Summary: A classic Agatha Christie mystery with a small group of people, a murder and a detective.
According to the book’s cover information, Murder on the Orient Express is the most widely read mystery of all time. I have read one or two Agatha Christie novels over the past decade or so, but probably 8 or 10 when I was a teen. Murder on the Orient Express was not one of those that I have previously read and I did not know the actual story when I picked it up.
The audiobook I listened to was narrated by Kenneth Branagh, and released in conjunction with Branagh’s movie in late 2017. I have not seen the movie, but I can see how it would work well as a movie.
As I have said before, I am a relatively recent convert to the mystery genre. Older Sherlock Holmes and similar novels that are about obscure clues and puzzles are not particularly interesting to me. I assume that an author can trick me as a reader into going off on the wrong track. Instead I am more interested in the people, the setting, the motivations and psychology.
Murder on the Orient Express is one of the Christie books that is more focused on the parts of the mystery that I like and is less focused on the parts of the mystery that I do not. Christie writes in a fairly simple style but Branagh is an excellent narrator and gave real voice to the characters.
I will not give away any of the details but this was worth reading. I am not sure I will pick up another Christie novel quickly. But this was a good change of pace that I was glad to have listened to.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook