Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Asesinato en el Orient Express, by Agatha Christie

2 reviews

tsar's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

 “The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.” 

I decided to revisit one of the most famous Hercule Poirot novels after rewatching the 2017 film adaptation, in which I could finally give a better appreciation of the vision that Branagh delivers in this modern and much grittier flick. Rereading Murder of the Orient Express gives a brand new experience, particularly on the critical elements that I might have missed or the emotional playoffs that seem to be the major theme of the novel itself.

Murder on the Orient Express tells a story of a train passenger brutally murdered just as the whole cabin is lulled into slumber. In a situation that forces the train to halt its journey due to a heavy snowdrift, Poirot must race against the time to discover the true killer before they strike another fatal blow to other passengers, only to find a more sinister truth beyond a simple murder.

The novel doesn't represent the typical Agatha Christie murder-mystery structure, where the killers are bound to be a singular entity with motivation or urge that sounds entirely decrepit for standing as a trigger for the suspects to act on the vilest retaliation. Instead, it is a challenge of moral high ground for Hercule Poirot as the detective, Christie as the author, and the readers who witness the entire montage as the audience. Christie weaves an intricate backstory that entails the murder to make sure that the plot meets the goal she aims for, moving back to the years before the present time when a devastating tragedy of child kidnap and murder happened in a loving, high-class family.

And she succeeds in shaking up the moral righteousness in justifying the current murder, significantly in Poirot's conscience, where he always prioritizes the truth as the means to achieve true justice. The case forces him to battle with his own demons on how to take further actions even after he has solved the murder—whether to give them a fair trial like any other criminals he has caught in the past, or surrender to his humanity and let them leave with the morbid satisfaction of exacting an act of long-overdue revenge.

As the novel is one of Christie's works with a big cast, it should've been difficult to maintain an equal representation of all characters involved in a murder case. However, in terms of characterization, Christie takes time to give each character a spotlight, establishing their roles and backgrounds perfectly as both the common passengers and possible suspects of the crime.

Furthermore, as the investigation starts to be inducted by Poirot, Christie has thrown subtle hints here and there to show that the suspects have a strong connection enough to work together for the murder to be enacted. She gives each character an excellent web of alibis along with unassuming gestures that are so clean that even Poirot has a hard time unraveling each one of them.

I have no other words to say than acclaiming the novel as one of the most excellent Christie's novels. Murder on the Orient Express is one giant murder conspiracy motivated by heartbreak, anguish, and long-term vengeance that affects many people. It's a story of morality and justice that illustrates Poirot as a human beneath his mantle as the great detective. 
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amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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