Whodunnits: we’ve all read them, or watched them, and we generally know what to expect. And Ernest Cunningham knows that we know what to expect, which makes the amateur detective breaking the fourth wall so much fun. I loved the first book in this series bc it was so unlike anything I’ve ever read, but I do remember not loving the actual murder mystery of it all. I LOVED all of it in this book though!

You can tell that the author is a naturally funny person (it checks out: he’s a standup). I don’t know how to explain it but humor in books just hits different when you’re giggling without realizing it vs when you can tell an author is trying to make you laugh but it’s not landing.

We have crime writers and crime readers on a train with a murder mystery plot and publishing beefs going back decades, told from the POV of the most endearing and self-aware amateur detective. Oh and the best epilogue I’ve read in years. This was a fun, entertaining, and refreshing read. Can't wait for more in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I was obsessed with the first book and just as obsessed with the second. This was so clever, funny, and written extremely well. There is a smartness to Benjamin Stevenson's writing that just clicks. He gives you all the information but has a way of putting it, that the killer is always a hard guess and a surprise. I hope he keeps writing Ernest novels forever. Absolutely pick this one up when it releases in January. One of my favorites of this year!

It’s always hard to write a review about a book where books reviews and the way they make authors feel are one of the main themes LOL. A good second entry but I would like to see something different from this author next as they obviously know the drill.

Thank to the publisher, and Netgalley for a copy to review.

I really enjoyed this. I had just finished the first one, then got to enjoy the sequel. I enjoyed both, but this one a bit more than the first. Just like the first one, the title is very eye catching. I like it.
This was a fun thrill ride through the Australian desert. Both books are set in Australia, I've never been to Australia. I've heard it's beautiful...and hot. I think the setting of a train is perfect, and although it's been done before, it never gets old. This one was a fun, and fast paced. If you're into mysteries,murder, and humor then please check this out. I would say you don't have to read the first one if you don't want to. It could work to read them in any order, or if you choose as a stand alone,but I suggest to do the author a favor, and read both of them. I think he would really like that. Happy Reading everyone.

Ernest Cunningham is back in the follow-up to Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone. Ernest is still dealing with the events from the mountain. Suffering from survivors' guilt, Ernest is having difficulty going from "true crime" to fiction. With a due date for his next book coming up, Ernest decides to attend the Australian Mystery Writer's 50th Anniversary celebration as a panelist. However, when one the writers is murdered, he finally has the topic of his next book. Follow along as Ernest and the other writers fight to figure out who is the culprit.

Benjamin Stevenson has done it again! I loved Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone and I think I enjoyed the sequel even more. This is not a typical murder mystery. Ernest Cunningham has no problem breaking the fourth wall with spoilers (the killer's name is written 106 times in this book) and going back with a review of what we learned. There was so much to this book that every time you thought you had it figured out, another twist would happen, and I never expected the ending. This was one of my most anticipated book to come out in 2024 and it did not disappoint.

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect comes out January 30, 2024!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the opportunity to review Everyone on This Train is a Suspect. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I wouldn't have thought it was possible a few days ago, but with Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect author Benjamin Stevenson has unseated his last book as my favorite modern-day whodunnit mystery. Yes, this book is that good!


Ernest Cunningham has once again gotten caught up in murder and mayhem and must step into the role of amateur detective, all while still abiding by the rules of a fair play murder mystery, of course. This time around, he's attending a mystery writers' festival that's taking place on a train traveling across Australia. The panel of crime writers are quickly at odds and drama and deceit soon follows with Ernest determined to once again save the day. 


Ern is one of my all-time favorite sometimes bumbling, always entertaining book detectives. His awkward approach to crime solving is so endearing and relatable that I can't help but root for him to solve the mystery, catch the villain, and hopefully do it all without totally humiliating himself in the process. Getting to share his self-deprecating, humorous thoughts is a perfect compliment to the mystery side of the story. 


Benjamin Stevenson knocked it out of the park with another clever whodunnit featuring more quirky characters and the same witty, breaking-the-fourth-wall narrative style as the first book. Add in the trapped-on-a-train setting, and my mystery loving heart was over the moon happy with this sequel. I loved the mystery, the setting, the characters, and the humor. It was absolutely perfect from beginning to end.


Thank you to Netgalley and Mariner Books for providing me a copy to read and review.

As Everyone on this Train Is a Suspect points out, sequels are hard. But this is another book with a great title that is as fun and creative as it is meta.

This time around, Ern is on a train through Australia with several other mystery writers. Once again the story is told through his perspective and with hindsight which is a great combo. There are few murders this book and the reveal isn’t as overly complicated and consulted as in the first book, but it’s still an excellent read I’d highly recommend.

I think because this isn’t the first mystery involving writers I’ve read, some of the twists and turns were a bit more familiar and not as shocking as with the first book. Having said that, I’d still read anything Mr. Stevenson writes and hope to hear from Ern again.

This is a great follow up to Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone’. I love his conversational writing style.

Ernest gets to ride on a train up and down the length of Canada with several other mystery writers. When murders start happening, of course Ernest starts investigating.

I can’t wait to see what happens next for Ernest!

As a huge fan of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. I quickly re-read the first book to refresh my memory, and I loved it again. I'm happy to report that this one is also excellent. I loved the setting of the Ghan Train, and I've added it to my bucket list. Once again, the author's humor really added to my enjoyment. Since I read a lot of mysteries, it was fun to have a group of mystery writers, all suspects, trying to solve a murder. I also liked the insights into the publishing industry and the references to AI. Stevenson is fast becoming a new favorite author of mine, and I look forward to the next installment. I highly recommend this unique book.

I really enjoyed Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, so I was very excited when I was given an ARC for Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect.

The epigraph includes the quote "A sequel is an admission that you've been reduced to imitating yourself." - Don Marquis, however the epilogue states that a sequel is a "chance to fix up the mistakes you made the first time around." I think Benjamin Stevenson has done the latter. While I am not sure what mistakes Benjamin believes he made in his first book, this sequel is superb.

Ernest Cunningham continues to remind you that you are reading a book, following a special formula for mystery novels. That breaking of the fourth wall, so to speak, is what makes this book such a unique experience. He gives you all of the clues, and somehow he makes a narrative from those that is beyond your wildest dreams. I spent some time trying to figure out the anagram, but was unsuccessful.

Whodunits are not my first choice in books, but Benjamin Stevenson has solidified himself as a must-read author for me. If Life, Death and Whiskey is really "coming soon", it will immediately be added to the top of my TBR.

4.5/5 stars!

I definitely want to read more mystery books by Benjamin Stevenson.

This is the sequel to "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone" which was an excellent start to this series. This book has our main character Ernest playing amateur sleuth and has so many witty hilarious lines. I loved this book more than the first one and I hope there will be more! I loved the take on the classic murder on the train and it definitely had me guessing till the end. I will definitely be listening to this book as an audiobook when it is released as I really enjoyed listening to "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone."

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Going to start this review with a non sequitur. Hang in there. I know the book I just read. I even know the genre. Promise.

If you've read a single book in the Caroline Kepnes series You, then I'm sure you've seen the meme: people will read a Joe Goldberg book even if Kepnes made him a Walmart greeter. After reading the two Ernest Cline books written, I've decided this meme is better suited to Ern. I would read a book where he was relegated to a job as a circus clown. These books are that good.

Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect is firmly rooted in reality. It's not a novel where a person with no career experience can just waltz in and take over a potential murder investigation—not without ridicule, skepticism, and proper obstacles. It wouldn't be easy for a normal person to do (it would be damn near impossible), and I appreciate that Stevenson doesn't suspend that logic just because it's a novel. It means that Ernest and his fellow authors have to be more creative than a traditional detective.

