly limited (this is only my second read), I really admire the way she structures her mysteries. Each chapter is cleanly divided into interrogations and new evidence, making the pacing both methodical and engaging. I loved the way the clues slowly stacked up, enough for me to start theorizing alongside Poirot, even if not everything was entirely within reach.

However, there were definitely some moments that left me in the dark. Some of Poirot’s deductions, like linking every passenger to the Armstrong family, felt like a stretch with the information that had been presented to me. Small clues (a grease spot on a passport!!!) were clever, but didn’t always land for me as solid evidence towards his assumptions. Maybe that’s part of the Christie/Poirot experience: the more you read, the more attuned you become to the little inconsistencies and hidden meanings. (I have the same issue when reading/watching Sherlock Holmes. You mean to tell me you noticed a dirt smudge on this woman’s heel and suddenly know she’s in town on business, etc. etc.? I’m not smart enough for this!)

I ended up rating this one ~4 stars. For me, five star reads are books I’d happily revisit again and again, and while I enjoyed the experience, “Murder on the Orient Express” feels like a “one and done.” The twist is satisfying, the characters are fleshed-out and memorable, and Poirot… Well I just find him delightful, I have to admit! I’ll definitely be reading more of his cases soon.