Mystery | Hercule Poirot, "The Plymouth Express Affair" by Agatha Christie, Full Length Short Story

Hercule Poirot in "The Plymouth Express Affair" by Agatha Christie
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SYNOPSIS

"The Plymouth Express Affair" is one of Agatha Christie's first works. The Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, investigates the robbery and murder of the daughter of a wealthy American steel magnate. With the assistance of Captain Arthur Hastings, and Detective Chief Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard, Poirot must rely on his little grey cells to discover who killed Flossie Halliday aboard the Plymouth Express.


THE FIRST PAGE

Alec Simpson, R.N., stepped from the platform at Newton Abbot into a first-class compartment of the Plymouth Express. A porter followed him with a heavy suitcase. He was about to swing it up to the rack, but the young sailor stopped him.

“No-leave it on the seat. I’ll put it up later. Here you are.”

“Thank you, sir.” The porter, generously tipped, withdrew.

Doors banged; a stentorian voice shouted: “Plymouth only. Change for Torquay. Plymouth next stop.” Then a whistle blew, and the train drew slowly out of the station.

Lieutenant Simpson had the carriage to himself. The December air was chilly, and he pulled up the window. Then he sniffed vaguely, and frowned. What a smell there was! Reminded him of that time in hospital, and the operation on his leg. Yes, chloroform; that was it!

He let the window down again, changing his seat to one with its back to the engine. He pulled a pipe out of his pocket and lit it. For a little time he sat inactive, looking out into the night and smoking.

At last he roused himself, and opening the suitcase, took out some papers and magazines, then closed the suitcase again and endeavored to shove it under the opposite seat-without success. Some hidden obstacle resisted it. He shoved harder with rising impatience, but it still stuck out halfway into the carriage.

“Why the devil wont it go in?” he muttered, and hauling it out completely, he stooped down and peered under the seat....

A moment later a cry rang out into the night, and the great train came to an unwilling halt in obedience to the imperative jerking of the communication-cord.

“Mon ami,” said Poirot. “You have, I know, been deeply interested in this mystery of the Plymouth Express. Read this.”

I picked up the note he flicked across the table to me. It was brief and to the point.

“Dear Sir.

I shall be obliged if you will call upon me at your earliest convenience.

Yours faithfully, Ebenezer Halliday.”



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Agatha Christie (1890 - 1976) was a renowned and prolific British author, best known for her contributions to the mystery genre. Often hailed as the "Queen of Crime," Christie's literary career spanned over six decades, during which she wrote 66 detective novels, 14 short story collections, and the world's longest-running play, "The Mousetrap." Her iconic characters, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, became beloved figures in crime fiction. Christie's works, including classics like "Murder on the Orient Express," "And Then There Were None," and "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd," have sold over two billion copies worldwide, making her one of the best-selling authors in history.



CHAPTERS

0:00 - Start
0:15 - Thank You
0:26 - audiobooky.co
0:35 - Feature Presentation
0:43 - Part 1
5:33 - Part 2
7:19 - Part 3
11:47 - Part 4
15:36 - Part 5
18:26 - Part 6
20:29 - Part 7
22:30 - Part 8
25:12 - Part 9
27:00 - Part 10
30:10 - Outro