The story in one page
When Rufus Van Aldin gifts his daughter Ruth the 'Heart of Fire' ruby, he inadvertently paints a target on her back. Ruth boards the Blue Train to meet her lover in Nice, only to be found dead with her face disfigured and her jewels missing. The list of suspects is long: a philandering husband in debt, a fake Count with a talent for seduction, and a mysterious figure known as 'Monsieur le Marquis.' Hercule Poirot, attempting to enjoy a quiet retirement, must sort through the baggage — both literal and emotional — of the English aristocracy to find a killer who never should have been on the train at all.
Who's who
- Hercule Poirot
A semiretired Belgian detective who trusts his own genius.
- Ruth Kettering
The victim whose resemblance to her millionaire father proves fatal.
- Rufus Van Aldin
A hard millionaire who buys rubies and seeks ruthless justice.
- Katherine Grey
A reserved woman with a new fortune and a Madonna touch.
- Major Richard Knighton
Van Aldin's intelligent secretary who hides a secret military past.
- Derek Kettering
Ruth's debt-ridden husband who booked a berth under a pseudonym.
What it's really about
- Deception
- Characters use masks, aliases, and false identities to hide their motives.
- Class and Wealth
- The power of money defines every interaction among the Blue Train passengers.
Why it's memorable
- The disfigured face of the victim discovered in a luxury train compartment.
- A ghost-like impression of the dead woman urging Katherine Grey to listen.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Poirot reveals that Major Knighton is actually the criminal 'Monsieur le Marquis,' who collaborated with the maid Ada Mason to murder Ruth; Derek is cleared and finds hope with Katherine Grey.
For your book club
- Whether Ruth's choice of lover made her an inevitable target for the crime.
- How the rigid routine of train travel provides the perfect cover for a killer.