Murder and Mystery? Yes please! I love a good thriller and this one did not disappoint. One of the better books I've been able to read. Unput downable and kept me engulfed the entire time trying to figure out what happened!

Five Found Dead is a modern murder mystery set on a luxury train during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The story follows twins Joe, a writer, and Meredith, a lawyer, who are celebrating Joe’s cancer recovery. But things take a dark turn when a cabin is found covered in blood — with no body inside.

As the train rolls on, more murders follow, and everyone becomes a suspect. The story is full of twists, red herrings, and a mix of interesting characters, many with police or legal backgrounds. It’s a clever tribute to classic mysteries like Murder on the Orient Express, but with a fresh, modern edge.

Some readers found the plot a bit complex with so many characters, but overall, it’s an engaging and suspenseful read for fans of murder mysteries.

The plot of this book was intriguing; it can't get any better than trying to solve a murder in the Orient Express. However, as I started to read the book, I found it confusing at times as there were many characters in the story, and the story was told from a single POV. The story felt very slow at times, but the twist at the end was unexpected. TW in this story: cancer, COVID

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Mystery writer John Penvale and his sister Meredith go travelling on the Orient Express, where they are witnesses of several crimes.

It was an interesting story set on the Orient Express, and I love books of train journeys. However, the story dragged a bit in the middle, as there were so many subplots happening.

This is my 3rd book with this author and really my 3rd different reading experience--which is a good thing. Sometimes when you read an author, you know exactly what you're going to get and the books remind you of one another (which can also be a good thing, if that's what you like). In this case, Gentill's books--the three I've read--have all had some literary theme, but the plots and delivery have been quite different. In this novel, we are aboard the Orient Express in an intentional, sort of meta, play on Murder on the Orient Express.

While some of the plot was a bit implausible and almost farcical, it was also a great deal of fun. I liked the setting and also the intentional and constant awareness of the Christie's original opus. The bodies start piling up and our protagonist, Meredith, and her mystery-writer brother Joe have to figure out the locked-room mystery before death comes knocking on their passenger carriage door.

This is a fast and fun read. Plan to go into it expecting a bit of a playful tone rather than a heavy, literary thriller. I hope Gentill keeps writing her literary themed books!

This book has a very interesting storyline. It’s about a journey on the orient express and like every train mystery out there a murder occurs. I think this concept was interesting when the author got passengers involved in the murders to figure out who the killer was. I think this book has some slow points but it’s overall a good story.

I really enjoyed this book. Kept me on my toes! I was not expecting the ending at all. Recommended on my book group on Facebook.

Five Found Dead delivers a compelling modern homage to Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. The closed-circle mystery set aboard a train was a brilliant concept, and the setting truly steals the show—claustrophobic, atmospheric, and rich with suspense. Gentill does a great job creating a sense of isolation and tension that keeps the pages turning.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the setup, I didn’t feel a strong connection to the characters. They served their roles within the mystery well, but lacked the depth or emotional pull that might have made the story even more immersive.

Overall, a great read for fans of classic mysteries looking for a contemporary twist.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

An exciting mystery that mixes the glamour of ‘old-school’ travel with a chilling disappearance. The story takes place on the modern-day Orient Express and follows crime novelist Joe Penvale and his twin sister Meredith as they set off for some much-needed R&R after Joe's intense medical treatment.
Gentill does a great job with the locked room trope, giving off serious Agatha Christie vibes. The grand setting of the Orient Express adds a distinctive charm, making the mystery even more appealing. As Joe and Meredith get caught up in a murder investigation, the tension ramps up with every twist and turn.
The characters are well-developed, and the dynamic between Joe's vulnerability and Meredith's determination adds complexity to the story. Gentill's blend of suspense and emotional moments makes this novel a absorbing read. Five Found Dead is a thrilling ride that will keep you guessing until the very end. I think this book would be a hit with some of my book clubs!

I wasn’t a fan of this book… I found it hard to keep up with it. I only like to share positive reviews on books, because somebody might really like this so I won’t be sharing this review to my social media account.

IDNF the book 30% in

This wasn't a bad book by any means but for me it fell a bit flat. It's fine but not anything more. Maybe because I've read 'Murder on the Orient Express' and other versions of the murder mystery trope happening on a train.

It was enjoyable enough that I kept reading but I never felt a connection to the story. The main characters, Joe and his twin sister Meredith, felt vanilla. There were a lot of travelers/suspects. So much so that I'd say that a character list at the start of the book would help a lot to keep track of them. Sadly I didn't care for any of them. I also didn't like that the COVID-19 pandemic was used as a plot point to make the situation seem even more dangerous. As if having a murderer on a train isn't bad enough.

The Trip is just what the doctor order…. Or is it?

All they wanted to
do was enjoy their trip.

I loved the concept of this story. It was twisty and the suspense was so good. I found myself saying just one more chapter!!!

