The Mystery of the Blue Train: A Hercule Poirot Murder Mystery by: Agatha Christie (1928) Part 2

"My name is Hercule Poirot, and I am probably the greatest detective in the world." - Hercule Poirot

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Characters

Rufus Van Aldin - Ruth's father, Millionare

Major Richard Knighton - Van Aldin's Secretary

Ruth Kettering - Daughter of Rufus Van Aldin

Derek Kettering - Ruth's husband

Mirelle - dancer friend of Derek Kettering

Katherine Grey - acquired a new wealth

Viscountess Rosalie Tamplin - Well known in Riviera

The Honorable Lenox Tamplin - Daughter of Rosalie Tamplin

Hercule Poirot - the well known Belgium Detective

Ada Mason - Ruth Kettering's maid

Comte Armand De La Roche - old friend of Ruth Kettering, womanizer

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Van Aldin sees his daughter Ruth off at the train station before she boards with her maid Ada on their way to the Riviera. After settling she sits across from a woman that she feels an immediate connection with. After some time they meet again in the dining car. They sit down together and begin to talk. She gets into deep conversation with Katherine Gray in regards to her visiting her gentleman friend and personal affairs. After departing Katherine returns to her compartment. She catches a glimpse of a man entering Ruth's room, but does not think anything of it.

In the morning after stopping in Cannes they arrive in Nice. Katherine gets off the train and is met by Chubby, Lady Tamplin's husband. Before they can leave a police officer requests to speak with Katherine. They begin speaking with her in regards to the woman she encountered and spent time with yesterday, informing her that she is dead. A short Belgium gentleman appears and introduces himself as Hercule Poirot. The police are pleased to gain his assistance which he is happy to help. He is a well known detective.

After to speaking to Katherine she explains that she never even a had a chance to learn the woman's name. They kindly ask her to come and identify the body since the maid is nowhere to be found, and she is the only one that had seen her enough to be able to identify her. Upon entering the compartment of Mrs. Kettering, Katherine confirms that it was in fact her. Poirot notices four auburn hairs that are on the rug in the compartment, which they deem are from Mrs. Kettering. They question a young man whom works on the train and was assigned to this compartment.

Before Katherine left, she gave the address of the Tamplin's where she would be staying.

After settling in at the Tamplin's Villa, they have a small gathering. Derek Kettering is also attending this occasion. He is informed by a servant that the police wish to speak with him. For he does not know about what has happened to Ruth.

Van Aldin is busy with his work when he is given a telegram, stating that there was an accident on the blue train and his daugther Ruth is now deceased. His secretary Knighton helps him gets his arrangements settled so they can leave and attend to the urgent matter. The police speak with Van Aldin in regards to the incident on the train. Poirot is present during these interrogations. Ada Mason the maid has been located and they speak with her about what had happened to her Lady and what proceeded these events. Plans were changed by Ruth and Ada was instructed to get off the train earlier than what they originally planned. We also discover that Ruth did take the rubies with her on the trip. The police hand Van Aldin a letter that they found among his daughter's belongings. It was written by her gentleman friend Armand.

The police ask Van Aldin if he knows of this man Armand. He explains that his full name is Comte Armand De La Roche and he did know him. His daughter met him about ten years ago and he had to break the affair off when he realized out how much of a womanizer and a swindler that he was. Based off the letter he wrote, they believe that he is after the rubies that Ruth had in her possession. The police knew of this man and he was a difficult man to keep track of. Poirot believes that he can assist, they are confused and ask how. He simply explains he knows exactly where Armand is, he would be at the Villa Marina at Antibes.

After more talk, the police tell Van Aldin how Derek was to the news of his wife's death. He was surprised by it but not sad. Just before Van Aldin leaves, Poirot accompanies him as he walks. Van Aldin seeks help from Poirot and he agrees to help him with this matter about Ruth. The next day the police find Comte Armand De La Roche and talk with him about Ruth. After answering all their questions he leaves. Derek arrives and they speak with him more about Ruth. They learn that she did not have a will and all her assets would go to him. Derek leaves once they are done with questioning him. He goes to the Negresco for lunch. Mirelle arrives and talks with him for a while. She wants to have lunch with him, but he tells her that he has a previous engagement with another woman there, Katherine Grey.

Any time when you travel, there is almost always someone who wants to tell you their whole life story. Some like it, and some don't. I am indifferent to this as I haven't traveled enough to say that I have encountered this myself yet. But I know I really do not like knowing about people's personal lives if I don't care to know or be involved so I really related to Katherine in this situation. I always get a smile on my face when I read about Hercule Poirot's introductions into Christie's storylines. Other than Miss Marple, he is a main character that we share similar mental methods as to how we think. With his years of experience and knowledge, he is so wise and one of the best people to have help in any murder scenario. His slight beaming pride and wit he brings makes him such a wonderful character. Anytime after Poirot enters the scene, that's when things start to get good, and you know good things will happen when he is there. The best interpretation of him that I love is played by actor David Suchet pictured above from Agatha Christie's Poirot that aired from 1989-2013. Christie describes him a short well rounded Belgium detective. There have been other interpretations of Poirot over the years, but Suchet fits that role perfectly for me as how I envision him based on Christie's writing.

When Katherine attends the gathering put on by the Tamplin's, the atmosphere reminded me of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, of their fancy parties that they had. Which is quite interesting as these books were released in the roaring twenties, 3 years apart from each other and Fitzgerald is an American writer, as Christie is an English writer. Even though in two different countries, elements were similar for both during that decade.

We still have several people that could be the murderer, so many of them have underlying pretenses that could have them be accountable for wanting Ruth dead. Without Poirot's skills, I am not sure if the police are going to be able to solve this case without his guidance and expertise along the way. It will certainly be helpful having the man who may very well be the world's greatest detective on the case.