Murder on the Orient Express (Dramatised)

By: Agatha Christie

Narrated by: John Moffatt

Length: 2 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

An international cast of suspects, all passengers on the crowded train, are speeding through the snowy European landscape when a bizarre and terrible murder brings them to an abrupt halt. One of their glittering number lies dead in his cabin, stabbed a mysterious twelve times. There is no lack of clues for Poirot - but which clue is real and which is a clever plant?

Poirot realises that this time he is dealing with a murderer of enormous cunning and that in a case frought with fear and inconstencies only one thing is certain - the murderer is still aboard the train waiting to strike again...

John Moffatt stars as the great Belgian detective in a BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation.

©1934 Agatha Christie Ltd (P)2010 BBC Audiobooks Ltd

Top performance of a classic story

This story has some unique features among Agatha Christie's books. There's no second murder to help narrow down the suspects, and Poirot must solve the crime in a matter of hours. Even if you've read the story before, this dramatisation is still worth listening to. The sound effects may not be quite movie standard, but they're convincing none the less. The acting is good, and the script writer left the original story alone. And for those of us who can't see, we can follow the story as well as our sighted friends staring at the radio. A pleasant two hours listening.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Great

Amazing amazing amazing.. Had my attention the entire time... Did not see that ending coming... Dramatization was very well done

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good story

Held my interest the entire time. I also love the dramatization. I highly recommend this book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Murder on the Orient Express Dazzles!

Very good performance of Murder on the Orient Express! Almost as good as David Suchet. Get it today! You won't be disappointed!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A great listen

This was a wonderful reinactment. Both movies
were great in my opinion, but this medium was
enjoyable.

love the story

I loved the story, and everything but I felt done of the voices were a bit strange. it was quite obvious done accents were not real ones and were a bit silly.

great

Phenomenal, well acted the best version of this audiobook I have ever heard. Everyone played their parts well and the sound effects were fun.

enjoyable listen!

all the characters did an excellent job. very enjoyable and not unnecessarily lengthy..worth the time

mom/daughter review

My 10 yr old and I have really enjoyed listening to this. She enjoys mysteries and is completely engrossed in story line and able to follow and understand characters. I love a good mystery, but hate blood and gore. Agatha Christie provides well written, engaging storylines that don't offend or traumatise. Also the BBC never disappoints and the actors are wonderful and easy to understand.

Weak

While I ultimately liked the resolution of the story itself I found the presentation to be extremely boring. I felt like hardly anything was happening and I really had to force myself to finish it even though it was only a little over 2 hours long.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fantastic attention to detail!

Fantastic storyline with the drama paying exceptional attention to detail. I listened to first this and then the original book and even though the length is quite different not a single detail is unmentioned. Definitely worth listening to even if you have read the book.

Very engaging:-) excellent voices!

Very engaging:-) excellent voices! feeling as if one was in the train observing Poirot solving the case. Pity it's so short.

Very good

You can not beat Agatha Christie. I really enjoyed the story and it was very well performed.

Perfection

Wonderful dramatisation of a wonderful tale. Really couldn't be better. Acted out to perfection right down to the atmospherics. First class ticket!

Interesting

I don't really listen to these types of books, I.e murder mysteries, but this dramatisation was quite good. The story was a bit confusing because it's so short and there isn't enough time to get acquainted with the characters but it may be alright for someone who has read the unabridged book before.

I love it

I love this version and have listened many times. Short and sweet so easy to fit in to a short space of time

My Favourite Christie Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Because the dramatization makes this even better then a regular audio book. The cast have wonderful voices and the plot grabs you right from the beginning .The train journey is covering exotic places and has an air of luxury about it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hercule, I just love him and all his funny little ways.

What about John Moffatt’s performance did you like?

I loved his entire performance! This man really did justice to this role and I listen to this story again and again. He captures the little detective very well.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A Murder On Board.

Deceptively simple.

This is one of Agatha Christie's best known works with one of her best known characters, Hercule Poirot.

The story progresses in a carefully managed series of logical steps while the solution to the murder mystery remains illusive to the end. A format that Agatha Christie perfected. It is easy listening but also engaging. The entire story is brought to life by the brilliant interpretation of Poirot's character by John Moffatt supported by a highly talented cast. With these dramatizations I must say I find it hard to return to the 'single' reader formats of other audio books. But beyond the actual story and 'theater of the mind' presentation there are other unintended qualities to this, and all of Agatha Christie's works that fascinates me. Her insightful perspective on humanity and masterful reproduction of the language and attitudes of those times is like a time machine that can transport the listener back to the world of our grandparents. It is almost a historical novel in that sense. For a reader born in the 1950's I can truly imagine my own grand parents standing in the background of Agatha's public settings. For younger listeners I can only suggest you do not be fooled by the initially deceptively simple appearance of the story but allow yourself to let go of today's digital world of instant information and frantic hype and visit the world of your great grand parents. Compare the quality of life. Who knows, this intriguing murder mystery might just subtly change your own world view. It's not about age, it's about quality. I recommend this book and all the other dramatized Agatha Christie stories that Audible UK has to offer.

Perfect

The title of this review says it all.
This is better than any other dramatisation, televised or otherwise (including the recently filmed Suchet version for ITV, which is good by the way).
Great casting - John Moffat delivers an unusually good Poirot - coupled with sincere, believable, enjoyable-to-listen-to acting make this a Murder on the Orient Express that you won't forget.