I have to say, I really couldn't enjoy this book. It didn't flow well for me, and I had to force myself to finish it.

this was probably my worst Christie novel. it didn't have the usual spark to it. like helsiholmes i had to force myself to finish it.

I have never found this one as weak as many others seem to do. Yes, there are some parts that are poorly done and it isn't anywhere near Christie at her best but, when one looks at the difficult circumstances under which she was writing, I think she did quite a reasonable job. It's saving grace, for me, is the creation of two very appealling characters - Katherine Grey and Mr Goby. Up until then, AC had tended to write about young women full of life and adventure but, in Katherine, she creates a more mature, more serious woman who looks on rather than rushes into action. She may be less fun than some of AC other characters (Tuppence, Bundle, Anne Beddingfeld etc) but she is more thoughtful and complete person because of it. She may create less sparkle and impact but her personality still imprints itself on the readers memory, almost because of it's lack of force. As for Mr Goby - well, he is just a pure delight! What a wonderfully quirky character he is!! AC can't have been completely off her game if she could still find this gem of a character in her imagination!

I'm with you Puffinjill, this book is not one of her greatest works, but streets ahead of ones such as 'Postern of Fate' which I really did struggle to finish.  I actually didn't guess the murderer, (although I seem to be the only one of my Christie reading friends who didn't).  I don't find the characterisations weak in any way and feel that the partnership between Katherine and Poirot is really delightful.  Hastings would have just fallen in love with Katherine and complicated matters!  Mr Gobi is also superb and appears in another book, I think?  The Blue Train is one of many I have on audio book and I listen to it often.  I think it's great.

Lucky you, Miss Eylesbarrow, being able to listen to the audio book of The Mystery Of The Blue Train as and when you wish. Alas, my copy got damaged by overplay as I loved it dearly too (it was on cassette) and hope I can replace it with a CD version that will stand up to my repeated plays soon.

I, too, didn't guess the murderer when I first read it. In fact, I was a little disapointed with who it turned out to be as this character was one I had rather liked. Trust Christie to lure us all in with an appealing and kind personality that masks a rather different and much more ruthless one underneath!

If you have an MP3 player, Puffinjill, you can download the story from itunes - they are really resaonable and there are LOADS of Agatha Christie's on there - I'm like a kid in a sweet shop every time I go on

I do, I do, Miss Eylesbarrow, but I tend to only use that when I'm out and about - running, cycling, walking, etc - not when I am at home and have a little more time to listen to the novels. I tend to put the collections of short stories on my MP4 (currently listening to Poirot's Early Cases but my big fave to run to is my complete Miss Marple short story collection) as these tend to fit more neatly into these activities. When I'm home, I have one of AC's novels on my CD player at all times (except when I occasionally listen to one by another author), so a full-length novel works better there. Plus, I actually like owning them and having them lined up on my shelves. Thanks for the tip, though! Do you have any real favourites, Miss E?

I listen to mine when I'm at my allotment.  I can usually get through at least 3/4 of a story in a day down there.  I also listen in the car and when walking to work.  Sometimes I have three different stories on the go all at once, my family wonder how I can keep track of them all and not get mixed up, but when you know the stories so well, it's easy, isn't it?  I often find myself joining in with the dialogue or disagreeing with a character, such as: character 'I didn't kill him'; me 'Oh, yes you did!'.  Sad I know !

Gosh, real favourites? Er, 'The Hollow' has to be right up there, and also 'The Moving Finger', Practically all the books from the 30's through to the mid 50's I could read/listen to time and time again.  I do prefer full length novels to short stories, but some of the shorts are fab, like The Unbreakable Alibi' and 'Blue Geranium'.

Miss Eylesbarrow has recommended this book to me. Ive not read any of the other posts, as I'm too wary of spoilers!

Ive found that I must always use my own personal judement, if it's a book, a programme or piece of music. I'm not easily swayed by others opinions. I'd heard Blue train might no be the best AC book. But I would have read it anyway. But I did see part of the Suchet, adaptation. That put me off reading the blue train for years! It seems it wasn't much like the book though??

