The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha ChristieMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Apart from the fact that multiple characters cross paths multiple times by complete coincidence, which is a device used by better writers than Christie to keep their casts tight, there's not much to carp at in the execution of this one. (Though she does use that device constantly, until they're acquainted and she doesn't need to.)
This is a clever Poirot mystery. I thought, about halfway through, that I had figured out who the murderer was (I thought it was (view spoiler)), but I was completely wrong and didn't suspect the actual culprits even for a moment. And yet, I think it would qualify as a "fair-play" mystery; the clues were all there, nothing was known only to the detective.
The journey was enjoyable, Poirot was his classic self, Hastings was mercifully absent, and all in all Christie is hitting her stride with this one.
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