I am torn about this review because there were parts I so enjoyed, but things that I didn’t.This book started out with such an interesting premise, but it didn’t shine for me because it felt more historical fiction than thriller so I feel a bit tricked. There were some shocking twists, but you can tell the main focus and interest of the author is the post-WWII story and not the main character story. It felt like 2 book ideas merged into 1.

I think this will be enjoyable for anyone who goes in for a light thriller knowing it is more historical than an Orient-Express inspired story.

I liked:
🚂 the descriptions of the luxury of the orient express and the different travel locations
🔀There were some shocking twists
🌏 The past characters were intriguing

What didn’t work for ME:
🫓 PRESENT characters just didn’t feel like they had a lot of depth; more like each had a certain perspective and a few small facts and just kept spinning.
🤷🏼‍♀️There were 0 likable characters in this book.
📖There were still many things that were never explained or never came together, or the explanations seemed weak
🚂I would not compare this to an Agatha Christie novel.

For fans of Lucy Foley, Paula Hawkins, and Ruth Ware, The Main Character is a character-driven mystery filled with thrilling twists and a touch of dark intrigue. Even though this book had plenty of psychological suspense and plot twists, I found it rather difficult to stay engaged and keep reading. The characters felt like they blended together even with the multiple POV format. Additionally, I found that much of the plot was sacrificed in place of unnecessary details and drawn out descriptions or commentary.
Altogether, I’m not sure I’d recommend this book. It had parts that I enjoyed, such as the twists and turns, but I don’t think that was enough. I need a book that keeps me engaged and this one just didn’t do it for me.

The main character, Goldis’ follow-up to the chateau-is a modern day homage to murder on the orient express. A successful Mystery author has a unique set-up to create her stories-she follows real-life people and places them into situations that create good stories and turns them into fiction. Her newest main character-Rory-is shocked to discover that after participating as the main character in her newest novel, she is gifted with an elaborate Mediterranean trip on a luxury train. However, when she arrives she’s finds intimate people from her life with her on the trip, people she never knew were going-her best friend, her ex, her brother. Soon it becomes clear there are reasons for them all to be there and Rory tries to parse together what they all are hiding. Secrets are revealed, bodies pile up, and complicated family dynamics emerge during the trip.

I didn’t find this as much as a homage to murder on the orient express as more a homage to Christie herself and her mark on the genre. I think I was in the minority-I enjoyed the book through the first half and was really into it-the last half didn’t hold my attention as much and the ending didn’t do it for me! However, I still really enjoyed this and this would make a great beach or pool read this summer!

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

How do I know early on that a book will probably be 2 stars or less? When I find myself on goodreads looking for spoilers to find out what will happen and if the book is worth reading . I couldn’t find spoilers so I had to keep on going …

One of the things I do not like about ebooks is that I can’t easily flip to the end of the book 😂
It was pretty torturous trying to get to the end of this one but I did want to find out what happened
✔️ love the setting - The Orient Express & Italy - 💫
✔️ a unique concept ⭐️
✔️ a good start 💫

✖️pages and pages of being “told” stuff that just isn’t even relevant to the story for the most part … I’m a good slimmer but hey I could have almost skipped whole chapters 🤦‍♀️
✖️the ending and the story or the author was just way too much in the end - honestly couldn’t believe that ending 🤦‍♀️

Main Character starts with Rory, a person famed author Ginerva Ex is basing her next novel on, going on a train ride. She is surprised to stumble upon past some of the past-loved ones she was intentionally avoiding and distancing herself from, with a surprising note from Ginerva setting her off on the journey.

Once I got into this, I couldn't put it down. It didn't end as I expected, and was a great mental escape as I tried to figure it out. It went all other the place as I tried to make sense of it - keeping me engaged.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the ARC.