I can't speak about the adaptation, Miss Quin, but the book was quite interesting. Not quite AC's worst (personally, I give the nomination to Elephants Can Remember, although it's a matter of taste), but not AC in her shining moments either. The culprit was a bit unexpected to me, and the crime quite baffling, but the book seems a bit winded about. But if one is prepared for long dialogues and fillers, then go ahead, by all means.

Your putting me off Harley!! I'm now puzzled. I'll try and get hold of a copy anyway, to make my own mind up.

Worst AC book? Ive not read them all but my least favourite was Dead Mans Folly. I havent anything good to say about it. I read it years ago and hardly rmember anything, except I lost the will to carry on reading it. I guessed the plot too easily, from the beguining.

Well, sometimes the one where we guessed the plot are not quite the worst ones for me. The title And Then There Were None made the ending a foregone conclusion (except for the actual denouement of sorts, that is), and one of the stories where I deduced the guilty party is actually branded as one of AC's finest: Death on the Nile. I still enjoyed it, though - I feel quite proud of myself when I can crack the mystery.

Back to the Blue Train: it has all sorts of AC's characteristic, er, characters. There's the female ingenue, the Betty and Veronica situation (TVTropes can help clear you up on that one), the "Modern Girl", the mother whose hobby seems to be marriage, and so forth. Altogether an amusing story for me, although not one of my favourites either.

No, Ive guesses quite a few Chisites and still been amongst my favourites. But there's something about Dead Mans Folly I don't like. I think it as too dull for me.

On the other hand I didn't enjoy Endless Night, but it wasn't dull. It was just very tense and I felt on edge permantly. Probably just me being spooked too easily

There's no way I'm looking up anything about Blue train Harley! spoliers lurk everywhere. Ive already read Crooked house  by accident.

But i'm glad my first Chrisite book was Marple/Poirot short sotries, follwed by Ackryod, as it got my atention and I wanted to read MORE!!

Hey! Crooked House was ruined for me too

But as everyone knows I love Endless Night. But I didn't care too much for Dead Man's Folly either, MQ. I know the reason for this though. I thought the solution was too easy, too melodramatic, and a little unbeliveable. I also thought the culprit(s) was/were an easy way out. AC, I felt, could have picked {a} better culprit(s).

Miss_Eylesbarrow

I listen to mine when I'm at my allotment.  I can usually get through at least 3/4 of a story in a day down there.  I also listen in the car and when walking to work.  Sometimes I have three different stories on the go all at once, my family wonder how I can keep track of them all and not get mixed up, but when you know the stories so well, it's easy, isn't it?  I often find myself joining in with the dialogue or disagreeing with a character, such as: character 'I didn't kill him'; me 'Oh, yes you did!'.  Sad I know !

You sound like someone after my own heart, Miss Eylesbarrow!!! I spend more time with AC's books/audiobooks than I do with my partner or any of the other 'real' people in my life! They are my one true and constant companion and I would be lost without them - now THAT'S sad, or would be considered so by many!!!

Out of the two favourites you mention, I would have to say I prefer The Moving Finger to The Hollow (which has never really worked for me). Do you find yourself preferring the audiobook of some to the written word? I know I do. Some books I'm not that keen to reread again but find I could still listen to them and enjoy them at any time. And I have actually changed my mind about some once I've had them bought to life for me by a wonderful reading.

Sorry, everyone! I know I'm WAY off topic!!!

Puffinjill.

Some books I'm not that keen to reread again but find I could still listen to them and enjoy them at any time. And I have actually changed my mind about some once I've had them bought to life for me by a wonderful reading.

Yes, I totally agree Puffinjill.  I love the Poirot's read by Hugh Fraser (Hastings in the TV adapts).  He does fab voices, including the female ones.  I think he's better for the audio books than David Suchet (sorry David!).  I've really come to love 'Blue Train' through listening to the audio book, better than when actually reading it for myself. 

I find that when listening to the audio books, I can often pick up details which I miss when reading because I always read at such a fast pace to get to the end and find out 'who dunnit'.  When listening, you have to go at the reader's pace and sometimes their emphasis makes you aware of something you wouldn't otherwise notice. 

