Murder on the Orient Express

A world-famous detective investigates a brutal murder aboard a luxury train stranded by an avalanche. As secrets unravel, he uncovers that nearly every passenger is connected to a tragic past crime, leading to a shocking revelation of collective justice and a moral dilemma over truth and law.

A Case in Jerusalem

In 1934, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is in Jerusalem. Known across the world for his unmatched deductive abilities, he is called upon to solve a theft at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. By observing the smallest details and applying his methodical reasoning, Poirot identifies the guilty party and restores balance to the situation. His fame grows even further as a detective who can find the truth where others cannot.

With his case resolved, Poirot prepares to return to London. His friend Bouc, who is connected to the luxury train service, arranges for him to travel aboard the famed Orient Express, running along the Simplon route. Poirot accepts, looking forward to the journey across Europe, unaware that the most complicated case of his career awaits him aboard the train.

Boarding the Orient Express

Poirot boards the Orient Express, quickly becoming acquainted with the wide variety of passengers. Among them is Caroline Hubbard, a talkative and wealthy American widow. There is also businessman Edward Ratchett, who travels with his secretary Hector MacQueen and his manservant Edward Masterman. An elderly Russian aristocrat, Princess Natalia Dragomiroff, is on board, accompanied by her maid Hildegarde Schmidt.

Other passengers include Count Rudolf Andrenyi, a Hungarian diplomat, and his wife Elena; physician John Arbuthnot; governess Mary Debenham; Spanish missionary Pilar Estravados; Cuban-American car salesman Biniamino Marquez; and Austrian professor Gerhard Hardman. Pierre Michel, the conductor, attends to the needs of the travelers while Bouc oversees the train’s operation.

Each passenger brings their own background, secrets, and reasons for traveling, but the train itself creates an intimate atmosphere. Poirot is initially content to rest and observe, though his instincts remind him that something unsettling lies beneath the surface.

A Suspicious Proposal

As the train continues on its journey, Poirot is approached by Ratchett. The businessman reveals that he has been receiving threatening letters. Believing his life is in danger, he offers Poirot money to serve as his personal bodyguard for the remainder of the trip. Poirot declines. His sense of morality and judgment lead him to conclude that Ratchett is not a man he wishes to protect. Poirot’s instinctive distrust is strong, and he refuses to involve himself further.

Shortly afterward, the train encounters disaster. An avalanche occurs along the tracks, derailing the engine. Though the carriages remain intact, the train is left stranded on the line in the snowy wilderness. The passengers are forced to wait until a rescue engine can arrive.

The Murder in the Night

During the night, Poirot is disturbed by noises in the corridor. He hears movement and catches sight of someone dressed in a red kimono rushing past. Later, the train grows quiet, and Poirot returns to bed.

The next morning, shocking news spreads among the passengers. Edward Ratchett has been found dead in his cabin. He has been stabbed repeatedly, with a dozen wounds scattered across his body. The violence of the attack is matched only by its mystery. Everyone is trapped aboard the stranded train, and the murderer must be among them.

Bouc pleads with Poirot to investigate before the Yugoslavian police take charge once the train is freed. Poirot agrees, compelled by both necessity and curiosity.

Early Clues

Poirot begins his investigation by examining Ratchett’s cabin. Among the evidence, he discovers a burned note, from which he reconstructs fragments of a message. The note refers to Daisy Armstrong, a child who was kidnapped and murdered years earlier in a notorious American case. Poirot deduces that Ratchett’s true identity was John Cassetti, the criminal mastermind behind the crime.

The Armstrong case had left devastation in its wake. Daisy’s mother, Sonia, died giving premature birth after the kidnapping. Her father, Colonel John Armstrong, later took his own life in despair. The family maid, Susanne, accused of complicity, was proven innocent but committed suicide after her reputation was destroyed. With this revelation, Poirot realizes Ratchett’s death may be linked to vengeance for Daisy Armstrong.

