For an instant the two trains ran side by side. In that frozen moment, Elspeth McGillicuddy stared helplessly out of her carriage window as a man tightened his grip around a woman’s throat. The body crumpled. Then the other train drew away. But who, apart from Mrs. McGillicuddy’s friend Jane Marple, would take her story seriously? After all, there are no other witnesses, no suspects, and no case … case — for there is no corpse, and no one is missing. Miss Marple asks her highly efficient and intelligent young friend Lucy Eyelesbarrow to infiltrate the Crackenthorpe family, who seem to be at the heart of the mystery, and help unmask a murderer.
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This is an easy whodunit to sink into while listening to the waves on a summer’s day. The novel has a marvelous premise. A woman falls into a nap on the 4:50 train from Paddington station in London. She awakens just as another train pulls next to hers. She looks out her window into the window of the adjacent train where she sees the back of a man …
Agatha Christie sets up a beautiful mystery: Elspeth McGillicuddy is traveling by train when she observes a murder on a passing train, only to find that no murder was reported.
With the help of her friend Miss Jane Marple, they follow a trail of clues and (of course) red herrings to land on the truth. Devious and twisty, it’s the perfect …
I loved this whodunit from start to finish. It begins when the wonderfully named Elspeth McGillicuddy boards a train. She has no idea she’s about to witness a murder during her journey. Or did she imagine it as the police can find no body or evidence of a crime? Miss Marple is in no doubt that her friend saw what she saw and embarks on an …
luv Agatha. What a talent
average …. easy read… a character book
Another easy to read Christie and has a good twist.
Excellent as always. I thought I had it figured out until the reveal. Not even close.
I read this a couple of years ago, so I do not remember it. It was an Agatha Christie book, and I always enjoy those.
One of Agatha Christie’s great books. Throughly recommended.
It’s one of Dame Agatha’s very best. If you like Miss Marple, you will not be disappointed.
if there was a button for ‘Great Plot’ I’d have pressed it. This is a fabulous idea and simply but vividly told. Written in the 1950’s it’s full of the bustle and steam of a London Railway Station and then we have that isolated country house!
A woman sees someone strangled on a train as it leaves Paddington Station – the twist (and I’m giving …
Miss Marple classic. Great characters and presentation of the crime. Good mystery.
I have always been a fan of Agatha Christie novels and although I found this one most entertaining, I did not find it to be as mysterious and haunting as many of her stories.
One of Agatha Christie’s best. A surprising ending!
Agatha Christie’s books are always delightful. This one is a winner.
Well written,great plot, I would read it over and over. A classic.
Agatha Christie is always a good read
How can you go wrong with Agatha Christie? This is classic. I loved it.
Always fun.
classic Agatha Christie…always enjoyable