ABSOLUTELY!!!! I couldn't agree more!! I have to say that Hugh Fraser is my first choice to read them too. He has a wonderful voice and is brilliant at portraying each character (his Mrs Oliver is a sheer delight!!) without ever projecting his own personality into the narrative, and that is quite a difficult thing to achieve. I've always found David Suchet's readings overdramatic and very theatrical, and too full of him rather than the story so the flow of the action always seems a little stilted. Hugh Fraser, however, reads them is such a way that the story always comes first and the flow of the narrative draws the listener into the storyline in a completely involving way. Joan Hickson is my first choice for the Miss Marple audiobooks as her voice (and her portrayal of Miss M), for me, is simply the best there is for these stories.

Great to know I'm not alone in how I feel, Miss Eylesbarrow!!

ABSOLUTELY!!!! I couldn't agree more!! I have to say that Hugh Fraser is my first choice to read them too. He has a wonderful voice and is brilliant at protraying each character without ever projecting his own personality into the narrative. I've always found David Suchet's readings overdramatic and very theatrical, and too full of him rather than the story so the flow of the action always seems a little stilted. Hugh Fraser, however, reads them is such a way that the story always comes first and the flow of the narrative draws the listener into the storyline in a completely involving way. Joan Hickson is my first choice for the Miss Marple audiobooks as her voice (and her portrayal of Miss M), for me, is simply the best there is for these stories.

Great to know I'm not alone in how I feel, Miss Eylesbarrow!!

Oh yes, I love the Joan Hickson narratives too, pity there aren't more of them.  Stephanie what's her name just isn't the same - I've got Stephanie thingummy bob reading 'At Bertram's Hotel' and I'd dearly love to hear the 'real' Miss M do it!  Describing 'real linen tea cloths without pictures of lemons to distract you when you are washing up' - heaven! 

Am I right in remembering that there is a tale that AC saw Joan Hickson in something once, many years before she protrayed Miss M and said that she (Joan) was her ideal Miss Marple (or am I just making that one up?).

No, you aren't making that up, Miss Eylesbarrow, as I recently read that story too. In fact, it was whilst I was in the Agatha Christie Gallery in the Torquay Museum a few weeks ago and it had that written up next to a case containing a costume worn by the great Joan Hickson in the BBC adptations of Miss Marple.

The name you are searching for is Stephanie Cole and I, too have At Bertram's Hotel, and also Sleeping Murder, read by her (she also did The Body In The Library but I no longer have a copy of this). They're OK but lack that extra touch of magic that JH could bring to them. Sadly, I think Ms Hickson died before she could record them but at least have some of them read by her.

I went to that museum the summer before last, great isn't it? I could have spent all day there.  That must have been where I saw the quote I think.  I like your line 'that extra touch of magic' that Joan Hickson had - you are quite right. 

I found the museum quite disappointing, but that was probably because I was expecting more than just one gallery devoted to AC. I can imagine that anything personal pertaining to AC would probably be on display at Greenways (alas, haven't been) rather than in a small exhibition tucked away in Torquay, but I was still disappointed at finding that the gallery mainly displayed photographs (mostly already known to me) of AC with quotations from her on her life and times. And if you have read the Autobiography, then you will have read these quotes before too.

But please feel free to ignore me as my judgement may have been impaired due to the fact that I was soaking wet as I couldn't have chosen a worst day to visit Torquay!! I'm not normally so grouchy! And I did buy two audiobooks in the Agatha Christie shop that cheered me up no end!!!

I was planning of visting the museum but I'm a little put off now. I could go there just to buy some AC souvenir bookmarks, but other than that, I don't see the point. Has anyone something good to say about it?

I wonder if the museums changed between the time you Miss E and PJ went?

On no, MissQuin, PLEASE don't be put off by me!! It's worth seeing if you are an AC fan but just don't expect anything to big or too personal or you will be a bit disappointed. I'm still glad I went as it was interesting to see the exhibits they had (including the most wonderful collection of green and white Penguin books that I would DIE for) and, what I found even more interesting, listening to the others who are visiting (from all over the world) discussing AC. I would have liked to have had the courage to talk to some of the other visitors but I'm afraid I'm too shy and self conscious to speak to people I don't know.

