Murder on the Orient Express - Recommendation

Murder on the Orient Express

Agatha Christie 

347/347

I would recommend this book for a number of reasons:

1. It gives an insight into a very complex human nature, motives and actions.
2. It emphasizes the moral dilemma, whether the murder of the murderer can bring justice when the justice system fails. Does the aim justify the means? This is the moral dilemma not only of the main character, detective Poirot, but also of all the people involved in the murder of the train.

Murder on the Orient Express is an exciting story filled with plot twists and suspense. I would recommend this book to people of all ages that enjoy mystery books and who are interested in human nature. In fact, the main detective is known for his ability to analyze the human nature. He can find solutions to most difficult cases just by studying the people, their actions and by making deductions.

The passengers on the coach, 12 of them, are united in their attempt to carry out justice and kill a person who caused death of so many innocent people. The serene snow-covered nature is contrasted with the action, mental and physical, taking place in the train.  

The characters are not what they seem to be.  What we see at the beginning of the story is a group of people from different countries with different socio-economic background, travelling for pleasure. They do not seem to know each other.  As the story develops and the murder takes place, Poirot manages to identify their true characters and motives. All of these 12 people suffered greatly as a result of the murdered person’s actions. Their pain is even greater since the murderer was acquitted by the corrupt judge. The desire for revenge and justice united these people.  The only way to carry out justice was to kill the culprit, so they took justice in their own hands.

The plot surprises Poirot, as this is not a common case involving the bad and the good. The murdered person is not the real victim. The murderers are not the villains in this case, but a group of desperate people seeking justice. 

Being religious and caring for every human life, this is a difficult choice for him.  For the first time ever, Poirot does not give in the murderers to the police. He lies to the police and decides to stand by the murderers. The real victims were betrayed by the justice system and Poirot knows that the means taken by the group of 12 passengers on board the train, was the only way to punish the murderer for its crimes.