Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc

While I love Murder on the Orient Express there's a few books circulating with the same vibes so it's hard to read when you're sort of comparing them all. I did enjoy the beginning of this book but found myself weaning in the middle and by the end I felt it was an okay read.

If you read the book as a satire on murder mystery it’s a fun and entertaining read. I started it expecting a certain mood but it quickly turned and I enjoyed it in the same way I would enjoy movies like Airplane and Scary Movie.

It was fun once you just relax and enjoy all the ridiculous things that happen.

Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was an orient express mystery but felt kinda heavy for the genre. The covid plot felt too soon to much given the current atmosphere. At times the story really dragged for me. I liked the setting of the train, but none of the characters were strong enough to stand out

Five Found Dead is the first novel by author Sulari Gentill that I have read.. I will definitely be reading more of her work. I absolutely enjoyed Five Found Dead, a novel that employs Agatha Christie history in creating a novel about a murder mystery on the Orient Express. The descriptions of the Orient Express do match the reality. I looked for photos of the rooms and was quite taken with Gentill's descriptions of life on this train. There is a murder quite quickly, and then a succession of murders. The plotting is well done and the action moves along briskly. The central protagonists--Joe, Meredith, and Napoleon, as well as several other characters, provide meaning and interest, as they seek to solve the murders. Five Found Dead would make a terrific movie. These characters have depth and backgrounds that adds meaning to the action. It is easy for readers to cheer them on. There are a lot of suspects and several red herrings. I was able to identify the killer about half way through. But that did not disappoint me. Five Found Dead. lays out the clues very carefully and unwrapping them was a lot of fun.

I bet readers will badly want to take a trip on the Orient Express after reading Five Found Dead. I know I would love to take this trip. It sounds weird to say I really enjoyed this novel, since there were so many murders, but that is the truth. This novel was a wonderful read. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Mystery lovers will find Five Found Dead a rewarding experience reading.

5 Stars

Five Found Dead was an interesting locked room (if you may) mystery set in the Orient Express. Overall, it was quite fun, with the atmosphere and the setting very easy to imagine, however, many of the plot twists were too predictable for me and didn't deliver the expected shock factor the way they were intended too. However, it was a nice quick read, and if you enjoyed Murder on the Orient Express, you might enjoy this book as well.

This is a tricky book to review and I appreciate the opportunity to! I wanted to love it and I did….at first. And then, it wore on me, BUT it’s obviously a very personal book and so, it seems wrong to critique it negatively and I hope I’m doing so fairly so readers can decide if it’s for them. I’m bumping this to a 4 because I think it deserves to be read and will do well, although for me personally it was more 3.5-ish.

Without spoiling anything I really liked these aspects of the story:

1) The protagonists are Joe and Meredith, fraternal twins traveling together on a ‘bucket-list’ type experience to mark Joe’s remission from cancer. Their adult sibling dynamic and bond was unique and felt very authentic — they love and drive each other crazy in equal measure, just as real siiblings do, at least in my experience. Joe is a mystery writer whose first book had breakout success; Meredith is (or was) a corporate lawyer turned caretaker for her brother, who is considering a career pivot.

2) There is a lot of reflectiveness about those who have cancer (or care for someone with it) and how that impacts their priorities, relationships, and life choices. It’s unusually thoughtful both in general and in this genre, and it gives the book some gravitas it wouldn’t otherwise have while being relatable to anyone who’s been in - or near - that experience. Cancer - both literal and figurative (like in a decay of morality/ethics sense) is the real antagonist of this book. Put another way, this book has some surprising depth to it, even though it can be readily enjoyed at a surface level.

4) The setting is a cross-continental train trip on the storied Orient Express, no less. The description of that experience through the eyes of the character first timers is a lot of fun to experience vicarously. The book pays homage to Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express and isn’t shy about it; in fact, many of the travelers take the trip for that very reason. This is essentially a locked-room mystery in the best possible setting for it.

5) The side characters are like the characters in Clue. Very quirky and European in their own right, many of them with ties somehow to crime or law enforcement. Without spoiling, there’s a Duchess, retired police officer. pair of podcasters, and octogenarian bounty hunters in the mix.

4) It’s an easy read and very well-written. The supporting characters are well-developed, unique, and additive to the story. I could easily see this being cast and filmed for a Netflix movie and it’d be terrific on a big or small screen. There were several times I played a casting exercise in my head.

5) I think a lot of readers will enjoy this book. It’s slightly darker than a cozy mystery, but not graphic enough to be a turnoff. It’s not particularly suspenseful or propulsive, but there is a clear, nonambiguous ending and these characters could absolutely live on in future books.

Those strengths listed first, here’s what didn’t work for me personally:

1) The COVID sub plot with the extremely contagious and dangerous “French” variant. I get why it’s included. It raises the stakes for everyone in close quarters on the train, and those who are elderly and/or have compromised immune systems specifically. Plus, it’s intended to be a potential murderer of a different sort, a silent killer lurking within their fellow passengers even as they fear the literal murderer in their midst. For me, it worked better as an unnamed, highly contagious virus. Given our shared recent past, COVID came immediately to mind as an association and/but not naming it almost made it more of a threat. As soon as it became COVID-specific and that became a ‘high-stakes’ plot point the passengers/characters were constantly reacting to, it felt, I don’t know, exhausting or too-something….a definite turnoff even though I continued reading.

