DNF at 25%
I really wanted to love this book. I love the premise, and it started off strong. There were enough mysterious loose ends that I wanted to keep reading. But once we get on the train, nothing really happens. There are large chunks where the main character describes the novel she wants to write, but she’s not writing it. I don’t know, it was weird. The plot all but dissolved and I just couldn’t go any further.

Agatha's husband has given her a first-class ticket on a six-hour train from Toronto to Montreal as a gift― a one-day train trip with no distractions so she can work on her new book. The train carriage is a perfect place to be productive, with only a handful of other passengers, plenty of food and drinks, and beautiful views flying by outside the window.

Agatha however has other secretive plans for her day, plans that are thwarted when the train suddenly stops in transit and one of Agatha's fellow passengers dies suddenly in his seat.

Eva Jurczyk has written a darkly funny story of intrigue and trickery with a little traitorous adultery thrown in for spice. As each new snippet of information is divulged, the plot grows and gives birth to other side stories that muddy the waters of this unusual whodunit mystery.
The images of the frozen landscape as viewed from the train are detailed and well portrayed. The main characters in the book are authentic and well described, though sometimes rather unconventional and eccentric. The ending is unexpected and effective, providing a fitting outcome to the narrative.

If you like stories with interesting characters and an engaging mystery that is full of twists you will enjoy this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance copy.

This feels like a classic mystery novel, like an Agatha Christie-type of story.

I just don't think this was necessarily for me, it wasn't bad, it just wasn't as exciting as I wanted.

The pacing feels a bit odd at times, but it is cool as you go through the journey of this mystery in segments of time whilst on this train. Each chapter starts with telling you what time it is, so you can easily keep track of what is happening and when. So this is a short time span kind of mystery.

It is also a sort of locked-room mystery, but on a train.

I did find the ending to be a bit random feeling, but I can't tell if that's a personal feeling or if other readers would feel the same about that. Definitely check out more reviews if that is a concern of yours.

This was a pretty short book too, so it didn't take me too long to get through at all. But maybe it was too long for the contents and that could be why the ending felt the way it did. I'm still a bit confused about that and how I feel about it too. Some things just didn't add up for me in this book. But that could entirely depend on the reader's individual taste in mystery/thriller book, I do know that I've gotten quite picky with them lately. Oops.

And I quite like the cover!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

A closed room (or in this case closed train) mystery that I found highly entertaining. Best selling author Agatha is struggling with medical and marriage issues and is spending a day on the train as a writer's getaway. Sounds simple enough, but she has more in mind, and when the train gets stuck in the snow and a couple of the very few passengers end up dead, things get interesting. I enjoyed Agatha's character, as her commentary was often so unexpected. The plot was slow at times, but her take on events kept me entertained. The ending was a bit farfetched, but overall this was a satisfying read for me.

Great premise and an atmospheric setting, but the pacing drags, and the ending goes off the rails. The locked-room mystery never fully delivers on its tension, and the main character feels more frustrating than compelling. Decent, but not quite as sharp as it could have been.

6:40 to Montreal is a fantastic journey of a group of people who are faced with unbelievable hurdles while on the train that stops nowhere. The narrative by Jurczyk is exceptional as well as the dialogue. The intriguing train ride may put the reader on the edge of the seat. The author has a way of pointing the reader in many different directions. The book is well worth the read!

I cannot say I liked it. It was well written but a bit too dark for my taste. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’m not sure where to start with this book. Over all I did not enjoy most of this book. Jurczyk writes a locked room mystery aboard a train that fell flat and never had the ‘big thrill’ or major breakthrough moment. The characters were very dull, our main character was annoying, and the story line didn’t flow well. It felt like the main character jumped all over the place and seemed very ‘flighty’. The timing throughout the book seemed to majorly lag on, especially in the middle. The plot was interesting, but ultimately left me disappointed. 2.5 stars rounded to 3. Thank you Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

6:40 to Montreal by Eva Jurczyk is an enjoyable mystery with an Agatha Christie-style plot, full of intrigue and suspense. However, the pacing lags in the middle, making it feel overly drawn out, and the ending lacks the impact needed to fully satisfy. Despite this, the book offers an engaging premise and a well-crafted setting, making it a decent read for fans of classic whodunits.

Although I loved the premise of this book and the beautiful cover, 6:40 to Montreal just wasn't for me. I had really high hopes for this one but it was too long, and the ending was way out there. 2.5 stars

Our MC is Agatha, a writer trying to get some work done on her new book on a train from Toronto to Montreal.
The train gets stuck in a snowstorm and things go downhill from there.

What I did like- the Canadian setting. I love a setting that I am familiar with, have visited before or heard of.

