Murder on the Orient Express (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Poirot initially declines Ratchett's offer because he senses something false about the man. Despite Ratchett claiming to fear for his life from anonymous threats, Poirot's keen ability to detect lies tells him Ratchett is not being truthful. This instinct proves justified when it's revealed Ratchett is actually John Cassetti, the man responsible for Daisy Armstrong's kidnapping and murder.

Foreshadowing: Poirot's opening scene establishes his belief that his ability to detect lies is a curse, hinting at his later reluctance to take the case.

• poirot
• ratchett
• bodyguard
• declined job
• orient express

Samuel Ratchett is revealed to be John Cassetti, the infamous criminal responsible for the kidnapping and murder of young Daisy Armstrong. Cassetti orchestrated the abduction for ransom but killed the child anyway, despite the family paying the ransom. This discovery motivates the passengers to kill him as revenge for the Armstrong family's suffering.

Foreshadowing: Ratchett's nervous behavior and the anonymous threats he mentions hint at his criminal past.

• ratchett
• john cassetti
• daisy armstrong
• kidnapping
• criminal identity

Daisy Armstrong was a young girl kidnapped from her home and held for ransom. Despite the family paying the ransom, Daisy was murdered by John Cassetti. Her death caused devastating ripple effects: her mother Sonia died during childbirth (which was triggered by grief), her father Colonel Armstrong committed suicide, and the nursemaid Susanne was wrongfully accused of involvement and later killed herself in prison. This tragedy connects all the passengers on the train.

Foreshadowing: The ruined note found linking Ratchett to the Armstrong case is the key clue that unravels the mystery.

• daisy armstrong
• kidnapping
• sonia armstrong
• colonel armstrong
• nursemaid susanne

All passengers become suspects because the train was derailed by an avalanche, trapping everyone inside. With no external escape route and compartments locked from the inside, only the passengers themselves could have committed the murder. Poirot's investigation then reveals each passenger has a hidden connection to the Armstrong family, giving them collective motive.

Foreshadowing: The avalanche creates a perfect locked-room scenario, forcing Poirot to consider all passengers as potential killers.

• passengers
• suspects
• locked train
• armstrong family connections

Caroline Hubbard is actually Linda Arden, a retired celebrated actress and mother to Sonia Armstrong (Daisy Armstrong's mother). She orchestrated the entire murder plot, gathering all the passengers who had connections to the Armstrong family to carry out the coordinated killing of John Cassetti as revenge for destroying their family.

Foreshadowing: Hubbard's claim that someone entered her compartment during the night serves as a red herring and part of the elaborate plan.

• caroline hubbard
• linda arden
• sonia armstrong
• actress
• mastermind

The murder was possible because all the passengers participated in the killing. Each person stabbed Cassetti once in a coordinated plan, meaning no single person acted alone. The compartments were locked from the inside, and the conductor confirmed seeing no one enter, which aligns with the passengers' collective alibi since they were all inside the train the entire time.

Foreshadowing: The bloodied conductor's button found in Hubbard's room was planted as false evidence.

• locked compartment
• murder method
• coordinated killing
• knife

Poirot presents the theory of a single external killer because he faces a moral dilemma. While he has solved the case and knows all passengers participated in the murder, he recognizes their actions were justified revenge against Cassetti for the destruction of the Armstrong family. Poirot believes true justice cannot be served, so he lies to allow the passengers to escape legal consequences.

Foreshadowing: Poirot's opening philosophical struggle between order and chaos foreshadows his decision to bend the truth.

• poirot lie
• moral dilemma
• justice
• police
• theory presented

Poirot allows the killers to escape because he views Cassetti's crimes as deserving death, even if illegally carried out. He cannot bring himself to condemn grieving family members and friends who sought vengeance for the innocent Daisy's murder and its devastating aftermath. By presenting a single killer theory to the authorities, he enables their escape while bearing the weight of the lie himself.

Foreshadowing: The bitter ending reflects Poirot's ongoing battle between his moral code and his sense of mercy.

• poirot mercy
• vigilantes
• escape
• vengeance
• moral choice

The figure in the red kimono that Poirot saw rushing through the corridor was part of the murder plot's misdirection. The identity is never fully confirmed, but it was likely Linda Arden (as Caroline Hubbard) or another passenger dressed to create confusion and provide an alibi. This mysterious figure contributed to the initial chaos and helped obscure the truth of what happened that night.

Foreshadowing: The red kimono sighting occurs before the murder is discovered, establishing early suspicion.

• red kimono
• mysterious figure
• corridor
• disguise
• misdirection

Poirot discovers Ratchett's identity as John Cassetti through a partially ruined note found during the investigation. The note connects Ratchett to the Armstrong kidnapping case. Combined with the passengers' reactions and hidden connections to the Armstrong family, Poirot pieces together that Ratchett is the criminal who kidnapped and murdered Daisy Armstrong.

Foreshadowing: The note's discovery comes after Poirot uncovers the Armstrong backstory.

• note
• evidence
• cassetti identity
• discovery
• armstrong case

Ratchett claimed to fear for his life from anonymous threats, but in reality, he was paranoia-stricken about being caught for his past crimes. As John Cassetti, he had many enemies and likely feared retaliation from those connected to his previous victims or their families. His request for Poirot as a bodyguard was an attempt to protect himself, though he failed to disclose his true identity.

Foreshadowing: Ratchett's nervous behavior throughout the journey hints at his guilty conscience.

• ratchett fear
• threats
• protection
• paranoia
• bodyguard request

The passengers have various connections: Linda Arden (as Caroline Hubbard) is Sonia Armstrong's mother; Colonel Arbuthnot was a close friend of Colonel Armstrong; Edward Masterman was Armstrong's batman and later servant; Hector MacQueen's father was involved in the original case; Mary Debenham was Sonia's governess; Count Andrenyi was connected through the family; and other passengers similarly had ties to the Armstrong household. All sought revenge for Cassetti destroying their loved ones.

Foreshadowing: Each interview gradually reveals another connection to the Armstrong family.

• passengers connections
• armstrong family
• colonel arbuthnot
• mary debenham
• edward masterman
• hector macqueen