Everyone On This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

The narrator, Ernest Cunningham, has published a true crime memoir and has been invited to participate in an Australian Mystery Writers’ Festival. The festival will be held on the luxury Ghan train, traveling from Australia’s north coast to the south coast. Not everyone will make it to the south coast, as Ernest tells the readers that there is a murderer on board. Described as “Murder on the Orient Express” meets “Clue,” or a combination of Richard Osman, Agatha Christie, and Sherlock Holmes, this mystery novel is sure to be popular. The Australian author had a hit with Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, which I haven’t read. Anthony Horowitz is a good readalike, and Nita Prose and Jane Harper recommend Stevenson’s work.

Ernest is traveling with his girlfriend Juliette, who has also written a book about what happened when they were stranded at a ski resort. Ern is now writing a mystery, but has writer’s block. As he had a large advance for his second book, Ern is hoping for inspiration at the festival. One of his favorite writers, Guest of Honor Henry McTavish, is aboard. He turns out to have a big secret, as does everyone else. This is not the type of mystery I usually read, preferring cozies or historical mysteries, but I found this to be a compelling, slightly funny read, and not scary at all, even knowing the journey will be treacherous for some.

The setting is Australian, but there isn’t a lot of local color, as they’re mostly on the train. There are seven writers on board, a publisher, an agent, and many mystery fans. The other characters are described, although we don’t hear much about Juliette, and practically nothing about her book, just that her innocence is guaranteed. Ernest tells the reader the outline of a typical mystery novel and outlines the rules about what he’ll share to help the reader guess the culprit’s identity. He also promises to play fair and be a reliable narrator. Hmm. There are two grand reveal scenes, one of which is funny, and two action adventure scenes. Clever, with well-written dialogue. Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret will be published this October.

Brenda