I saw someone say this book reads like an Agatha Christie book, I have never read one of her books but maybe I need to read some now. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about this book, I thought it was going to be too slow for me. However, I loved it, the chapters are told from each of the different characters perspectives, they alternate back and forth. So, you get the story from all angles which I love. This book takes place on a train outside of Italy and all over compliments of the author in the book Genirva X.

Ginevra was a bestselling author who created her characters after interviewing real people which gave her writing a realistic intricacy. She gifted one of her newest characters, Rory, a luxurious trip on the exotic Orient Express (a personal dream of mine). As Rory began to settle into her lovely surroundings, she shockingly discovered people from her past on board, people she knew extremely well. While the train made stops at wonderful locales, mysteries deepened and skeletons in closets were exposed.

Rory is taken aback by the extravagance of her trip, but she quickly discovers that she is not alone; her brother Max, best friend and pseudo sister Caro, and ex-fiancé Nate are all part of her surprise. From Cinque Terre to Rome, each trip reveals betrayals, family secrets, and forces Rory to reconsider all she thought she knew about her life. Ginevra has developed a real-life mystery with Rory as the main character, who is subjected to experiences that shake her to the core, leaving her fearful that her story may end tragically.

This homage to Agatha Christie is for those who want a unique, masterfully written, and intriguing character-driven novel with alternating viewpoints and temporal leaps. Although not precisely a whodunit, and at times loaded with sensitive and emotional issues (antisemitism, Alzheimer's), the novel keeps the reader engaged with its twisting plot that gradually unveils itself until its unexpected climax. I would absolutely recommend the Main Character to anyone searching for something unusual!

This was a bit too slow moving for me to really get hooked into the story, I did enjoy the Mediterranean setting. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis is a riveting time slip mystery loaded with family (and other) drama and unexpected twists and turns. It took awhile to get immersed but slow burns and character-driven stories are my thing so after pulling me in, it didn't loosen its grip.

Ginevra was a best selling author who created her characters after interviewing real people which gave her writing a realistic slant. She gifted one of her newest characters, Rory, a luxurious trip on the sumptuous Orient Express (a personal dream of mine). As Rory began to settle into her lovely surroundings, she shockingly discovered people from her past on board, people she knew extremely well. While the train made stops at wonderful locales, mysteries deepened and skeletons in closets were exposed.

The Italian Mediterranean setting drew me in as I live on the Mediterranean part time and adore the traditions, culture, food, slow pace of life and atmosphere which the author beautifully describes. Though not besotted with the characters, the cunning plot and originality made me smile. However, this book did not remind me of Agatha Christie as touted so I enjoyed it for what it was without certain expectations.

My sincere thank you for the digital ARC which was provided by Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge Agatha Christie fan, and was excited to read this "modern homage" to Murder on the Orient Express. I enjoyed the premise--a mystery author basically bringing her characters to life and putting them in situations that lead to conflict and, of course, murder. However, I didn't really care for any of the characters, including Rory, the protagonist. That isn't necessarily a problem, but I didn't care about them either. That being said, I did think the ending was well done, and I look forward to seeing what Jaclyn Goldis does next!

"The Main Character" is a captivating modern twist on the classic "Murder on the Orient Express." The story follows Rory, a character chosen from real life by author Ginevra Ex, as she embarks on an unforgettable journey. Sent on a trip of a lifetime by the author, Rory soon discovers that she is not the only one invited on this train trip. Many characters from her past make an appearance and their stories intertwine, unveiling hidden secrets among family and friends. The narrative is filled with numerous plot twists, masterfully woven together, leading to an unexpected final twist that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

This book is a must-read for fans of the classic "Murder on the Orient Express" and for those who enjoy thrilling narratives that seamlessly blend fiction and reality. Its expert storytelling and surprising reveals make it a standout in modern mystery literature.

Read if you like:
🏝️ Beachy Reads
🔥 Slow Burn
🔎 Mysteries
#️⃣ Multiple POV

This is such a slow burn mystery that you need to know for your enjoyment to expect this slow burn pacing with characters that are not written to be lovable in any way really.

