Murder on the Orient Express

Background (Book Description):

"One of Agatha Christie’s most famous mysteries, Murder on the Orient Express was inspired by two real-life crimes and the author’s own experience being stranded on the Orient Express during Christmas of 1931. While traveling to Paris, a wealthy American is stabbed to death in his cabin on the Orient Express. With the train stuck in a snowdrift, there is no easy escape for the killer. Fortunately, detective Hercule Poirot is aboard and launches a clever investigation into the curious assortment of passengers, of whom each seems to have a motive."

Thoughts on the Case (My Partial Review):

*Sigh* Yet again I am sad to say that I didn't finish the book in time for the review/discussion date. Sorry! However, this time I'm halfway through the book instead of 1/3 of the way through, so that's something. ;)

I'm really enjoying these Agatha Christie books, though! Murder on the Orient Express is such an intellectually engaging/stimulating story! I absolutely love trains, so I really love this book's setting. And I love that in the second part of the book the reader is provided a map of the train car where the murder took place. I ended up writing on the map to try and help my mind sort things out. ;) Plus, I've been underlining some great lines in both of the Agatha Christie books I own (this one and Death on the Nile). Great stuff!

I apologize again for not having a complete review of either Christie book for you. But suffice it to say that I'm quite intrigued by both books so far, and I'm becoming a big fan of Poirot (both these books and this latest season's episodes on PBS Masterpiece).

Later that same day...

I finished the book! And wow - what a story! While there's not a lot of action, there's plenty of thinking and discussion, as well as some grand plot twists and surprises. While Death on the Nile is the first book by Agatha Christie that I started, Murder on the Orient Express is the first one by her that I've finished, and I loved it! Poirot's insights into the various characters, as well as his solution for this mystery, make him quite the remarkable and intriguing hero. I'm excited to finish Death on the Nile now, as well as to watch more of Poirot's brilliance via my new DVD collection of the latest Poirot season from PBS Masterpiece. ;)

(Cover image and book description from Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers.)

Death on the Nile (Book Review and Discussion)

Background (Book Description):

"Linnet Doyle is young, beautiful, and rich. She's the girl who has everything—including the man her best friend loves. Linnet and her new husband take a cruise on the Nile, where they meet the brilliant detective Hercule Poirot. It should be an idyllic trip, yet Poirot has a vague, uneasy feeling that something is dangerously amiss..."

Thoughts on the Case (My Partial Review):

I am definitely intrigued by this case so far. Although I must say it's interesting that I'm about 1/3 of the way through the book, and the murder hasn't even happened yet! But as for introducing fascinating, pitiable, and various characters--Christie did a splendid job. Death on the Nile is my first foray into Agatha Christie's world of mystery novels, and I'm really enjoying it!

In the first part of the book ("England"), a wide cast of characters is introduced, all with interesting connections to one another and the couple of the hour: Simon and Linnet Doyle. Many motives are alluded to and brought into the light, but even a good way into the second part of the book ("Egypt") and 1/3 of the way through the whole story, there as yet is no crime to which these motives might have found fulfillment. I guess I'll just have to wait and see! A longer description of the book discusses the crime to be committed, so I already have an idea of what to expect, which makes me consider all the different characters in view of that.

But again, I've only seen the backdrop so far. I hope to read more soon, and I do apologize for not having finished the book in time for today's discussion! That being said, I beg of you (if you have read the book) not to tell me the conclusion! I want to wait and find it out for myself... ;)

Discussion:

Even though I haven't finished the book, I would still love to have a discussion based on what I've read so far. I've come up with questions regarding the pages I've read so far, some of which pertain to the plot and others of which are just general questions that people who haven't read the book can still respond to, so I do hope you'll participate!

• When Hercule Poirot talks with Linnet about Jackie (the scorned lover who is following her ex-fiancee and Linnet everywhere) he references King David and the story that was told about David in terms of a rich man and a poor man, where the rich man took the poor man's one lamb. Do you think this is a good parallel for the situation between Jackie and Linnet? Why or why not? Do you have sympathy for both of these characters?