Ernest is quite clever, although he spends a lot of the novel not coming off as such. I appreciate that, too. No one likes an insufferably perfect hero, do they? We like to see characters that make the same mistakes we do. Ern puts his foot in his mouth, he's defensive, he overcomplicates things way too early to be acceptable. But Stevenson pulls it off well because it's not cringy to read. Obviously, like the first book, the whole book glitters with wit, humor, and vivid descriptions.

The only criticism I have, I suppose, is all the adverbs. (Kidding.)

I want to thank NetGalley and Mariner Books for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. As soon as I finished the first and saw there was a second, I was dying to read it—figuratively, of course. It shot to #1 on my must-read list, and I'm so happy for the opportunity.

A lot of times, a sequel can be a dud. And sometimes, the sequel can out do its predecessor. In the case of this book, I feel it outshines its predecessor.

I love how Ernest is just am accidental writer and amateur detective. He does it so hilariously in this, that even as someone who is neither, I find him so relatable.

Now he does give us clues as to the murderer pretty much from the start. And right before the reveal, he gives you the opportunity to solve it. Did I? Nope. And I love this for me.

I'm just going to say there's two best parts of the book: the epilogue and the Tom Cruise scene.

I really do hope we get more. More bumbling. More Andy. More Juilette. More who done it. More Ernest.

I had adored everyone in my family has killed someone and this one was even better! I loved the take on the classic murder on the train, laughed out loud a couple times reading it! I enjoyed seeing the character growth and thought it was a bit easier to follow than the previous one. Thank you so much to Mariner books for the ARC!

From the author of "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone" comes "Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect," a wickedly fun locked-room murder mystery set on a train full of mystery writers, agents, editors, and fans.

When Ernest Cunninham is invited by the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society to their crime-writing festival aboard the Ghan, the famous train between Darwin and Adelaide, he is hoping for some inspiration for his second book. The program is a who's-who of crime-writing royalty: the debut author (Ernest), the forensic science author, the blockbuster author, the legal thriller author, the literary author, and the psychological suspense author. When one of the writers is murdered, the remaining authors quickly become detectives. Together, these five writers should know how to solve a crime--but they should also know how to commit one. How can you find a killer when all the suspects know how to get away with murder?

I am completely obsessed with this book and running to the bookstore to buy Stevenson's backlist. This was one of the funniest and cleverest murder mysteries I have ever read, and it is undoubtedly one of my new favorite books. Written in first-person narrative, "Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect" begins with Ernest writing his second novel after the success of his memoir, "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone." This is the second book in the series, and I regret not reading the first novel because there were a few spoilers. It does work as a standalone, though, with new characters and a new setting. I can't wait to read "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone," and I really hope Ernest decides to write another novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Question: who among you will use the ebook search feature on every train suspect’s name when the author states early on “I’ll tell you that I used the killer’s name, in all its forms, exactly 106 times from here”? Um, I did. I’ll tell you how that worked out later.

Ernest Cunningham, self-proclaimed reliable narrator and non-murderer (this time) of “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” has boarded a train (the legendary Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin) which is also hosting an upscale mystery writer’s conference during the journey. He has a contract to do a fiction book (so, obviously not a sequel unless Ernest gets mixed up in another murder) and he’s struggling with the manuscript. Luckily, for him, there is a murder (and therefore this book). Also a lot of suspects and would-be detectives since there were 6 writer members on the panel, plus agents, publishers, obsessive superfans (with copies of Stephen King’s “Misery”) and plus-ones. If you’ve read Stevenson’s previous book, you know that he and his alter-ego are sticklers for fair play mysteries and there “must be rules.” So we know in advance that the first 10,000 words introduce all the pertinent characters, at 20,000 we know potential motives, and by 30,000 words, there’s a murder. Later there will be investigations, character development, maybe romance or second murder, red herrings, action scenes, and an “ALL IS LOST” moment before the mystery is solved.

