The Bremen Readers joined with the Bremen Questers on
January 17 to discuss Agatha Christie’s Murder
on the Orient Express.
The mystery
features Hercule Poirot, a retired Belgian police officer known for his short
stature and long, curly moustache. The brilliant Poirot is Christie’s most
famous detective, and the novel is basically written from his perspective.
Poirot must
travel to London and books a compartment on the Simplon-Orient Express. Not long after boarding, Poirot is approached
by an American, Samuel Ratchett, who believes his life is in danger and wishes
to hire the detective. Poirot refuses and
tells the American, “…I do not like you face, M. Ratchett.” By the next evening, Ratchett has been
murdered. The charred remnant of a note saying “--member little Daisy
Armstrong” is discovered in the murdered man’s room. As the
detective digs into the mystery, he discovers everyone in the first-class coach
had a connection to Ratchett.
The thirteen
attending members gave Agatha Chistie’s mystery a 3.79 out of 5 rating
overall. Most agreed that it had a slow
beginning but once past that, the book was thoroughly enjoyable. Almost all finished the book just to see how
it would end. One member did cheat and
watch the newly released movie instead J. The surprise ending made the Murder on the Orient Express a win with
these two groups.