The characters were well developed and likable . At no point did I have it figured out. Truly the edge of my seat til the end.

Highly recommend!!

Thank you NetGalley

The storyline was just okay for me. I enjoyed the idea but there weren’t as many suspenseful moments as I was hoping for. The writing was excellent so maybe this book just wasn’t for me. Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc!

Step aboard the Orient Express and prepare for a stylish murder mystery with a contemporary edge. In Five Found Dead, Sulari Gentill crafts an engaging tale where the glamour of old-school travel collides with a chilling disappearance—and nothing is quite as it seems.

The story centers on Joe, a crime novelist recovering from cancer, and his twin sister Meredith. What begins as a celebratory journey quickly turns sinister when one of their fellow passengers goes missing, leaving behind a bloodstained compartment and a train full of potential suspects—all of whom seem to have ties to law enforcement or criminal investigation.

The setting is a highlight in itself: the train’s polished wood interiors, warm lighting, and soft clinks of glassware create a rich, immersive atmosphere. The narrative is laced with dry wit, and while Gentill occasionally meanders through introspection and heavy description, it fits the reflective, slow-burn nature of the genre.

A touch of pandemic-era reality gives the story a surprising layer of relevance, subtly woven into the plot without overpowering it. Though some moments in the story stretch believability and lean into cozy mystery territory, embracing the book’s tone makes for a more enjoyable ride.

The central duo of Joe and Meredith is compelling, and while not every supporting character leaves a mark, the core dynamics work well. The final reveal is both unexpected and satisfying, delivering that gratifying “aha!” moment mystery fans crave.

Echoes of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express are unmistakable, but Gentill plays with classic tropes in refreshing ways, offering a respectful homage with her own twist. Fast-paced, atmospheric, and entertaining, Five Found Dead is an ideal pick for readers who enjoy traditional whodunits with a modern flair.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed this! After liking The Woman in the Library, I was excited to pick up this author's new novel. It kept me on my toes. A good popcorn thriller for the beach or the pool!

This book is literally the definition of a cozy mystery and it’s so comforting for some reason and I loved ittt!!
I think it’s mainly because aside from the mystery it also showed a character dealing with the aftermath of cancer and also the dynamics of a healthy sibling relationship just made it more interesting rather than just a who did it novel. The mystery itself was good and suspenseful that it made me want to continue onto the next chapter. The only thing is when I first started it out it was kinda of a bit hard to follow characters however as I continued i started to understand each persona more.

Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill is the perfect locked room mystery. Well , locked train mystery.

Not just any train, the Orient Express of course!

Joe Penvale a mystery writer has spent the last 18 months fighting for his life with cancer.

As a cancer survivor, I would remiss if I did not say how much I enjoyed the incorporation of cancer and how it impacts patients and caregivers.

Joe and his twin, Meri take this trip as a celebration and a way to awaken the muse for Joe to write again.

In true Agatha Christie fashion, a body is found, or is it? And why are there so many law enforcement and legal investigators on board?

They form a merry band of investigators trying to suss out the killer.

The twist was brilliant!

This is one of the best lock room mysteries I have read and throw in all the literary references, I was in love and did not want this book to end, like ever.

The characters were complex, well written, flawed and everyone was a suspect!

The descriptions of the train were excellent, its quite obvious to me that the author did her research.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!

Decent, but a bit too slow for my taste.

This thriller had a cool concept and looked great, but it just didn’t fully grab me. The pacing dragged in parts, and I found myself waiting for something big to happen that never really did. Still, it had its moments and might hit better for fans of slow-burn stories.

In true Agatha Christie style, the author takes you on a journey, both literally and metaphorically, to discover who the killer was, in this book based on the original Murder on the Orient Express.

The story starts by introducing you to the characters, quite a few who are loosely connected by crime and murder: crime podcasters, crime writers, former policemen and detectives, private detectives, and more. Suspend your disbelief about the coincidence of them all being on the train together (and in reality, there must be a large group of people attracted to a journey on the Orient Express purely because of the Christie story).

It's quite fast paced, and will leave you guessing, and changing your mind about the identity of the murderer, all the way throughout the story.

The ending - a transcript of a podcast - ties everything up neatly at the end, although I admit to skimming through this bit.

All in all, a good read for anyone who enjoys a Christie book.

A locked room mystery set on one of the most famous train routes in the world where a good portion of the passengers are also police detectives, spies, and other roles. Reminded me of Murder by Death in many ways, without the humor. There are parts of the book that make no sense and I was left confused by the last chapter, but I read it in about 2 hours so that wasn't a horrible way to spend the evening.


It did make me look up how much a trip on the Orient Express would cost and I'm so confused as to why one of the characters ended up on the trip unless someone else paid for their ticket? It was just an extra plot point tossed in at the end of the book that didn't make any sense.