This was definitely a solid sequel to "Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone." There's not a lot of rehashing of the plot of the first book, which I appreciated, but there is still the same humorous tone accompanying the murder mystery. I like all the throwbacks to classic mysteries, and this one also feels very Agatha Christie-esque. I did get a little bogged down in the many characters and found it difficult to remember who was who within the plot. But I I appreciate the way all loose ends are tied up, and the twists are fun. I would read more books in this series going forward, mainly because they're a nice change of pace from what I usually read.

Ernest Cunningham is attending the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society crime-writing festival being held on the Ghan - the across Australia train excursion - as a debut writer. He and his girlfriend Julliette are there with several other writers. This being a mystery, of course there is murder. But there is also drama, pathos, action, fight scenes (of sorts), detection, mistakes, a bit of romance, and a series of grand denouncements before, in Golden Age style, the actual killer is revealed and his/her motive revealed. In other words, the reader get to trail Ernest as he bumbles his way into solving another set of murders while trying to write a murder mystery himself. Maybe Ernest does need someone to die before he can write. So what will he do for his next book?

An overall excellent read, Benjamin Sevenson's second in this series is even better than the first. Well-paced, propulsive, and a cheeky nod to Murder on the Orient Express, this book held my interest from its beginning to its very last line. I also do love a well-written book that is highly meta. This book felt to me easier to follow than the first, and its setting more intriguing. It has me very much looking forward to Stevenson's next offering.

Everyone on the Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson had an intriguing premise, but it didn’t quite deliver for me. The idea of a murder mystery set on a train is always fun, but the execution felt a bit lacking. While there were moments of suspense and some clever twists, the pacing was uneven, and the characters didn’t feel fully fleshed out. At times, the plot felt predictable, and the resolution didn’t have the impact I was hoping for. That said, there were still some enjoyable moments, and fans of classic whodunits might appreciate the nod to the genre. It’s a decent read, but it didn’t quite live up to its potential for me.

I love an “authors behaving badly” novel and there were plenty in this sequel, which could be read as a standalone. Ernest was as funny and self-deprecating as usual, which is a huge part of why I enjoy his POV. It is nice to see he was still with the love interest from the previous book and I like how the romance is very light. There was one scene with family from the previous book and I wish there had been more, but Ernest explains this away with wit and logic. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Story 3.75 rounded up to 4.00

Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. I listened to the audiobook on CloudLibrary through my local library.

My reviews and ratings are my own.

What an amazing followup to the first book. I'm obsessed with the main character and how these books break the 4th wall. I loved the setting and the crazy ending. SO MUCH FUN!

First of all I want to thank netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

Second: unfortunately this book wasn't for me. I just couldn't get into it. So sadly this was a dnf.

This book is a locked room mystery that will keep you guessing. With its witty tone and fast-paced plot, fast-paced plot, Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect is a great match for .readers who enjoy a witty, fast-paced, and adventurous crime-solving mystery. It has a unique setting and a cast of clever, literary characters.

Ernest Cunningham is back. One year after most of his family was killed in a ski resort massacre, Ernest’s life has changed. He wrote a book about the ordeal, and now he’s in Australia for a Mystery Writers Conference. This years festival is being held on a train, and Ernest is a speaker.

He’s joined by now-girlfriend Juliette and a cast of fellow writers, aspiring authors, and dedicated fans. Ernest is hoping this change of scenery will inspire his second book.

But then people start dying. Will Ernest solve the case for a successful sequel?

***
I liked this follow up to Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. It follows the same format (first person, locked door mystery).

This story had a Knives Out vibe to me. It was entertaining and, while I’m not a reader who actively tries to keep track of clues to solve the mystery, kept me guessing.

I liked Ernest, but it was honestly the secondary characters who kept me interested. Juliette, Brooke, Simone…they were more intriguing.

Thanks to @netgalley and @marinerbooks for the eARC!

Check out this book for a clever whodunit and a worthy sequel.