So, please don't be swayed by me, MissQuin. Still go and have a great time in beautiful Torquay.

Oh do go to the museum, Miss Quin, it's fab!  I was there alone, it was the end of the day and there were no other visitors so I was able to take my time and wander about at will.  Yes, the photos and quotes are kind of regular ones, nothing particularly new, but there are some AC artefacts and Joan Hickson's costumes, etc which I'd never seen before.  And the shop is GREAT!!!

Ive been to Torquay before, but I was mcuh younger and hadn't read AC then. Well I'd have to make my own mind up about the musuem. I like th idea of the shOp. I'll probably buy half the shop out ;)

 But I certainly want to go to Greenway. Oh and Agatha Chrisite week looks so much fun. But I'm shy though. I wouldn't dare go to the tea dance. I'd probably cripple people for life, by knocking into their ankles  whilst Charlstoning...

Oh and they had creative writing classes too,that looked fun. I like writing stories. Murder mystery dinner too, if I remember rightly. I wonder, how can you eat and solve a crime? AnyonE been on one of those? I know I'd get so caught up in the action, some actor would probably end up with a cherry tomato in their eye. I always think the worst don't I?!

I had the programme leaflet from last year you see. But I'd already booked a holiday elesewhere and didn't go to Torquay. "I WANT TO GO TO TORQUAAAY!"

I SO want to go to Greenway but haven't managed to get there yet. I did take a trip up the River Dart four years ago (I think that was the year before it opened to the public) and saw Greenway from the boat. You could also see the Boat House that belonged to the property and that AC used in Dead Man's Folly. The views the house must command over the river must be spectacular and I can imagine why AC loved this house more than any other property she owned.

Let us know if you get there, MissQuin, and I apologise again if I've put you off the Museum by being so negative. It really IS worth a visit.

I wonder if your allowed in the boathouse? I think I'd be too scared.. I'd think about the murder and all that...

If I go Greenway it'll be next year.

Hehheh. Your welcome, but I think Tom Thumb would find it hard to get my case after ive packed it!

Oh I hope your strong! Anyone else like to come? we could hire a mini bus! LOL

Me too - I'd love to go to Greenway.  I can drive a van but I don't have a minibus licence!

Oh no I hoped to call the mini bus-  The Christie mystery machine! But with no licesense driver, well...

Oh, well we don't want to be caught doing illegal things on the way to a crime exhibititon!! lol Give Chrisite fans a bad name.

"CHRISITE FANS IN ILLEGAL BUS TOUR!" Shock expose'. Hiring a coach would be handy. Just hope it doesn't end like nemesis!

Perish the thought, MissQuin!!! We'll just have to make sure we avoid large boulders launched towards us by persons wearing conspicuous knitwear.

After the McEwan version of Nemesis, I'd be weary on any nuns who would want to travel with us!

Ha ha!!!!!!!!! We'll have nun of those on the bus then!!!!

Brillliant! Cheesey pun alert... Wait for it Nuns have some bad habits don't they ?!

you two crack me up!  I'm really looking forward to this trip

I'm packing my bags as I speak (or type, to be precise)........

Room for another little one? (well actually I'm quite tall but can help with the driving)!

The more the merrier!!! Welcome along, Nofret, and any help with the driving would be great as I am not the safest person behind the steering wheel. I now stick to my bike!

Ah, if only this was real and we were all off to Torquay for a fantastic Christie beano!!! But nothing as wonderful as that seems to happen to me...

Ahh, well we may hunt together again my friend, as Poirot said to Hastings. Well we haven't actually hunted together before, but you get the idea. ;)

Welcome aboard Nofret! I suppose we'd be mistaken for hen party.  I suppose I could wear a 1920's dress and hat.

Dress as our favourite AC character perhaps?  We could have a right old collection, me as Miss Eylesbarrow  and Nofret as Nofret, yourself as a pretty Harlequin, Puffinjill?  Any thoughts?

