In 1934, famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot solves a theft at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The Obsessive–compulsive disorder sleuth—who seeks balance in life, and considers his case-solving ability to see a lie amid truth to be a curse—wants to rest in Istanbul, but must return to London for another case. His friend Bouc, nephew of the director of the Simplon Pass-route Orient Express service, arranges a bunk for him aboard the train.