Poirot also finds a bloodstained handkerchief with the letter “H” embroidered on it, as well as a button from a conductor’s uniform in Mrs. Hubbard’s cabin. Later, the missing uniform and the kimono he saw the previous night are both found planted in his own luggage. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hubbard is attacked and stabbed by an unknown assailant but survives.

Interrogating the Passengers

Poirot systematically interviews each passenger. The questioning reveals inconsistencies, concealed relationships, and connections to the Armstrong case. Nearly everyone seems to have a motive, whether through family ties, professional involvement, or personal history.

Dr. Arbuthnot appears protective of Mary Debenham, while Masterman reveals his illness and his history of service to Colonel Armstrong. Suspicion grows, but no single explanation seems complete.

When Poirot presses Mary Debenham, the interrogation turns tense. Suddenly, Poirot is shot in the shoulder by Arbuthnot, who confesses to Ratchett’s murder. However, Poirot quickly realizes Arbuthnot, a skilled military marksman, deliberately missed a killing shot. Bouc subdues him before more harm is done, but Poirot knows Arbuthnot’s confession is false.

Unmasking the Truth

With all passengers gathered, Poirot reveals what he has deduced. Each of them is connected to the Armstrong tragedy. Piece by piece, he identifies their roles and true identities.

• Hector MacQueen’s father was the district attorney who prosecuted Susanne and saw his career ruined when she was posthumously cleared.
• Gerhard Hardman is revealed as Cyrus Hardman, a former police officer who had been in love with Susanne.
• Pierre Michel, the train conductor, is Susanne’s brother.
• Arbuthnot and Masterman both served alongside Colonel Armstrong.
• Marquez, Schmidt, and Estravados had all been employees in the Armstrong household as chauffeur, cook, and nursemaid.
• Countess Andrenyi is revealed as Helena, Sonia Armstrong’s sister.
• Mary Debenham had served as Daisy’s governess.
• Princess Dragomiroff was Daisy’s godmother.
• Mrs. Hubbard is unmasked as Linda Arden, Sonia’s mother and Daisy’s grandmother, once a celebrated actress.

The red kimono, worn by Debenham, and the staged stabbing of Hubbard were both part of a plan to confuse Poirot. Every piece of evidence, once examined together, points to a collective act.

The Collective Murder

Poirot delivers his conclusion: Ratchett, or John Cassetti, was murdered not by one individual but by all of the passengers connected to the Armstrongs. Each took a turn stabbing him during the night, ensuring that no single person bore full responsibility. The murder was planned and carried out as an act of justice for the Armstrong family.

Linda Arden admits she organized the plan and recruited the others. Each stabbing represented both vengeance and solidarity. Arbuthnot’s false confession was an attempt to shield the group, while Debenham’s disguise and the false evidence were designed to confuse investigators.

Poirot, bound by his commitment to truth, now faces a moral dilemma. He acknowledges the justice behind their actions but also recognizes that the law demands clarity. He presents the assembled group with a choice: if they believe their cause to be just, they can shoot him and bury the truth with him. Instead, Hubbard attempts to end her own life, but the gun is revealed to be unloaded. Poirot had intended only to test their resolve.

Resolution

With the rescue engine arriving and the train freed from the avalanche, Poirot prepares to leave. To the authorities, he offers a false solution: that Ratchett was killed by a lone escaped enemy who boarded the train and fled. This account preserves the passengers’ secret and avoids public scandal.

For Poirot, it is the first time he has deliberately concealed the truth. He knows Cassetti deserved death but struggles with the imbalance of allowing lies to stand. His inner conflict is left unresolved, but he departs with the knowledge that some justice, though unconventional, has been done.

As Poirot disembarks, a British Army messenger approaches with new instructions. A death has occurred along the Nile, and Poirot’s skills are required once more. He sets off toward his next case, leaving behind the unforgettable mystery aboard the Orient Express.