I'm NOT wearing a Puffin costume!!! I'd love to be one of AC's spirited young heroines (Tuppence, Ann Beddingfeld, Bundle....you get the idea) but I don't quite think I match up! There IS a Jillian West ( I am Jillian but not a West) in the short story The Face Of Helen but I don't think mine could be described that way! Perhaps a Puffin might be the best thing.....

Oh gosh, just as well your not driving Jill! Have trouble seeing where your going in a bird costume. Where can I can get a Columbine (female Harlequin costume from?) I'd have to rope in someone to help me make one!

Could you go as an elegant English glad lady from St Mary's mead village? There must be someone there suitable. or could go 50's those full skirts of very retro glam.

Glam village lady, retro 50's? I think I prefer the elegence of the 30's, if I have a choice....

Oh, and yes, be VERY grateful I'm not driving.....

I love 20's and 30's dress, but women were alot shorter and slighterr. AC mentioned it in her autobiog.

I'm only a wee little Puffin. All good things come in little packages, you know. Or so my Mum used to tell me.

I love those flapper dresses with the tiers and floaty fabric. Oh and the little hats and long strands of beads. No doubt mine would get stuck in the coach door  and then I'll need rescuing. I'm very accident prone! I'd like to be elegant and graceful, but sadly I'm not made that way.

Nor am I MissQuin. Elegant, graceful, charming - all words I would love to describe me but, sadly, they never will....

Well I find your posts very entertaining and funny to read Jill.

Hear hear! 

Well, being considered as entertaining and funny by you lovely people is a treat and an honour!! And the feeling is mutual! Just wish I had more spare time to spend on here chatting and discussing anything AC.

MissQuin

Oh no I hoped to call the mini bus-  The Christie mystery machine! But with no licesense driver, well...

Oh, well we don't want to be caught doing illegal things on the way to a crime exhibititon!! lol Give Chrisite fans a bad name.

"CHRISITE FANS IN ILLEGAL BUS TOUR!" Shock expose'. Hiring a coach would be handy. Just hope it doesn't end like nemesis!

I laughed so hard after reading this! Would I be able to join you on this? Sounds like fun! Don't worry, I'd be quiet on the journey. I'd make packed lunches for everyone!

In all seriousness, I would really like to visit Torquay some day! Maybe next year... (I could dream like that all day~)

Yes, it'll be nice to have a male onboard. I think I might bring my own packed lunch so any psycho nuns can't put in poision it!! Which Chrisite character would you go as? Not Poirot surely?!

Yes, I really want to go to Greenway and it's not too far from Cornwall.

Let me join in as my namesake, and I shall be the happiest person on earth for a long time. Well, for the twenty seconds I spend laughing hard after reading these posts, at least.

But again! We digress. It's our specialty.

The way we are going, we'll need a coach not just a Mini Bus! Who's going to drive? Perhaps we could hire one of Jackie Affleck's Daffodil Coaches for the trip!!! Welcome aboard, HarleyBarley!

All the way from Indonesia to Torquay. Are you going as a scarecrow or Harley Quin?

Nofret offered to drive, I'm reserving a seat near the front, so I don't get travel sick.

I don't know, actually. I might not suit being Harley Quin, but going as a scarecrow is rather cartoonish, is it not?

We might need a tour guide, too. Let's find a Mr Satterthwaite to chatter lightly on what is what.

Scarecrow would leave straw everywhere plus would look as though you were wizard of Oz! No Harlequin would be better.

Ah Mr Satterthwaite, if only we could have someone like him.

Well  I certainly do wish to go to greenway. Course, you not allowed to take photos inside, or touch anything. But still, I think it would be very interesting.

Should I come dressed in motley and mask, then? If so, I wonder if you'll walk up to me and snatch the mask off out of sheer curiousity.

We can't touch anything at Greenway? How are we supposed to move then, levitate?

Would I act so unseemly as to pinch your mask?! No indeed I wouldn't! It's a shame there not a picture gallery on here (hints to thep owers that be) so we could have a photo of the Vicotry Ball episode. I love the Harlequin costumes so much!

