The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie

“The Mystery of the Blue Train” is a murder mystery novel written by British author Agatha Christie in 1927. It centers around the murder of an American heiress aboard the Blue Train heading for the Riviera.

The Original Cover of Agatha Christie's The Mystery of the Blue Train art by Salomon van Abbé
The Original Cover by Salomon van Abbé

Get your free copy of this classic murder mystery here in kindle (epub), mobi, and pdf formats:
THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN

Copywrite Information

This book was originally published by William Collins & Sons in the United Kingdom on March 29, 1928. The same year, it was published by Dodd, Mead and Company in the United States.

According to Archive.org, this novel entered the public domain in the United States in 2024. It remains under copyright in the United Kingdom until January 1, 2047, which is 70 years after Agatha Christie’s death.

Plot Summary of Agatha Christie’s “The Mystery of the Blue Train”

Boarding Le Train Bleu bound for the French Riviera, Hercule Poirot encounters Katherine Grey, a newcomer to winter in France after inheriting a substantial sum. On the journey, Katherine befriends Ruth Kettering, an American heiress escaping her troubled marriage to rendezvous with her lover. However, tragedy strikes when Ruth is discovered strangled in her compartment the next morning, with her prized ruby, the “Heart of Fire,” missing.

Persuaded by Ruth’s father, Rufus Van Aldin, and his secretary, Major Knighton, Poirot takes on the case. Suspicion falls on Ruth’s estranged husband, Derek Kettering, especially when Katherine recalls seeing him near Ruth’s compartment.

As Poirot delves deeper into this perplexing murder mystery, he uncovers a tangled web of motives and suspects. In a clever ruse to unveil the truth, Poirot orchestrates a reconstruction of the crime aboard the Blue Train.

Read this original version and see if you can uncover the murderer and thief, which could be two different people, before Hercule Poirot does!

About the original DUST cover’S ARTIST

Salomon van Abbé was born in Amsterdam on July 31, 1883. His family moved to England when he was five years old.

Much of Abbé’s commercial work was designing dust jackets for books for publishers. In addition to illustrating the dust cover for Agatha Christie’s “The Mystery of the Blue Train,” he illustrated Treasure Island, Little Women, and many more.

Salomon Van Abbé also has paintings in national collections in the United Kingdom.

He died in London on February 28, 1955.

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S LIFE

Agatha Christie was born Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller on September 15, 1890, in Torquay, Devon, England. She was one of the most renowned and beloved mystery writers of all time. Raised in a comfortable upper-middle-class family, Christie developed a passion for storytelling and literature from a young age.

In 1914, Agatha married a pilot in the Royal Flying Corp named Archibald Christie. During World War I, she worked as a nurse. This experience gave her valuable insights into human behavior and psychology that she used when writing her books.

It was during this time that Christie wrote her first novel, “The Mysterious Affair at Styles.” This book introduced the famous detective Hercule Poirot to the world.

Throughout her prolific career, Agatha Christie wrote over 60 detective novels, numerous short stories, and several plays. She has been called the “Queen of Crime.” Her works are famous for their intricate plots, memorable characters (Poirot, Miss Marple) and clever twists. Her writings are loved the word over.

Despite her immense success as a writer, Christie faced personal challenges, including the breakdown of her first marriage. However, she persevered through her difficulties, channeling her experiences into her writing and finding solace in her work.

In addition to her literary achievements, Agatha Christie was also a trailblazer in the field of archaeology. She accompanied her second husband, Max Mallowan, on archeology expeditions to the Middle East. These experiences provided inspiration for several of her novels, including “Murder in Mesopotamia” and “Death on the Nile.”

Agatha Christie’s legacy endures long after her passing in 1976. Her works have been translated into numerous languages and adapted for film, television, and stage. Her timeless mysteries continue to entertain and intrigue readers of all ages, cementing her status as one of the greatest storytellers of the 20th century.

AGATHA CHRISTIE WROTE “THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN” DURING A TROUBLED PERIOD OF HER LIFE

Agatha Christie wrote “The Mystery of the Blue Train” in 1927.

“The Mystery of the Blue Train” was written during a period of personal difficulty for Agatha Christie. In 1926, Christie’s first husband, Archibald Christie, asked her for a divorce, which led to a highly publicized and emotionally tumultuous time for the author.

Additionally, Agatha disappeared for eleven days in December 1926, leading to widespread speculation about her whereabouts.

Nevertheless, Agatha Christie continued to write prolifically throughout her life, even in times of trouble for her.

Get your free copy of this classic murder mystery here in kindle (ePub), mobi, and pdf formats:
THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN

and get Agatha Christie’s First Novel FOR FREE here:
THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES

Stay cozy and read on,
-Penny