Now if I have you intrigued by that, I would highly recommend checking it out especially if you are a fan of Agatha Christie and her impact on the genre as this one pays homage to her work!

Thank you so much to Atria for my ARC in exchange for my review!

Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy to read and review.

I loved the setting of this novel. There’s something about setting a story during travel that helps keep the storyline fresh. I will say, this did drag on a bit before it started to really capture my attention..

I love a good mystery with a few twists and this book also provided some Agatha Christie vibes that were fun. Overall a fun read.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of the Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis from Net Galley and Atria Books in order to read and give an honest review.

…If you are interested in a unique, masterfully written and engaging, character-driven story, with alternating viewpoints and time jumps this homage to …

International best-selling author Ginevra Ex who is famous for using real people to inspire her work chooses former American news anchor Rory Aronov as inspiration for her newest mystery. Ginerva’s process is complex, she goes all out, interviewing friends, family members, even hiring private detectives to dig through her protagonist’s life to uncover their deepest family secrets, twisting and spinning them into the gold that becomes her best-seller. Ginerva after being interviewed by Rory has chosen her to be her latest main character. Rory at the lowest point of her life; recently fired from her job and in need of money, left by her fiancé months from their wedding is topped by her struggles to come to terms with a father with who often no longer remembers her. She is grateful when Ginerva gives her a final bonus; an all-expense paid trip on the lavish Orient Express along the coast of Italy stopping at tourists sites and ending with a special surprise in Positano.

Rory is stunned by the opulence of her trip but soon learns that she is not alone, her brother Max, her best friend and pseudo sister Caro, and her ex-fiancé Nate are all part of her surprise. From Cinque Terre to Rome each stop brings with it events that uncover betrayals, family secrets and make Rory question all that she believed was true in her life. Ginevra has created a real-life mystery with Rory as the main character facing incidents that shake Rory to the core causing her to fear that her story will come to a deadly end.

If you are interested in a unique, masterfully written and engaging, character-driven story, with alternating viewpoints and time jumps this homage to Agatha Christie is for you. Although, not quite a whodunit and at times the book feels heavy with poignant and emotional subjects (antisemitism, alzheimer’s) it keeps the reader enthralled with its twisting plot that reveals little by little to its shocking conclusion. I would definitely recommend the Main Character for those looking for something a little different!

Ginevra is an author who has unconventional methods for creating her books, which involves hiring real people to help create her plots. Her latest character was based on Rory. Now Ginevra has paid for Rory to take an extravagant vacation. When she shows up though, she finds many of her friends and relatives. Everyone has secrets and they might be deadly.

I liked the premise here, but I think there were too many character pov’s for what the author was trying to accomplish. If we’d had only Rory, maybe one other, I think it would’ve been more successful.

Thank you, Atria Books and NetGalley, for my free copy for review.

What initially appears to be a dream trip for Rory, turns into a nightmarish ordeal as those closest to her unexpectedly join her across the Italian coast aboard the Orient Express.

The main character captivated me right from the start, with the prologue feeling like a massive red herring, while also cleverly foreshadowing what's to come.

The concept of an author hiring someone to be interviewed and become the main character of their novel is uniquely insane, yet it makes for a compelling and engrossing story. This book maintains a deliberate, slower pace, never bogging down, but instead offering a wealth of past events to unpack. Its revelations are truly surprising, particularly in terms of where everything ultimately leads. It's a narrative that delves into the realm of what could have been, and explores the enduring loyalty of family, whether by blood or otherwise.

Transporting. Multidimensional. Thought-provoking. Each of these phrases touches just a bit on the captivating tale told within the pages of The Main Character. A beguiling mystery mixed heavily with a generational family drama, Goldis outdid herself with her sophomore mystery/thriller. What I didn’t realize before diving into the story, however, was how the whodunnit portion of the book was just the beginning.

