Out of 5 mustachesOut of 5 mustaches
Poirot is in Syria finishing a case when he receives word to return to England. He has need to return immediately on the famous Orient Express. He finds passage through help of his friend Monsieur Bouc, director of the Orient Express (although there is not one first-class sleeping berth available on the train. Curious, because at this time of year, the Orient Express is never full.). The next day at lunch in the dining car, businessman Mr. Ratchett finds Poirot eating and asks Poirot to "take on a job." He tells the detective that his life is being threatened and that he believes there is an enemy on the train. He desires protection from Poirot, but Poirot refuses, saying "If you will forgive me for being personal--I do not like your face, M. Ratchett."
That evening (after the first day of traveling), the train stops at Belgrade. Poirot is given the no. 1 berth on the same car (the Calais car) that was occupied by his friend Bouc. His friend has now transferred to the Athens coach so Poirot can have his own. That night, everyone goes to bed, as well as Poirot. He wakes up in the night from a groan coming from the compartment next to him, the one used by Ratchett. A bell rang from that same compartment, with the conductor of that coach answering it. The next morning, Ratchett is found dead, of multiple stabbings! Bouc, afraid of the authorities' investigations when they get to Yugoslavia, asks Poirot to solve this man's murder. Poirot has a puzzling case ahead of him, with a possible murderer on board. Worse, the train has been now blocked by an avalanche of snow--they'll be stuck for days!
Everyone has something to hide and it is one of these cases where everyone lies. No one seems to be helpful and have the most unbreakable alibis. What a mix of people Poirot meets: a Swede, a colonel from India, an American actress, and Italian, a Russian princess, an American detective, an English valet, a German nurse, and others. This book is one of the more famous of Christie's novels, which even was made into an excellent movie in 1974 starring Albert Finney as Poirot. Everyone has motive, the red herrings are sneaky, and the plot is original (although based upon a real-life story from the U.S.). Murder at its finest, with an interesting justification. This is the very best kind of mystery that I have read repeatedly (which I have).