| Hercule Poirot, the brilliant, French detective, is enjoying a leisurely ride back to France from Syria, when an intense and ferocious looking man, Ratchett, confronts Poirot with a case. Rachett has reason to believe that someone is trying to kill him, and for a large sum of money, $20,000 to be exact, Ratchett tries to hire Poirot to prevent the murder. Poirot declines this case, and a few hours later, Ratchett is found dead in his compartment. The same night as Ratchett's murder, the train is forced to stop in the middle of Jugo-Slavia, due to an severe snow storm. Poirot's friend, M. Bouc, who is also the director of the train, asks Poirot to solve the mystery of the murder before the Jugo-Slavian police arrive.
Poirot, M. Bouc, and a doctor, Dr. Constantine, work together to solve the mystery, by individually interviewing each of the 13 main suspects: Pierre Michel, Mary Debenham, Colonel Arbuthnot, Hector MacQueen, Antonio Foscarelli, Edward Henry Masterman, Cyrus Hardman, Princess Dragomiroff, Mrs. Hubbard, Hildegarde Schmidt, Count Andrenyi, and his wife, Countess Andrenyi. However, this is no simple case. All of the suspects have alibis that can be backed by at least one other suspect. The murder case becomes even more complicated with the discovery that the victim was stabbed twelve times, with blows of many different strengths. Also, it appears that some blows were given by a left hand, and others were given by a right hand. A bloody knife is soon found in one of the passenger's bags. Furthermore, Poirot discovers a handkerchief embroidered with a letter H, a pocket watch, stabbed and broken, that reads a quarter past one, and a pipe cleaner all at the scene of the crime. Also, a burnt note connecting the murder with the Armstrong case, a kidnapping, is found on the dead man's night stand. Poirot also finds a revolver under Rathcett's pillow, an open window, and a empty glass that had contained a drugged drink. Additionally, multiple witnesses claim to have seen a conductor that is no longer on the train, and a woman in a scarlet kimono, who is unrecognizable, on the night of Ratchett's murder. Hercule Poirot is put to the test of unwinding this maze of clues and deception to solve the mystery of the murder of M. Ratchett. "Murder on the Orient Express" is filled with intriguing characters, shady happenings, and questionable alibi's. All of this leads up to a superior ending, made possible by the brilliant detective, Hercule Poirot. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - very upbeat How difficult to spot villain? - Difficult, but some clues given Time/era of story: What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 90% Murder of certain profession? Misc. Murder Plotlets - "All in the family" murder - killer purposefully leaves puzzle clues Kind of investigator Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book descript. of violence and chases - 10 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 70 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - an organization How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting Europe Yes European country: - Eastern Europe Misc setting - moving train Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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