Part of Hercule Poirot, book 6
First published 2007
The Blue Train glides through the night from London toward the French Riviera, carrying wealthy passengers and their secrets. Among them travels a mysterious woman who possesses a legendary cursed jewel that has brought misfortune to its owners for generations. When the train reaches its destination, conductors make a shocking discovery. The woman lies dead in her locked compartment, and the priceless gem has vanished without a trace. The crime scene bristles with contradictions and false clues. Hercule Poirot must untangle a web of lies spun by passengers driven by passion and greed. Each traveler harbors motives for both murder and theft. The Belgian detective faces one of his most perplexing cases as he sifts through deception to find the truth. The solution demands that Poirot understand not just criminal cunning but the deepest human desires that drive people to betray and kill.
Genres: 20th-century, mystery, crime, detective, mystery-thriller, agatha-christie
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: locked-room-mystery, unreliable-narrator
Setting: French Riviera, London
Period: 20th Century
317 pages · Hardcover · Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers