Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.

Ernest Cunningham has been given a 100k advance for his first fiction book after his bestselling book about his own horrible experience with murders. He has been having a hard time with writing and goes to a mystery festival that takes place on a train with his girlfriend Juliette.

“Seven writers board a train. At the end of the line, five will leave it alive. One will be in cuffs.”

When the first writer dies, Ernest and his fellow writers become detectives on the case. It's a perfect opportunity for these mystery writers to use their knowledge of their genres to their advantage. Who will be the one to crack the case?

Everyone on the Train is a Suspect was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it delivered. This was a great follow up to the first book and didn't fall into the sophomore slump. I love metafiction and Ernest Stephenson continues to execute. The fresh cast of characters was great to keep you on your toes.

When Ernest accepts an invitation to join a crime writing festive taking place aboard a train, he thinks he will finally have the opportunity to work on his new book (fiction this time). Things naturally do no go as planned. A murder takes place on the train and given that everyone in attendance is a crime writer, they all should be capable of solving a crime. Unfortunately, they all also know how to commit one and maybe even get away with it. All the authors start playing detective but how do you know who to trust when everyone is a suspect.

A 4 star rating and every bit of it is earned. If you liked Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, you'll enjoy this one as well. It's silly, unrealistic, and so much fun while still being a mystery that's interesting to see get solveD.

Ernest is back...and struggling to write a fiction follow up to his memoir, "Everyone in My Family is a Murderer". Stuck on a train trip with a bunch of other insecure authors, he is hoping to find some inspiration. But luckily, or not so lucky depending on who you ask, there might be another mystery for him just around the bend.

***

I had no idea this was a sequel, but boy was I delighted to find out there was another Ernest mystery for me to dive into! What a fresh perspective on the mystery genre, while delightedly referring and showing reverence to the old guard. This is one of those reviews that is so hard to write because I feel the way Stevenson writes these books are genre invigorating. Nothing totally game changing, just a really pleasant edition to the mystery genre that is fun and fresh!

Absolutely for fans of Anthony Horowitz. Do not go in with any expectations, and you definitely do not have to read the first in the series.

Murder seems to follow Ernest Cunningham wherever he goes. Australian Mystery Writers’ Society has invited him to travel aboard the Ghan, an elite train journey between Darwin and Adelaide, in Australia, he’s hoping for some much needed inspiration for his next book. Once onboard everything goes awry quickly. When a prominent author turns up dead, everyone is a suspect. After all, everyone has a motive. Ern quickly goes into detective mode hoping to use his findings in his new book. When a second murder occurs, there’s even more material…but will Ern solve the case before there are more deaths or, will he himself be in peril? Another fun and witty locked room mystery by Stevenson. One that will have you riding the rails from start to finish. Thank you to Penguin and NetGallery for an ARC of this book.

I started 2024 by reading Stevenson's superb "Everyone in My Family," so it is fitting that the first book I read in February is the follow-up "Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect." It did not disappoint. Our narrator Ernest has achieved some success with his first book and has been invited to a Crime-writing festival aboard a luxurious train. Lots of suspects in this locked-room mystery. This is meta-fiction that works with Ernest giving clues along the way. I loved the take on the publishing industry, rabid fans, jealous authors, etc. I did suffer some confusion with keeping all the characters and their motives in mind, and because of that, I am rating this book a 4-star. But it is a fun book that I highly recommend, and I definitely hope there is a third book. It is best if you read the books in order.

Second in this mystery murder series is better than the first!

This book is filled with wry humor, cryptic clues, sardonic asides; it's quite witty and clever. At times I laughed out loud as the author in the story writes his first-person account of a trip he takes on a train. This isn't just any old train, it's the luxury Ghan, and on board are writers, publishers, agents, reviewers, and fans who are attending the Australian Mystery Writers' Festival.

The fictional author is none other than Ernest Cunninham who had made his true crime debut writing about the murders that took place during his family reunion. His book sold well, but his agent wants him to take a stab at writing fiction. He's on this train with his girlfriend, Juliette, whom he met at the resort where the family reunion was held. They plan to attend all the of the panels, workshops, and discussions while Ernest works through a bit of writer's block. Lo and behold, one of the more famous authors is murdered and finally, Ernest has the inspiration he needs for a book.

You will remember, having read the first book, that Ernest is very direct and speaks to the reader about the rules of writing detective novels and he's a stickler to following them. He points out the obvious and also throws in some tantalizing hints of what the reader should be figuring out. It's all great fun and he invites the reader along on his mission to out the killer and solve the case.

I enjoyed this one so much more than the first. May be because I do love trains and the Ghan is unique. I'll definitely look for more titles by Benjamin Stevenson in the future as I love the style of the writing and the way he tells a story in this unique way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

I think folks who enjoyed Stevenson's first novel will also enjoy this one. That said, though, I don't necessarily think a reader NEEDS to have read the first book to be able to understand this one. It could help, but there is enough "catch up" info to help the reader along. This book is a closed room mystery (well, mostly, and the "room" is heading down train tracks) that connects with one of the most popular contexts for recent thrillers - the world of publishing. It is well done for what it is, but I never felt especially invested in the story, and I sometimes felt that the author was trying to hard to capture the "cleverness" of the first book in this one. All in all, a decent read, but nothing particularly compelling.

Just like his first book - Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone - Stevenson's new mystery is a combination of classic Agatha Christie Golden Age mystery + contemporary locked room mystery. Things I loved:
* The way he let's you in on writer 'secrets' - he tells you the 'rules for mystery writing'and he lets you know whether he's stuck to them or taken liberties.
* The humor - the dark humor adds an intriguing quality to a literary style that is often filled with the most serious of serious.
* The continuity from 1st book - normally, in successive books, a main character/detective in a mystery series seems completely healed/unaffected by the previous tragedy, but Ernest is deeply affected and talks often about the murder in his first book.
* Did I mention the humor?
* The plot (and plot twists) - the author is SO GOOD at creating little suspicions that make you think someone might be the one, and then it turns out- completely logically, haha - that Ernest has discovered and solved a different (but also important) mystery about them.

After reading and loving EIMFHKS, I was nervous for the second. This one definitely lives up to my love of the first, and now I'm itching for a third.

In a delightful combination of modern Golden-Age-Mystery, tribute to Dame Agatha Christie's "locked-room mystery" MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, and Sequel to EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE, our intrepid main character, Ernest Cunningham, is unexpectedly included in an Australian Mystery Writers' Festival, held on a luxury passenger train traversing the extensive Australian desert.

In a feat of literary accomplishment, Ernie as first-person Narrator plots out the mystery, uncovers the characters and side characters, and ultimately reveals the truth, in a rather spectacular and dangerous conclusion.

Everyone On This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
Rating: 4.5 stars
Pub date: 1/30

This book is so good! I loved Stevenson’s first book, Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, and couldn’t wait to dive into his new one. This is a locked train murder mystery that combines the charm of Agatha Christie's classics with a modern twist.

The story unfolds aboard the Ghan, the iconic journey from Darwin to Adelaide, where an Australian Mystery Writers’ Society festival turns into a crime scene. The diverse cast of crime writers and readers, each with their unique expertise, becomes a team of detectives when one of their own is murdered. The debut author, forensic science expert, blockbuster writer, legal thriller author, literary writer, and psychological suspense writer must put their skills to the test.

I love Stevenson's writing style, and his witty narrative had me hooked from the start. Ernest attempts to apply the rules of fiction to solve the real-life crime, and the locked train setting added an extra layer of intrigue, making the story both captivating and entertaining.

This hilarious murder mystery seamlessly blends the expertise of the characters with the challenges of solving a crime within the confines of a train. As a reader, it was fun to try to piece together the clues as the story unfolds with suspense, humor, and a touch of nostalgia for classic whodunits.

Overall, this was a great read, especially for fans of the genre. Stevenson has written another page-turner that is sure to be a hit. My only regret is that I haven’t listened to the audio yet, which I’m sure is just as incredible. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Mariner Books for my complimentary advanced copy.

Before I had even finished the opening chapter of Benjamin Stevenson’s Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect I took a break long enough to buy a copy of the first book in the series. (Actually bought both the ebook as well as the audio versions of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.) That’s right this book is a sequel, the second book in the Ernest Cunningham series. And I knew right from the start, with Ernest’s 4th wall breaking, talking directly to the reader, Deadpool style, that this book had the humor and style I was going to love. And I was right. While he does tease information about that first story, you don’t need to have read it to enjoy this one nor does he ruin the story of the first book by revealing too much about it. As the title suggests, this adventure is a murder mystery taking place on a train, with most of the main characters being other mystery-ish writers. What would have already been a highly entertaining mystery is only enhanced with the way this story is told, the running commentary is just so much fun. Benjamin’s humor really clicked with me and I only hope I enjoy the first book as much as I did this one. I’d like to thank Mariner Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect.

https://www.amazon.com/review/RSX5YZSFVHFWN/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Definite proof that a sequel can be better than the original.

While I enjoyed the first one (the writing, the quirky characters and the cleverness) I hated the relationship between Ernest's "wife" and Ernest's brother (who's wife was also there) it just felt so incestuous. Yes, I know it technically wasn't, but IT FELT LIKE IT TO ME, OKAY?

I didn't get that "icky" feeling with this one thank goodness. There are a lot of characters (as I listened to the first part on audio, it was hard to keep straight) but when you do get them straight, it all makes sense in the end.

The writing is clever and I love the way the author includes the reader.

It was so fun boarding the train to tag along on this witt-astic adventure in "Everyone on This Train is a Suspect!" The author/narrator/character voice of Ernest Cunningham is one that engages the reader and keeps them involved in the writing/story-telling/mystery-solving process with every turn of the page.

Benjamin Stevenson has gifted us with an incredibly witty, head-scratching murder mystery that takes place on the Ghan as it traverses Australia. I could not wait for each opportunity to be able to read this book and seat myself alongside the other passengers in the dining car, sipping my beverage of choice, as the drama unfolded with each turn of the page. Each piece of the story fit together masterfully!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC! I had so much fun reading this book!

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone was one of my favorite books last year, and I’m a sucker for a sequel. This one did not disappoint!

What I liked best was the fact that it had a different feel than the first book but was still really good. Where the first felt just a smidge more like a thriller (blizzard conditions, no power, creepy isolated mountain retreat, etc.), this one felt slightly more like a cozy mystery but with more gore!

I’m notoriously bad at guessing the culprit and did not in this one either, but it was a fun ride to work out the various mini-mysteries-within-the-mystery. Without adding spoilers, there is a really clever use of the plot device of having Ern provide the rules of writing a mystery novel towards the end, which turns those rules on its head. It’s all very meta and fun to have a book about writing a textbook mystery then veer off course for a bit and poke fun of itself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions are my own.

4.25 stars out of 5, rounded down to 4 stars.

I read this galley the same week I read the galley for Anthony Horowitz‘s forthcoming “Close to Death” from the Hawthorne and Horowitz series. Again I saw how important having racially diverse characters is in a novel where many characters are referred to by either their first or last name interchangeably. I had no problem keeping everyone clear in “Close.” With this novel I found myself too often searching the book to figure out who was being referred to. It’s important to note that it is not up to the reader to keep track of all the characters if the author is referring to them by multiple names and making them all white. Thank you for the ARC.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

Benjamin Stevenson's last novel was one of my favorites in 2023, and I am so happy that I loved this one just as much! This book lived up to the hype! While the beginning was a little slow for me, it definitely picked up. I loved the main character breaking the fourth wall. The twists and turns were so fun, and I could not put this book down. I hope there is another Ernest Cunningham book! I can't wait to recommend this one to patrons.

The Ernest Cunningham books are an interesting phenomenon because primarily they seem to be mysteries enjoyed by people who don’t read a lot of mysteries.

As someone who does read a lot of mysteries, I mostly think they’re overhyped. The story and the characters are, essentially, fine, but they don’t stand out from the multitudes of mid mysteries floating around out there.

I always think fourth wall stuff is interesting at least in theory, but in practice it gets irritating if it’s used too much, and in these books it pretty much never stops. Some of the meta jokes are funny, but mostly they just feel ceaseless.

There seems to be something appealing about these books to many, especially those outside of typical mystery enthusiasts, so mostly I think all of this is probably a matter of preference. The schtick here just doesn’t appeal to me.

That said, plot-wise I thought this was much better structured and executed to the first book, and I always find the author’s notes and acknowledgements charming in these, which makes me want to root for Stevenson to do well as a writer even if I can’t be his biggest fan.

(Thanks to @marinerbooks #gifted.) 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗜𝗦 𝗔 𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧, the second Ernest Cunningham novel from author Benjamin Stevenson, publishes on Tuesday. If you read and loved 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘏𝘢𝘴 𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦, you’ll feel the same about this one. If that wasn’t the book for you, I’d skip it.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Similar to Ernest Cunningham #1, this has a group of people more or less trapped together when murders occur. Like the first, Ernest is our snarky narrator and pompous “writer” of the book. This time he’s recounting the events that occurred at a writer’s festival on a train traveling across Australia. From the start we know that two people were murdered, but how and who did it are the mysteries Ernest is slowly unveiling for the readers.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I looked back on my review of the first book, and really I could use it right here…same, same: “𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳-𝘵𝘩𝘦-𝘵𝘰𝘱, 𝘌𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦. 𝘈 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵.”⁣ Like I said, same, same.⁣
⁣
On a more positive note, the publishing/writer angle in this story was fresh and that kept me invested. I actually enjoyed most of the journey. That being said, I think this is my last go around with fictitious mystery writer Ernest Cunningham. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson (Ernest Cunningham, Book 2)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 335 / Genre: Cozy Mystery

When someone dies during a mystery writers convention onboard a train, crime fiction novelist Ernest Cunningham isn’t the only one certain he can unmask the murderer and get a new book out of it. This locked-room Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery is just delightful.

I especially liked the setting onboard The Ghan, a luxury train that travels down the center of Australia—you know there’s a new entry on my bucket list now!

The casual friendly tone of this book definitely put it in the cozy mystery category and made it a delight to read. While this is Book 2 in the Ernest Cunningham series, you don’t need to read the first one to enjoy this book. The first one does give you more of an introduction to Ernest and his now girlfriend Juliette and is a fun read in itself, but you can jump into this one just as easily.

Thank you, @NetGalley, @MarinerBooks, and @StevensonExperience for the advanced copy. I loved it!