Book Review: Murder On The Orient Express'

“The impossible cannot have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible inspite of appearances”

            This is probably the most famous murder mystery of them all. The Orient Express leaves from Istanbul to travel it was through Europe. On board are a cast of characters of all different classes and nationalities. Hercule Poirot is called with some urgency back to London for a case, he then makes hasty arrangements to travel from Konya back to London via the Orient Express. It is here that the mystery begins, a series of little coincidences and overheard conversations put Poirot on his guard. It is not unusual, he is a detective after all. But then one day, as the train passes through Yugoslavia a man by the name of Samuel Ratchett approaches Poirot. Ratchett knows exactly who her is and offers to hire Poirot. The case is simple, Ratchett has an enemy and one who wishes to do him grave harm. That’s not to say that Ratchett can’t take care of himself, he is a gruff, big, beefy American man who probably knows his way around a fight. The next day, however, Ratchett is found dead in his berth. Stabbed to death twelve times. But something hasn’t gone to plan, the train was due to arrive in France, but was stalled by a snow drift, meaning that the possibility of this being an outside job, is now, out of the question. It is at this point that I don’t know how to continue, at least not without giving the whole game away. But I shall say this: The cast of characters on board the train are not who they claim to be, and neither was Ratchett. Without any of the formal procedures in place to help Poirot on this case, he must consult those iconic ‘little grey cells’ and hunt for the truth in the evidence provided by the passengers on board the train. As with all murder mysteries I shall not reveal the secrets, but there is a reason why ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ is considered one of the greatest murder mysteries of all time. The solution is brilliant, however impossible, it is the truth. It is a must read, even if you hate crime fiction or even crime dramas. Let me tell you, any dramatization of this book does not do Agatha Christie’s literary style justice.