A classic detective novel written by British author Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express is a riveting thriller featuring Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. First published in 1934 by Collins Crime Club, this book features the Belgian detective solving a murder. This story has become a classic, and readers are sure to love it. It has a plot that is hard to put down, and the mystery behind the murder is as intriguing as ever.
The Orient Express, as it was originally called, is in turmoil, as a murder takes place on board. The train is trapped in the mountains of Turkey, and Hercule Poirot, the novel’s protagonist, must keep his wits about him to solve the mystery. Agatha Christie’s classic novel was turned into a successful film in 1974, with Albert Finney playing Hercule Poirot. The film was the eleventh highest grossing film of the year. Despite her age and declining health, Christie was able to make one last public appearance.
The Orient Express inspired the Agatha Christie novel, and the author’s own experiences on the train inspired her to write the novel. The murder of Charles Lindbergh’s son had not yet been solved when Murder on the Orient Express was published. The novel’s setting is also reminiscent of a real life incident, which took place in the same year Murder on the Orient Express was published.
Despite the novel’s dark and mysterious tone, Agatha Christie managed to create a recognizable literary detective: Belgian spinster Miss Marple and English detective Hercule Poirot. These fictional characters continued the tradition of detective fiction in Britain, which began with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous main character Sherlock Holmes. Other writers who have made use of these characters include Patricia Highsmith and P.D. James.
The novel was also made into a made-for-television adaptation starring David Suchet as Hercule Poirot. The movie was produced by WGBH-TV and ITV Studios. It was adapted by Stewart Harcourt and originally aired on 11 July 2010 in the US, and on Christmas in the UK. Among the cast members are Dame Eileen Atkins, Jessica Chastain, and Barbara Hershey. Also featured are the characters of Hercule Poirot and Mrs. Hubbard.
The book was adapted into a movie in 1974. The film was directed by Sidney Lumet and starred Albert Finney as the fictional detective Poirot. Other prominent stars of the movie include Anthony Perkins, Lauren Bacall, and Jean-Pierre Cassel. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning $35 million. It received a nine percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and garnered 16 Oscar nominations.
The novel opens with a snowdrift in the Balkans, causing the Orient Express to be stopped. A murder has occurred on board. When the passengers learn of the murder, Hercule Poirot gets to work solving the crime. During the train ride, Mr. Ratchett is murdered while asleep. As he begins to solve the mystery, he discovers that Mr. Ratchett was murdered on the train.