This book was so fun! It had the same entertaining tone as the first book, but this book made me laugh out loud even more. The narrator's tone is so funny and snarky. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and that was a little tricky, but this was a quick fun read and I would recommend it for anyone who likes a quirky murder mystery. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Enjoyable, but I felt like it was too slow moving at times.

Thank you Net Galley & to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars

Last year after reading Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone I immediately fell in love with Ernie and have been patiently waiting for his next mystery. It was definitely worth the wait as Everyone On This Train was an amazing follow up. (While these can be read as standalones I highly recommend reading both!)

Our favorite conversational narrator Ern is back and again finding himself in more mischief. As always we can count on Ernie to be upfront and honest with the facts as we work alongside him to find out who the killer is. There were so many moving parts to this and they call came together seamlessly. I would genuinely love to know if anyone is actually able to solve these books. I may get a piece or two but never the overall picture, the ending is always a surprise!

This style of narration and Ernie are so wonderfully different from what I normally read but also hold that familiar Golden Age/Agatha Christie charm. I just cannot get enough of it and I sincerely hope there are more books coming soon!

Read if you love:
🕵️‍♂️ Detective mysteries
🚂 Trains
📚 Ernest Cunningham
💛 Golden age mysteries

Just a side note but I absolutely love when books have diagrams and maps in the front so that was a really nice touch.

Thank you Mariner and Netgalley for my review copy!

I read the premise of this book somewhere and it sounded so interesting to me that I got an early review copy from NetGalley. Only after I'd read the first few chapters did I realize that a) it was the second book in the series, and b) while it is meant to be acceptable to jump into as a stand-alone, there was no way I could read it without having read the first book, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, beforehand. So, with apologies to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author, it's now eleven months later and I've just finished both the first book and this book — right as the author has released the third book in the series, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret.

Right off the bat, I'll say this book is much more engaging having read the first one, which I noted in my review, was "occasionally too clever by half, I'll cut it a lot of slack for being so fresh and interesting." Having a familiarity with the protagonist, Ernest, a mystery writer who constantly breaks the fourth wall, made the narrative of the second book easier to to get into, since I already had a feel for how the story would be told — which is more important than normal, given how unique the style is.

As for this specific mystery, a celebrity author's murder among a train full of mystery writers is a great setup for a sequel, and I love that the cast not being Ernest's family members allowed the murder mystery to be the focus instead of the convoluted family dynamics. The writing is just as biting as it is in the debut, and it also remains occasionally too clever for it's own good, although I am just as willing to excuse it as I was in the first book, as it remains as unique and interesting. And while I did figure out a few of the twists <spoiler>e.g. GHOST being hidden in the Goodreads reviews, that were not written by McTavish at all</spoiler>, I did not correctly guess the murderer. But, that said, there were enough clues sprinkled in for it to feel like I theoretically could have.

Overall, I am a big fan of the series, and will keep reading them as long as the author writes them. They appeal to my love of classic mysteries — e.g. Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot — but also to my love of modern, current day stories. In this way, I think they compare favorably to the Benoit Blanc movies.

Full disclosure: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

"Everyone on This Train is a Suspect" is a delightfully fun read filled with twists and turns that kept me engaged throughout. As the second book in the series, it took me a little time to catch up and understand the context, but once I did, the story truly came to life.

The characters are vibrant and well-developed, and their interactions add depth and intrigue to the mystery. The storyline is cleverly crafted, delivering surprises that kept me guessing while still tying everything together in a satisfying way.

Overall, this book is a great pick for fans of mysteries with a touch of humor and personality. Whether you’ve read the first installment or are diving straight into this one, it’s a highly entertaining ride!

Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson is a cleverly crafted, darkly humorous thriller that keeps readers guessing from start to finish. Set on a train journey through the Australian Outback, the novel follows a group of passengers—each with their own secrets—who become embroiled in a tense and mysterious situation when a murder is discovered on board.

