Review: Murder on the Orient Express

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)

Parts tagged with * has major spoilers. If you still want to read it, please do so on Goodreads here. :)
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This is still one of the most clever mysteries I've read. Unique and fresh even as I've only read it now in 2017. I suspect that I would enjoy this book immensely when I read it for the second time. However, I cannot put this on par with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, which in my view is in a league of its own.

However, one of the things I love about Murder on the Orient Express is how it seemed to be darker and more sinister. I'm attributing it to the fact that the setting was closed and secluded, and also because the weather here in Manila has been dark and gloomy recently--which is always an ideal background for reading mysteries. However, I often found myself confused and unable to recall the passenger names and details; I even mix them up even after finishing the novel. Unfortunately for an easily-distracted reader like me, some of the characters were not given enough particulars to stand out. The characters were mysterious, and this is partly to blame. The amount of secrecy behind each character became a nuisance. (view spoiler)*[But I guess, this whole affair lies on the mystery of these characters. All the lies behind each suspect muddled my perception of the crime. (hide spoiler)] Another thing I loved about this book is how it showed Poirot's ability to manipulate his suspects into revealing their little truths. His guesses were not absurd and they were always substantiated and shown (unlike some detective stories *coughdeckercough*).

Hearing the solution of the mystery from Poirot was gratifying (as expected) since it is Christie's trait to keep her readers on the edge of their seats. While Poirot is unraveling the mystery (second solution), I was in denial. The absurdity of it was too much, but unconsciously, I know it to be the most plausible solution.

However, the ending, in my view, was not as delightful. I am sure this (ending) has been debated to the fullest extent. This book, after all, isn't new. The ending was what dragged down my rating for this book. (view spoiler)*[Justice is a topic I often shy away from. My very limited understanding of the matter, especially in the context of law often burdens me the anxiety of appearing too gullible. The dreadful tragedy done to little Daisy Armstrong was horrific and unimaginable. I agree that it was unfair that Cassetti walked away from that, but this actually happens. The justice system is flawed--this is reality. The passengers took it upon themselves to exact justice by killing Cassetti. They did not originally expect to be caught. If it weren't for Poirot, it would be a perfect crime. But with what they did, they became what Cassetti was--a murderer. They did not know whom among them delivered the lethal blow and it was never revealed nor pondered upon, but the fact remains that they killed. M. Bouc and Dr. Constantine agreed to go with the first idea propounded by Poirot--that the assailant was an outsider. This type of ending left a bad taste on my mouth. This is not justice being served, this is revenge. (hide spoiler)]

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On a side note, I am beyond excited to see Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot! I don't claim to be proficient in Branagh's extensive filmography and accolades, but I do know he's a phenomenal actor/director. Plus, I would assume it'd be fun seeing Gilderoy Lockhart as someone competent, and one thing both characters have in common is they are both the opposite of meek. :p

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The impossible cannot have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.

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