Once Again Christie

Just finished listening to the audio version of Agatha Christie’s Murder On The Orient Express (1934) also published in the US as Murder In The Calais Coach.

A Murder Mystery which fascinates the readers with its intrigue but the climactic denouement fills the heart with sadness reinforcing the appalling unfairness of a crime committed not only against a loving family but also against humanity itself.

Samuel Ratchett aka Cassetti,  the brutal kidnapper and killer of a little American girl, Daisy Armstrong, is aboard the elegant Orient Express. Though he goes scot free taking advantage of legal loopholes, Ratchett has of late been receiving threats to his life.

On the same train is the famous ‘little’  Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. Ratchett approaches Poirot to take up his case but Poirot refuses because he does not like his face.

On the same train, are twelve other passengers of different nationalities. There is also Monsieur Bouc, a fellow Belgian and the Director of the Train Operating Company who is  Poirot’s friend and a Greek medical doctor Stavros Constantine and the Train Conductors.

However, the journey is stalled when the train gets stuck due to heavy snow in between Vinkcovci and Brod (Northeastern Croatia). The next morning Ratchett is found murdered in his compartment with twelve stab wounds on his body.

The murderer could have boarded the train at Vinkcovci, assaulted Ratchett and got down again or he/she could be still inside  amongst the twelve other passengers.

On Bouc’s request, Poirot takes up the case. With the help of Dr. Constantine, who examines the dead body and confirms the time of death and Bouc, Poirot interrogates the passengers one by one till he is able to lay bare an immaculate plan of revenge and retribution.

Murder On The Orient Express is inspired by the 1932 kidnapping and murder of 20-month-old Charles Lindbergh Jr., son of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh –  a real-life tragedy, where a ransom was paid yet the child was not returned but found murdered causing international uproar. A maid in the Lindbergh household, Violet Sharp, committed suicide after being relentlessly questioned by the Police.

The setting of the stalled journey is based on Christie’s firsthand experience aboard the train including a 1929 incident where the Orient Express was stuck in a snowdrift for six days.

This is one of the first Christie that I read in Bangla (translated version) and strangely  never thought of re-reading the original. I also realised while listening to the audio narration that the presentation not only requires strong storytelling but also authentic scripting, appropriate sound design and effect, honest dramatization , effective background score, superb voice acting and a whole lot of other production paraphernalia to reach out and captivate a wide audience. Kudos to Mirchi Sunday Suspense for that.

Picture Courtesy Screen Grab on You Tube