*Murder on the Interstellar Express* is a sci-fi/fantasy pastiche that blends beloved genres with a fresh, intergalactic twist. Gregory D. Little’s foray into this type of storytelling results in a novel that is both engaging and complex, though it may not be for everyone.

The story revolves around Bell, a lesbian cyborg detective, who navigates a web of intrigue and murder aboard the Interstellar Express. The plot is filled with twists and turns, and the mystery at its core keeps readers hooked. Little's creativity shines through in the diverse array of characters, including a variety of aliens and humans who are far from ordinary. The interplay of these characters and their distinct traits adds depth to the narrative, making the book an enjoyable read.

One of the standout aspects of *Murder on the Interstellar Express* is its unique concept and the execution of its plot. The title alone is enough to pique interest, and the synopsis promises an exciting adventure. The book delivers on this promise with a story that is more complicated and engaging than it initially seems. The plot twists and mysteries are well-crafted, making the story's progression intriguing and dynamic.

However, the humor in the book can be a hit or miss. Some readers may find the attempts at humor forced and the jokes repetitive. Bell’s over-the-top personality and constant innuendo might be overwhelming for some, but others may appreciate the bold and brash style. Humor is highly subjective, and while some readers may not find it effective, others might enjoy the lighthearted and irreverent tone.

The pacing of the novel is generally good, though the ending may feel abrupt to some. The open-ended conclusion leaves room for sequels, which could further explore Bell's adventures. While the characters are unique and well-drawn, there are moments where the story feels surface-level and conventional. Despite this, Bell remains a compelling protagonist who manages to carry the story effectively.

Overall, *Murder on the Interstellar Express* is a good book for fans of space operas and those who enjoy a blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements. It’s an original take on a classic trope, filled with humor and mystery. While it may not be the best introduction to speculative fiction, it’s a fun and highly readable novel that offers a fresh perspective on the genre. For those willing to embrace its quirks, *Murder on the Interstellar Express* provides an entertaining journey through the stars.

**Rating: 3.5 out of 5**

Sometimes I had to come up for breath while reading this, because things happen at an extraordinary speed. I liked the fact that Bell, who is not a real human anymore (except she still remembers how it was to be one) deals with everything that’s thrown at her during her unexpected and unwanted stay on a colony ship.
And of course, I liked the tile of this book and it was very well chosen, as turns out. On the other hand, I would have like to read more about Bell’s background, and about the background of the several colonies as well. Not to mention the aliens, because the aliens aboard the ship are very interesting but still they lack a bit of depth.
I can only hope that this story will get a second or even more parts, now we got to know Bell rather well. It’s space opera in optima forma!
Thanks to Cursed Ship Dragon Publising and Netgalley for this review copy.

I enjoyed this book overall. It's characters were unique and consistent throughout the story. The plot had plenty of twists and turns throughout it. While the story had several graphic scenes, I never found it to be excessive or offensive. The overall pacing of the book was good, however, I felt that the ending came to a rather sudden end. I would probably read the next book in the series to see where the story takes us.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this and give my unbiased opinion.

This was generally a fun read! I really loved the first half with its mystery and good humour. Belle was a really fun character to follow and I loved her interactions with the other characters (though the constant sexual innuendos were a bit much sometimes). The aliens were really cool, as was the idea of the Anaranjadan society- I could totally see something like that being reality! However, the comedic tone did clash sometimes with the really quite horrific description of the murders so I’m not quite sure how to feel about that.
The plot was really unique and original, with really great tension that kept me guessing throughout! It was clearly really intricately thought out, with lots of little clues as to who the murderer was some of which I did notice and some of which I didn’t! Though, I did begin to feel a bit overwhelmed towards the second half when the initially slow(er) pace erupted into an avalanche of plot twists and action. While it was well written, the fast pace made it a bit difficult for me to understand the motivations of certain characters, which took away from the story a little bit for me.
It was certainly a unique read and, though some elements worked better than others for me personally, this was good fun overall and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a unique sci-fi story with a little bit of political commentary and mystery sprinkled in!

