Murder on the Orient Express

A Russian princess, a Hungarian count, a Swedish beauty, and an assortment of Americans, English and French are brought together on the elegant Orient Express. A brutal murder and an unexpected blizzard bring in the vacationing Hercule Poirot. The results are excellent. This BBC Radio dramatization is as thought-provoking as the original. The vocal characterizations, as diverse as the characters themselves, are appropriately dramatic. Actor John Moffatt is a forceful Poirot and leads the ensemble with style. With its attention to dialects, incidental music and pace, this is the perfect audio presentation for a road trip or a cozy day by a warm fire. M.R. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Christie's classic and narration by "Downton Abbey" star Dan Stevens (Matthew Crawley) really make this production stand out. Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is on a train heading from Istanbul to London when the death of the villainous American Mr. Ratchett is discovered. The body has a number of unique stab wounds, and Poirot is asked to investigate. Stevens's characterizations of the large and diverse range of characters, from the quietly spoken Poirot to a princess and a countess, are excellent. His character differentiation through an extensive use of accents and varying tones helps make the story easy to follow. While this classic mystery is well known, Stevens's polished narration introduces some new facets, making this a top-notch listen. K.J.P. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine