Book Club Chat

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.