The protagonist, Richard Osman (not to be confused with the famous British TV host), is a disgraced former detective who is now just trying to lay low. However, when a body turns up, he is pulled back into the investigation, even though everyone aboard the train seems to have a motive, and nobody can be trusted. The novel plays with the conventions of the classic "locked room" mystery, but with a fresh, modern twist that includes sharp wit, unexpected humor, and a self-aware narrative voice.

Stevenson excels at building suspense and keeping the reader on edge. The setting of the train, isolated in the vast, unforgiving Outback, heightens the tension, as the passengers have nowhere to escape. Each character is well-developed, with enough complexity to keep you wondering who might be hiding the truth. The plot is twisty and full of surprises, and Stevenson’s use of misdirection makes it a true page-turner.

What sets Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect apart is its playful tone and meta-narrative. The protagonist often addresses the reader directly, poking fun at the genre and the characters themselves, which adds an engaging layer of humor to the otherwise suspenseful narrative.

Overall, Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect is a delightful mix of classic mystery, dark humor, and sharp writing. If you're a fan of Agatha Christie-style whodunnits with a contemporary, irreverent twist, this book is an absolute must-read.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. Taking a classic and making it your own can be hard, but Benjamin Stevenson does this so well. Elements come through, but Stevenson's voice comes through too. The second book is not a copy of the first which is refreshing. Looking forward to the next installment, or maybe Ernest can catch a break.

I really enjoyed this one. Usually I prefer the first book in a series the most but I feel this one was even better than the first. Excited to read the third one soon.

This book is about an author talking about writing a mystery, and then a murder happens when he’s at an author event so in a way you’re reading him write the book within the book, while also reading the book within the book, while really, you’re reading and trying to solve the main mystery. The fourth wall is practically non-existent in this book while the author always talks to you, the reader, directly, and promises to never hide anything.

The fourth wall is practically non-existent while Ernest, the author, always talks to you, the reader, directly, and promises to never hide anything. He’s playing with his cards open. He also gives hints along the way and tells you about how a mystery should be written, while also trying to stick to those rules himself. It’s a marvelous journey literally, figuratively and literary-ly.

This is book 2 in a series, I didn’t really feel like I missed anything by jumping in at this point. Reading this did make me wanna go back and read book #1 though. And I’ll absolutely be reading the next book in the series.

This might be the funniest, wittiest mystery I’ve ever read. The book is so meta, and the humor is so on point, it was an absolute hoot to read. I laughed out loud at many points throughout the book. The kind of self aware meta-narration + humor this book adopts is so smart, it really tickled my brain in the right spot. I was so delighted while reading it.

This is a must read if you like cozy mysteries. There were many nods to Agatha Christie, starting with The Orient Express. But it also subverts some of those expectations many times, with a wink and a nudge.

The main character is not the most loveable, nor is he the smartest. He’s definitely no Poirot, he makes mistakes, makes wrong assumptions. I got annoyed at times because of it, but since he’s also always very forthcoming, I can see how the mystery wouldn’t be so mysterious if he was brilliant. The author within the book promises to never hide anything, and never lie to the reader so that we can be on the journey with him and try to solve it alongside him.

I solved the mystery about halfway through the book, but there were still a few unexpected twists, and thanks to the way it’s written it never felt boring.

This is a really great mystery with a big cast of characters with varying levels of loveability. And the fact that most of them are authors makes it even more awesome, since I always love reading books set in the world of books.

Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

If you enjoyed Knives Out, Murder on the Orient Express, or Benjamin’s debut novel, this one is right up your alley. Ernest is invited to a writing festival, but his journey takes a deadly turn when someone is murdered on the train. Packed with dark humor, the amateur sleuths bumble their way through solving the crime, making for a clever and entertaining locked-room mystery!

Another zany story from Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect is a well-crafted mystery. Easy to read but not predictable, with the same 'breaking the 4th wall' narration as his previous book, this sequel was a very fun read.