Hahha, no I mean you can't touch object like books or paintings I National Trust house. You can have your feet touching the ground of course.

If we can indeed post a picture gallery, or at least upload our own avatars, I have this interesting picture of a scarecrow burning in the sunset...

Feet touching the ground? Do you imply that Greenhouse has no flooring? All right, I'll stop ribbing you now.

We'll get the coach to come and pick you up first then, HarleyBarley, as Indonesia is a bit of a detour on the way to Torquay!!! And don't you worry about MissQuin stealing your mask - I think she will forget all outside things once she was emerged in everything Christie in Torquay or Greenway!! I know I would!! And what a wonderful suggestion of Mr Satterthwaite as tour guide! If only, if only.........

Quite a bit of a detour indeed. Unless, of course, I can just suddenly arrive by the roadside and wave at your vehicle. I'm sure Miss Quin will recognise me, if only for the motley.

Mr Satterthwaite as a tour guide sounds excellent indeed. "That picture over there, that's Lady *name*. An indomitable woman, with a penchant for bridge. She married four times before her death, you know?" And so on.

Ok we'll stop the coach if we see a man in a motley, with a sign saying"GREENWAY" and thumbing a lift.

Yes, I'd be engrosed in Greenway to much for high spirted pranks. I might get thrown out of the house for behaving badly. Or banned from ALL National Trust houses!! gasp!

I have my Agatha Chrisite guide, so I know all the places to visit. Ive been to alot of them already.

Did any of you know there's a place in Yorkshire that has Agatha christies handbag on display? I saw it on TV not real life. It's in a cave!! i know it sounds odd, but it's true.

A Handbag!?! In a Cave!?! Why? Do tell me more! What a weird and wonderful idea that is! Does that mean this Bus/Coach trip will now be widening it's itinerary to take in other spots in the country that hold some relevance to AC? Absolutely FINE by me - I would spend my life immersing myself in all things Christie if I could! However, ther realities of everyday don't quite allow this.....

I went to Yorkshire but didn't see Agatha Christie's handbag in a cave or otherwise - how odd?  I did go to The Swan though and had a good old nose around the interior.  One of these days when I win the lottery I might even get to stay there.  How about extending this (frankly) wonderful coach trip to Greenway to take in all the AC sights around the UK - there's several of the London Houses I haven't visited.  We could be away from home for months at this rate!  Such an exhausing trip would end at The Swan of course, where we would all take the 'rest cure' after our excitement.

I love your !A HANDBAG?!!" quote Jill. ;)

 http://directoryofyork.net/blog/2009/09/08/knaresborough-cave-for-sale-yorkshire/

There's some strange natural occurance in the gave, that turns things salty and preserved. AC put her handbag in there and it's still there! Along with John Wayne’s hat!

Ah if only we were all going...

Months away, Miss Eylesbarrow?!? YES PLEASE!!! Not sure work (or home) will agree but count me in! I've never been lucky enough to get north to see The Swan but would love to go anywhere AC related! Can we include places where her books were set? I could do with a long, leisurely cruise down the Nile....sans murder, of course.....

No time now, MissQuin, but I will check out that link later! Thank you for it!!

Count Miss Quin in! All around the UK. Let's hope there's no falling out over the long time we spent cooped up with each other... We'll have to make some rules: *Pompous voice over*

1. No one must have fights over whose The Best Marple Ever.
2. No one must mention the cover of Labours Of Hercules that was banned. If it's mentioned, it could cause health and safety issues- people choking with laughter, whilst drinking tea for instance.
3. No one must pinch Harley's mask.
4. No real murders.
5. The issue of if the early Suchet episodes VS the Newer "darker" Poirot .It's a sticky subject, so no fistcufts or dueling!  

Lovely rules, Miss Quin! And yes, no-one pinches my mask unless I decide to take it off myself, and still no-one takes it afterwards, please (since we're not thieves, though, that rule might be unnecessary).

And what about 6. No touching anything in Greenway save for the floor.