3.5 stars

The idea of this book is brilliant! To be honest, it had me at the title, really. How could you resist that? And when you read the synopsis things get even better. Because yeah, this book is a murder in space, with a ton of humor in it too. And it turns out that things are even more complicated than what we expected in the beginning.
I think that the plot, with all the twists and the mysteries, was the best part.
The characters are intriguing, even more so because we have aliens, and humans that are not really humans as we intend it now, and it was fascinating to see all of these differences play out before our eyes. Bell is a good MC to follow, even if she is quite the clichè, and her interactions with the other characters are an abundance of cliches. But it is not bad, it works well in the book.
What didn't work so well for me was the humor. Mind me, I appreciated it, but from time to time it was like the author was trying too hard to be funny. But still, I had some laughs here and there, and humor is a highly personal thing, it is always hit or miss, because it is not a fixed thing. And maybe you would find that this is exactly your kind of humor, and you would have a blast out of it.
To me, it was the weakest point, but it still worked, so it is not all bad!
All in all, I think that this is a good book to spend some hours with. It is an original take on a pretty classic trope, and it is well done. It is also funny and highly readable!

Being an Agatha Christie fan, the title of this book drew my attention. And being also an avid science-fiction reader, I quite liked the idea of a closed 'room' murder mystery in space. That fact that the tone of the book was humorous and the main character foul-mouthed and snarky, was icing on the proverbial cake.

After reading the book, I must say that I have mixed feelings. The plot - and its many twists, as is customary in a murder mystery - is intricate, well thought-out and never predictable. The writing style is fast and fluid, and the dialogues are often funny, with each character (especially the aliens) having their own distinctive voice.

And yet ... the characters are - to me - the weakest part of the book. The main character, Bell, and Loopy, the ship's mind, were fine, but I found that I didn't care enough for the other characters to stay engaged and excited for the unravelling of the murder mystery. There wasn't enough backstory to make them real, not enough exploration of their motives, and no 'Hercule Poirot' to investigate the murders and to reveal a number of clues and red herrings. I would have liked less 'snarkiness' and some more depth.

All in all, a quick and rather pleasant but also, quite forgettable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing for for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.

So murder mystery in space is my thing, and this also leaned into humour. The main character is a very mechanized human and when we meet her is on trial for crimes against humanity and about to be shipped off-world to serve a life sentence. After being pulled out of cry0-sleep 27 years later, the rollercoaster takes off. That Christie-esque title pulled me in too and this didn't disappoint. I really liked that Bell was in a totally different place by the end than where she began. The other characters were well done and I found this to be a pretty immersive read even though it was pretty quick. The chapter titles were witty too. I can see how another book would be needed and I would likely read it.

The blurb says this is for fans of Murderbot (of which I am one) but a wise-cracking human is a wise-cracking human no matter how much tech she's added to herself. So, not really that wry wit of Murderbot but still a good laugh to be had here.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Advance Reader's Copy.

This was a really fun murder mystery that really made use of sci-fi elements to expand the available theories. All the clues were right there and yet it was still a bit of a surprise when we found out who the killer was, and which clues were red herrings.. Definitely recommending this one to my booktube friends..

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR... I could not put this down, this was fun, fast paced and yet still kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I HUNDRED PERCENT recommend this for a fun time

Okay, so I've been dipping my toes in scifi lately, so I've only read books from a few different authors. I knew going in that this was different from the other books by this author. But as I didn't know this author to begin with I had no idea what that equated to. Anyway, I was entertained by the female lead and her reluctance in solving the murder mystery after being designated investigator by the spaceships computer. And boy, I did not see that plot twist(s) coming.

While reading this book I figured out I shouldn't become a detective because I totally didn't predict who the murder was. And the ending was a great setup for a continuation of our lesbian, dark humored, profanity and innuendo spouting cyborg.

In the beginning it was a really interesting read, when it was a female main character that was spouting profanity and innuendo left and right, but it did get a bit annoying after the midway point. It decreased somewhat at that point so it didn't get to the point where I had to take a break from the book because it got to be too much, but the shine wasn't quite as bright by then. But that's the only negative I have to say about the book.

Definitely a female Deadpool in space. And I'm here for the next one book starring Bell Beauregard!

I dunno about this novel. The interchanges and inner-dialogue are lengthy and rarely funny. Yeah Bell is OTT in personality and you get pounded with it, page after page. A lesbian cyborg might do for others, but me, not so much.

The aliens are drawn well and the conclusion is open-ended. Not sure I would follow this smart ass down another novel hole with constant inuendo trailing along. Still, faintly entertaining.

2.6/5

This reminded me of The Stainless Steel Rat with the humour running through the book, add to that a murder mystery in space and you have a recipe for success.

A sci-fi murder mystery that takes you for a fast ride, and always leaves you guessing at who the murderer is. I didn't see the end coming, and without spoiling it, what an ending, definitely didn't see, or feel, that coming.

This is the first book I've read of Mr Little, it won't be the last.