In the UK we are treated to a third Bank Holiday in May this year. Personally, I am loving all of these Bank Holidays and am looking forward to some very special visitors arriving on Saturday. Plans are a visit to York, with a bit of shopping and then back to ours for a jolly good catch up. I cannot wait!

Read my review of Wintering

The weather at the moment is glorious and I was reflecting that Spring goes from 0-60 in no time at all. Winter seems unending, but shortly after the first snowdrops have peeped their heads out, the garden comes to life. Definitely a metaphor for us all there methinks.

Read my review of Pride and Prejudice

Book wise, I am enjoying reading Emma by Jane Austen. This is probably the book I have had on my To Be Read for the longest. I have read it before, but it is lovely to re-read it and I am enjoying getting reacquainted with Miss Emma Woodhouse. Review wise for today, I have the next in the Hercule Poirot run of books. Let's crack on shall we?

The Plot

When the luxurious Blue Train arrives at Nice, a guard attempts to wake Ruth Kettering from her slumbers. But she will never wake again because a heavy blow has killed her disfiguring her features beyond recognition. What is more her precious rubies are missing.

The prime suspect is Ruth's estranged husband Derek. Yet Poirot is not convinced, so he stages an eerie re-enactment of the journey, complete with the murderer on board.

My Thoughts

This has been by and far my favourite Hercule Poirot novel so far. First, we have a slow setting of the scene. A mysterious and shadowy group of people who look to steal a beautiful set of rubies. But they are tailed by a man with white hair, spotted under a nearby streetlight, who brings fear to them.

From there the action moves to the Savoy and the life of an American millionaire - Mr Van Aldin and his daughter Ruth, and her wayward husband Derek.

Then we are off to St Mary Mead, sadly not to visit our old friend Jane Marple, but Katherine Grey. A companion to an elderly lady who has come into money following her recent employer's passing.

All of these scenes are beautifully set and the players assembled. From here we move to the Blue Train - the luxurious train travelling from London to Nice. Here our cast of characters await us and a murder is set to occur!

Christie has succeeded in bringing together a wonderful cast of characters in some very glamorous locations. And who doesn't love a fictional murder on a train?

All in all, after finishing a particularly heavy read (review coming soon) this was just the ticket. Excellent!