Rules are meant to be broken of course.  I usually look for ways around rules. Call me rebellious. But no murders. That's the golden rule.

If you touch anything in National Trust places. THEY KNOW!! I was visiting an old house, when an uncouth (love that word;) person ran their hands over a row of books. Then I saw them insolently touch the sign that say's "Don''t touch the books".

A NT attendant appeared out of nowhere (Mr Quin style) and told them off. It was a good telling off too. I made sure to give the miscrient a disaproving look as well.  Just to make them feel guilty. They went red.  Points to the National Trust house folk, they don't get paid, they have to guard the books like Cerberus over the Underworld. Well, perhaps I'm being a tad fanciful with that. But you get the idea.

I never break rules. But I do bend them over my knee and make sure they'll never be straight again.

Such watchful Nation Trust people! They deserve a medal for protecting the books as if it were golden apples.

Good job I recently went on a 'Health and Safety' Officer course as I might be needed on this trip! Can you all hang on a couple of months as work want me to do a 'First Aid' course, too, and then I can bring a box of plasters and administer to you accident-prone folk out there. I think we'll have to go careful on the stairs in Greenway House and make sure you all climb UP and DOWN without falling........or being pushed.....

By the way, checked out that link, MissQuin. What a sinister and creepy place!!! Not keen on caves so I think I might give this place a miss!

I'm doing a first aid course on the 26th Sept!  I could then come along as Nurse Letheran, perhaps?  A little cap and startched apron, disapproving manner and an endless supply of carbolic..."Really, M. Poirot!".

We could take in The Orient Express too.... sigh!

Oh, that's not fair!!!! You've pipped me to the post for the nurses outfit!!! And you already had a perfectly respectable character to come as if you came as your username. I REALLY don't want to come dressed as a bird! I can do a great disapproving manner but lack the endless supply of carbolic.....

And both my hands are in the air if we are voting on going on The Orient Express!!!!! A life long dream would be fulfilled for me if I was ever lucky enough to go on this train.

Maybe I should come meet you at Stamboul (Istanbul) then. There we can take the Orient Express to France, cross the chunnel, and then we leave for Greenway. Just make sure no snow comes a-toppling in the railways.

Puffinjill: Your comment about climbing up and down staris made me chuckle. I'll try not to be overconfident about my agility there.

I have mentioned how accident prone I am. So all these nurses aboard are a good idea. Also if Harley does care to climb the trees at Greenway (you did say you might;) then we could stand by with the bandages.

The worse thing is, your mask might come off Harley! 

Creepy caves? I do get a closed in feel about them. It's a good job there wasn't any cave murders in Christe. Drugs stashed in them yes, but no murders.

Ah, Miss Quin, there is such a thing as glue. Or I can strap it to some tangle in my hair and let it be.

In a certain sense, the murder in the game version of Evil Under the Sun was a cave murder...

It's turning slightly Phantom Of The Opera ish here...

In the Evil Under The Sun Book, the murderer happened near a cave, but not in it. Was it called Pixies cove?

I'd love to go the Orient Express. I entered a competition once, to go on it, but I didn't win. I will dream on.. I don't fancy a cruise though.

In the book, it occured near a cave at Pixy's Cove. In the game, however, it seems to have occured inside the cave (before the body was then moved outside the cave, so to speak), and it occured on Pirates' Cove or something similarly un-Christie-ish.

Phantom of the Opera? Worry not, Miss Quin, the only scar on my face is a minute, nigh-invisible line underneath my chin. I tore the skin when playing as a child. You also know about the "sympathy for GP riders" injuries, but they are all gone by now (the rider whose injury I last corresponded with also visited Indonesia recently, but I missed him).

If we ran out of places to visit, we could always start a mystery trail! I'd like to go on the one in Torquay but havent manged to.  I swear I will one day!

if you somehow managed to smuggle a giant Church organ on the coach, I'd know you were the Opera Ghost Eric!!

It's Erik, by the way. And I'm not Erik, remember, I'm Harley. But the idea...me, as the Opera Ghost...fantastic.

Well you said you'd have the mask glued on!

I'll contune this on the other thread (discussions continued)