• Near the beginning of the book, Poirot is at a restaurant observing the people there. He notes at one point, "How absurd to call youth the time of happiness--youth, the time of greatest vulnerability!" And later he thinks, "He was glad that he was no longer young." What do you think of Poirot's view of youth? How does it differ from the glamorous view of youth that seems to prevail in the media (etc.)?

• When talking to Jackie about her unhealthy obsession with revenge, Poirot tells her, "Give up the past! Turn to the future! What is done is done. Bitterness will not undo it." And when Jackie protests her ability to let it go, he says, "No--for you could do it! There is always a moment!" Do you agree with Poirot? Is he being unsympathetic...or wise? And do you think he is right in saying that she can still make the choice to do the right thing?
  

(Cover image and book description from Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers.)

Masterpiece Mystery: Miss Marple (The Pale Horse)

It's too bad there's only one episode in this latest season (Series 6) of Miss Marple--because I loved "The Pale Horse," and I'm ready for more!

In 2010 PBS Masterpiece won me over during the Classics season with shows like Jane Austen's Emma, Northanger Abbey, and the action-packed The 39 Steps. And then later that year the new, modern version of Sherlock was an absolute treat for me, and I became intrigued by the Mystery season. I ended up watching a couple of older Miss Marple episodes with my aunt and uncle while visiting some family in Texas over Thanksgiving break, and I really enjoyed them.

When I discovered that JJ Feild was playing a role in this latest episode of Miss Marple, I was even more convinced that I had to see it! JJ Feild was Henry Tilney in Northanger Abbey, and he did a splendid job, in my opinion. ;) Gotta love a hero with a sense of humor and a great smile!

Anyway, overall I found "The Pale Horse" to be a wonderful episode! (And just to clarify, "episodes" for PBS Masterpiece are movie-length--about 90 minutes, generally.) With plenty of interesting suspects, a creepy setting, and the ever-lovable (and quite insightful!) Miss Marple, you get the perfect mix for a "keep-you-guessing" mystery.

When Miss Marple receives a letter with a list of names from a dear friend (Father Gorman), and then later discovers that Gorman has been murdered, she sets off to seek justice for her friend and follow the clue that he gave his life to protect. "Teaming up" with an inspector (who doesn't really appreciate her meddling ways at first), she tracks down leads and eventually ends up at the Pale Horse Inn, where she encounters "witches," secretive guests, and a complex and dangerous scheme.

I like the array of characters, as well as the twists and turns along the way. As for the ending, well, let's just say I didn't see it coming--which is a good thing when it comes to mysteries, right? I loved the surprises, and Miss Marple is a heroine to admire!

I haven't read any of the Miss Marple books, but I've enjoyed the episodes I've seen, and The Pale Horse was a pleasure to watch! My family watched it with me, and they all seemed to really like it, too--from my grandparents, to my parents, to my younger sister (who came in part way through). This episode is a great way to spend the evening if you're a fan of "cozy" mysteries!

• Want to learn more? Visit the episode's page on the PBS Masterpiece website.
  

• Between now and August 10th you can watch "The Pale Horse" for free online!

Discussion:

If you watched "The Pale Horse," I'd love to hear your thoughts! If you haven't yet watched it, feel free to click the link above to watch it online and then come back. Just be sure to watch the episode before you join the discussion because there will be some spoilers!

Here are some questions to get us started:

• Do you admire Miss Marple? If so, what do you admire most about her?
  

• What do you think about the setting of this episode? Do you find The Pale Horse Inn to be intriguing, spooky, disturbing, historically interesting, or something else?

• What are your thoughts on the ending? Did it surprise you?
  

• If you've read or seen other Miss Marple mysteries, how do you feel this one compares?

And don't forget...

Tomorrow we're discussing Death on the Nile (A Hercule Poirot Mystery) by Agatha Christie!