Seems straightforward, but there’s an awful lot to keep track of if the reader wants to solve the mystery before Ernest. I enjoyed the main character more than in the previous book — that proclamation that he’s not going to be an unreliable character relaxed me (and eliminated a bunch of possible theoretical outcomes) and Ernest seemed less uptight. It’ll be your choice to become seriously involved or just go with the flow — in any case, Mr. Stevenson has hit his stride in this novel even if it possibly mirrors any real anxiety about creating a sequel. It’s twisty and complicated (but it follows “the rules”), yet still a lot of fun. 5 stars!

About the count regarding whether the killer is named exactly 106 times: Before I could protest that my ebook search didn’t add up, I realized that I had an advanced uncorrected copy that could still be edited. But when the protagonist says the killer could have an alias and/or a nickname, you’ll have to combine the counts (and subtract a random name from the acknowledgments). Sigh.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Jasper has “Gatsby-lantern” green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO We’re on a train in the desert with mostly opal mine holes to avoid. We do get a pun about Uncle Andy, formerly a turfgrass horticulturalist, a man who is often trodden on (oof), while Andy is investigating a burglary at a florist shop.

Thank you to Mariner Books/HarperCollins and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

"Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect" by Benjamin Stevenson is a fiendishly fun and witty locked room murder mystery that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

Ernest Cunningham, the debut crime writer, finds himself on the Ghan, a legendary train journey between Darwin and Adelaide, invited to the Australian Mystery Writers' Society crime-writing festival. As a respite from real-life crime, Ernest is looking for inspiration for his second book. Little does he know that the adventure he's about to embark on is stranger than fiction.

The cast of characters aboard the train is like a who's who of crime writing, featuring a mix of debut writers, forensic science experts, blockbuster authors, legal thriller specialists, literary writers, and psychological suspense gurus. When a murder occurs, the authors, each with their unique expertise, suddenly turn into detectives, determined to solve the crime.

Benjamin Stevenson masterfully weaves a tale filled with humor and suspense, where the line between fiction and reality blurs. The narrative takes you on a delightful journey of deduction as the characters pool their knowledge to uncover the truth. The author's playful exploration of the mystery genre, complete with its clichés and tropes, adds a layer of meta-humor that crime fiction enthusiasts will appreciate.

As the plot unfolds, you're left guessing who the murderer could be, and just when you think you've figured it out, another twist keeps you on your toes. The setting on the train adds a classic locked room mystery element, heightening the tension and making for an engrossing read.

"Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect" is a delightful and clever homage to the world of crime fiction, and it's perfect for fans of authors like Richard Osman and Anthony Horowitz. This book offers a unique blend of humor, suspense, and wit, making it an excellent addition to the mystery and thriller genre.

Ernest Cunningham is trying to write his next book. The problem is that his first book came from a fantastic string of murders all around him. Where could he find inspiration like that ever again? In the hopes of boosting his career and meeting some fellow authors, Ern boards the Ghan to be part of a panel of authors on the Australian Mystery Writers festival. Things aren't starting off well and only get worse once one of the authors on the train dies quite suddenly. But, was his death natural? Ern is on the case, but soon finds there really aren't worse suspects than a group of people who make their living writing books about crime and murder.
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Rating: 4.5 ⭐️ I was not nearly as dazzled as the rest of the reading community with Stevenson's first novel in this series, but I wanted to give him a second chance. I'm so glad I did because this novel was so much more clear-cut and accessible than the first Ernest Cunningham mystery. I enjoyed all of the writers and their personalities more than Ernest's family in the first book. This was definitely a fun read that I would recommend to any mystery lover.
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Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this ebook!

I was really thrilled to be to able read this book, but I must admit, a tad bit disappointed after finishing it. Don't get me wrong, it was a fun, interesting read—but I going that there were just too many elements that weren't as cohesive as the author’s first book. I found the main mystery to be a bit dull, and that a few of the chase scenes were unrealistic. The majority of the characters were undeveloped and left me feeling a bit eh. I give it a middle of the row grade.

I loved the sequel and actually was completely surprised by the reveal! I also have to say, that I have been lucky enough to take The Ghan, so it made the book that much more special to know exactly what it’s like. Clever, entertaining and terrific, I hope this novel shoots up the charts. Bravo!