Above all else, this was a character-driven plot if I’ve ever seen one. With believable characters lightly painted with just a bit of fictional eccentricities, I got wrapped up in each and every one. No more, however, than Rory. With a startlingly poignant character arc and a persona that drew me in deep, I would have been happy to follow her to the ends of the earth. At the same time, I loved the rest of her party and was happy to soak in the unfolding puzzle.

As for the plot, it was certainly an homage to Agatha Christie, but it was also so much more. Dredging up complicated feelings on decidedly relevant topics, the focus on antisemitism resonated strongly for me. Adding a depth to the storyline while also lending an original spin, pinholing it as just another take on a classic Golden Age whodunnit would be a disservice. Instead, there was wisdom, insight, and sadness to what I would rather classify as a cross-genre tale.

All in all, told via multiple POVs and dual timelines, this book not only lived up to The Chateau, but perhaps surpassed it. With an evocatively drawn setting, clever twists, and one jaw-dropping conclusion, I’m already eagerly anticipating the next book in Ms. Goldis’ arsenal. Just don’t expect a straightforward mystery of the type personified by Christie. After all, that was just the starting point. Where it went from there, was all down to the author’s own gifted mind. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Jaclyn Goldis and Emily Bestler Books/Atria for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

“For Ginevra Ex, bloody, murdered bodies were par for the course. ”
Here are reasons to read the thriller book:

Train trip - Rory is taking a trip on the Orient Express
Main Character - that she was gift by a famous author who studied her as the main character in her book
Mystery - but Rory arrives to find her brother, her best friend, and her ex-boyfriend along with a LOT of secrets

When I found out this book was an Agatha Christie homage, I had to pick it up. The first part of the book was very interesting in how it sets up the trip, the descriptions of Italy, and the promise of a thrilling mystery. But the book kind of falls apart in the middle where the present chapters are interspersed with a lot of background and exposition about the author’s life. When you find out about the secrets of all the people involved at the end, it lands a bit flat for me because of the promise of a really good mystery. Unfortunately, I really ended up wanting more.

Rory has just spent the last three months being interviewed by eccentric author Ginerva Ex. The bestselling author has a unique approach to crafting her main characters: she finds real people and mines their lives for content before placing them in her blockbuster thrillers. To celebrate the end of their time together, Ginerva has booked Rory on an extravagant trip on the Orient Express. But when Rory finds her brother, best friend, and ex-fiancé all on board the train as well, she begins to wonder whether Ginerva is still crafting a story for her.

The story begins with Ginerva coming across a dead body, which is identified as her flesh and blood -- setting the reader up to wonder who has died and how they are related to Ginerva. The narrative then goes back in time three days to follow the events of the train vacation and the POV shifts between the main characters. For a while, not a whole heck of a lot happens, and the book feels more like a character study (no surprise given the title). But as Rory's suspicions mount, the pace and twists pick up. I didn't guess the ending, which is always a plus for mysteries for me.

Review to be posted May 16, 2024 to Goodreads and May 18, 2024 to Instagram @goodquietkitty.

Huge thank you to Atria Books and Simon Audio for the gifted copies!

🎧I just finished this one on audio this week thanks to @simon.audio and it was such a unique and fun mystery! It was a full-cast production which I always love!!

📖THE MAIN CHARACTER is by the same author as THE CHATEAU which came out last year!

📖In the story, there is a famous author who hires people to be the main character for each of her new books as they come out. Her latest book takes her main character on a crazy train ride and mysteriously people from her past keep showing up all with their own secrets 🤫 this all leads to a fun and shocking finale that had me actually surprised!

Parts of the middle were hard for me to stay focused but overall it was a fun read!

📖If you've read and enjoyed MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Agatha Christie then you'll probably enjoy this one too!

Such an interesting story! I could not put it down. All about the secrets people keep from the people they most love