Grade 11
Infant Daisy Armstrong was kidnapped by a notorious gangster, held for several hundred thousand dollars, and murdered. Her distraught parents committed suicide, along with an innocent maid framed for the crime while the true perpetuator escaped and lived on the run for two years under a foreign alias, eventually boarding a train with thirteen other passengers; The Orient Express.
Hercule Poirot, internationally famed detective is one of those passengers, oblivious to the criminal who shares his destination. Having recently resolved a political scandal, Poirot is ready for a peaceful journey—until a passenger is murdered. Cassetti is dead in his cabin, with multiple stab wounds, varied evidence, and no witnesses. Poirot must call forth all his powers of deduction to trace the killer amongst the passengers; connections are unraveled, secrets discovered, and the truth goes deeper than anyone could have imagined.
A familiar of Agatha Christie’s work, I began this book expecting none other than the best of mystery and intrigue as the plot unwove its tapestry of intricacies. I was not disappointed. The impeccable colloquialisms of the foreign protagonist and the Sherlockian brilliance of his logic will further draw the reader’s nose to the pages until the stunning conclusion.
Highly recommended for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, The Hardy Boys, and other intellectually sparking mysteries, anyone who appreciates brilliant leaps of logic, and of course Agatha Christie. Due to the intense themes regarding both the murdered and murderer, Murder on the Orient Express is recommended for those above the age of 13. Readers should also be prepared to discuss, whether in mind or family, the ethical implications of Poirot and the passenger’s actions following the conclusion.