I really wanted to love this book but it didn’t work for me but it may work for another reader. However, that being said I would love to read something different by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Pub date - 9/23/25

The main character in this novel is an author. Her first book was quite a success. But she is struggling to come up with a follow up. Her health isn't good. And she is struggling in her role as a wife and mother. Her husband has given her the gift of a train trip, hoping it will stimulate her creativity. But she has other plans. She's going to have an affair.

But the trip begins to unravel. The train is halted by a massive snowstorm. Her adversary turns out to be on the train. And then, someone is murdered.

While I like the author's style, by and large, I'm afraid I wasn't keen on the ending. I found it to be a bit far-fetched and difficult to rectify. But otherwise, I thought it was well-written and compelling.

Murder On The Orient Express with a modern twist. This locked room mystery has enough twists and turns to keep you engaged from first to last page! The passengers, including the main character, all have their secrets and its edge of your seat reading to see who makes it out alive.

Thanks for the opportunity to read!

I loved the premise of this story - like a locked room mystery. After reading the book, I found it to be rather slow moving and somewhat predictable. I wish I would have liked it better, although I’m guessing there will be others readers who like it more than I did.

A good read, thanks for letting me try it! It reminded me of Murder On The Orient express, albeit a modern version.

I loved this book, as a thriller lover and as a Canadian. I have spent many hours on the train between Toronto and Montreal over the years. Reading this book was like visiting an old friend.

Eva Jurczyk has weaved a suspenseful, beautifully written, Agatha Christie esque thriller that had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire novel. So many times I thought I had figured the characters and the whodunit mystery, and over and over again I was wrong. With complex characters, and no one to trust I couldn't stop turning the pages.

If you love thrillers, or are Canadian I must insist you take the time to read this book.

My only real critique is the cover, the train between Montreal & Toronto is not lined by picturesque mountains (unfortunately).

I'm sorry but I struggled with this book, didn't like the lead character at all, found her very aggravating. Thought the writing style was very staccato and the other characters formulaic.

Agatha is an author whose husband has gifted her a ticket on the 6.40 to Montreal so she can do some writing in peace.

She is going to meet an old friend Malee once she reaches her destination, but in reality she is meeting a man called Dev, someone she knew from college, who she has been having an email flirtation with.

A little while into the journey the train comes to a grinding halt and from there we have the locked door mystery. literally as 6 people in first class, along with the attendant Dorcas are all locked in, and as always someone is murdered.

The ending was a good read, it was just a very dragged out, back and forth way to get there.

Agatha's husband has gifted her with a ticket on the 640 AM train from Toronto to Montreal to help stir her creative writing juices.
She has been uninspired for a while and her husband thinks a day on the rail will help get her back on track.
All is fine until she meets the other travelers and finds herself in the middle of a modern-day Agatha Christie
"Who Done It' and fearing for her life after the train breaks down in the middle of a forest with a raging snow storm outdoors.
What starts as a seemingly boring train ride quickly takes a turn into a murder mystery where anyone and everyone
could be the killer..
The best part of it all for me was getting blown away by the ending.
Trust me, you will not see it ocming.

Classic closed-room mystery. This book had me hooked from the first page and kept me turning pages late into the night.

6:40 to Montreal tells the story of Agatha, a writer struggling to complete her next book. Her husband gifts her a round-trip train ride as a makeshift retreat, free from interruptions. But with a sworn enemy a few rows behind her, a sudden stop, a raging snowstorm, and a locked cabin, the discovery of a dead man sets off this gripping whodunnit.

The locked setting and the sense of urgency to get out are masterfully written. I enjoyed the diverse characters and the slow unraveling of their layers as we learn more about each of them. The author truly shines in crafting distinct personalities and showing how their choices reflect who they are.

While the how of the murder is... creative, the why is where it slightly let me down. To me, it felt ambiguous and somewhat trivial. However, since I enjoyed 90% of the book, it was easy to overlook.

There are two important trigger warnings that play a significant role in the story: cancer and the death of a child. These themes affect different characters and are explored in depth throughout the book.

I would recommend this book to mystery fans, especially those who enjoy locked-room mysteries and whodunnits. Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 6:40 to Montreal will be out on September 23, 2025.

I loved the gorgeous cover and the premise of the book was right down my alley. Unfortunately, I couldn’t really get into it. I felt it was slow and the one plot twist was not believable to me. While I didn’t find it thrilling, I’m sure there will be many who love this book. Thanks for allowing me to read it.

I am so confused.

Not because I didn’t understand what was happening in the book but I can’t determine if I liked this book. It was super flat in some places but the writing was great. The twist, while shocking, was very hard to believe. I loved the atmosphere and isolation but reactions of some of the characters seemed odd and unnatural.