By Rafael A. Hernandez
Be weary the next time you book a trip on the Amtrak because in all likelihood you will become a player in a dramatic murder scene perpetrated by some mysterious killer. Okay, not really. You will probably take a nap or read a few pages of a book. But should you decide to read something, make it the mystery classic Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. Another one of her renowned “whodoneits”, Christie’s mystery takes place on a European cross country train where a wealthy American businessman is discovered stabbed in his cabin. Who has done it? Who is the most suspicious? What is the motive? And, who will solve this mystery? None other than the famed Hercule Poirot. Unfamiliar? Well get ready to be subtly astonished by this detective’s ability to unravel even the most well hidden mysteries. But do not expect a Sherlock Holmes-esque mystery. Poirot is famed for the very reason that he is unique. The esteemed Monsieur Poirot is portrayed as reconstructor of puzzles, apprehending every piece and discovering the greater picture.
Poirot takes the lead on this murder mystery, interviewing every passenger and conductor to acquiesce the identity of the unknown murderer. Unfortunately, the train where the murder takes place is aplenty with passengers all having their own individual personalities and alibis. But something is amiss with these people, there is a curtain hanging over them that the reader, and Poirot, is unable to pull back. What is so appealing to Christie’s mystery are the abundant details underlying the murder. With so many depositions, so many individuals to account for, the reader feels pleasingly overwhelmed. As Poirot deposes the passengers, the reader will no doubt feel involved in the investigation, almost as if they too were part of the questioning.
Christie’s narrative performs a very difficult feat in that it does not move from its original location. All the events of the novel take place on the train and this still does not hamper the progress or allure of the story. Murder on the Orient Express does not need a grand excursion or spectacular pursuit to make it interesting with most of the mystery is solved in the dining car of the train. All the more intriguing is the manner of which Poirot interrogates the passengers of the train. With some, he is friendly and mild mannered. With others he is more abrasive and to the point. All interrogative choices are used as a mechanism to bring out the most obvious aspects of the person’s character. But Poirot is not a marvel for being overly intricate. He is portrayed as a simple but effective detective, never letting the most obvious evidence overtake him, always considering the alternatives.
Agatha Christie’s narrative has not achieved fame for its mediocrity. It is a masterfully crafted maze of mirrored walls and dead ends. To counter her own challenging labyrinth, she has fashioned a very capable detective to lead the reader out of the maze. Without a doubt, the reader will feel a sense of accomplishment as they accompany Poirot on the path to revelation.
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