2) This book is meant to be excessive and over-the-top, sort of a locked-room mystery + Murder on the Orient Express + Clue mashup. The plot, the setting, the characters are all very much over the top - like wearing too much costume jewelry, but in a fun way. Even teeing up Joe’s recent victory over his cancer battle set the tone for a vibrant adventure/mystery romp of sorts. But, then. The numerous times the train is surrounded by police and guns who were fearful of the train bringing infected people into their borders, the constant sister-fretting over her brother’s health….all understandable, but also not entertaining. The fusion of the serious and reflective into a clownish/over-the-top plot didn’t quite work for me. The pandemic element raises the perceived ’threat’ level for the characters, but never (at least) for this reader, if that makes sense?

3) The pacing seemed off. It crackles at the start and then the ending is almost cartoonish and slapdash, but the middle seemed to drag on with side trails, red herrings that just never went anywhere, and reveals that were a little…flat, boring even. I didn’t find it particularly propulsive and had it been longer, I might have DNFed.

4) Though the kill count is relatively high, only some of those dispatched are introduced to the reader. I never particularly cared about them even when I knew who they were and their deaths don’t seem to carry much impact, even in the story. The motives of the killer aren’t particularly well-developed, either. The murders are just a thing that happened, almost incidental or trivilaized.

5) Which brings me to my last point. It seemed to me even while reading this (I don’t know if it’s true) that the author had a multi-book contract in the mystery genre and used it to reflect on her feelings and experience with cancer. I appreciate and respect that, I really do, but I was expecting to be entertained with a breezy, fairly predictable genre read and the the cancer/pandemic plot point (as they unfolded and piled up) took me out of that and somewhere I didn’t want or expect to go. It got unexpectedly heavier and real-er than I wanted from this read.

That said, just as this book felt personal, so too are reading experiences. This book will do well and it should. Anyone drawn to this genre or who liked The Woman in the Library should give it a go and make up their minds. And of course, I wish the author (and anyone touched by cancer directly or caring for someone who is) every success and continued victory over that and any health battle, and a storied life for the rest of the days they have.

#FiveFoundDead #NetGalley
Sulari Gentill, known for her masterful blend of historical and contemporary crime fiction, delivers a gripping locked-room mystery in Five Found Dead. Set aboard the legendary Orient Express, this novel weaves classic whodunit elements with modern psychological tension, keeping readers guessing until the very end. Crime fiction author Joe Penvale and his twin sister, Meredith, embark on a much-needed getaway on the luxurious Orient Express. After enduring a grueling medical treatment, Joe hopes for relaxation, while Meredith quietly prays the train’s rich literary history will reignite his passion for writing. And at first, it seems like the perfect retreat. That is, until their neighboring cabin becomes a gruesome crime scene—soaked in blood, yet mysteriously missing a body. As the train speeds through Europe, Joe and Meredith are thrust into a murder investigation alongside a group of passengers with law enforcement backgrounds. But when the train steward assigned to guard the crime scene is murdered, it becomes clear that a killer is lurking among them. With five victims dead and one still unaccounted for, the tension mounts as the travelers race to uncover the truth before they reach their final destination. Will Joe and Meredith survive long enough to unmask the murderer, or is someone determined to ensure they never leave the train alive?
Likes:-
1 Classic Murder Mystery Vibes: Fans of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express will love the enclosed setting, intricate plotting, and chilling atmosphere.
2 Engaging Protagonists: The sibling duo adds a unique dynamic to the investigation, with Joe’s writer’s instincts and Meredith’s unwavering determination making them compelling sleuths.
Dislikes:-
1 Large Cast of Characters: While the diverse range of passengers adds complexity, keeping track of everyone’s backstories and motivations can be a challenge.
2 Pacing in the Middle: The novel occasionally slows down with detailed conversations and red herrings, but the final act more than makes up for it.
Overall:- Five Found Dead is a thrilling homage to classic murder mysteries, blending a locked-room setting with modern psychological twists. Sulari Gentill crafts a compelling narrative that keeps readers on edge, making it a must-read for fans of atmospheric crime fiction. If you enjoy tightly plotted whodunits with a sinister edge, this one is worth the ride.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me an advance copy.

Crime fiction writer, Joe Penvale is recovering from an intense battle with cancer. He decides to take a trip on the Orient Express hoping to gain inspiration. He is joined on this journey by his sister Meredith.

The glamorous environment does the trick, and Joe is already sitting down to write after their first evening on board, inspired by both the surroundings and the ghosts of past mysteries. He can practically sense the presence of Hercule Poirot roaming the corridors.

Things take a more alarming turn the following morning, and the rest of the journey is spent in an ever-increasing state of panic and claustrophobia. The author does such a good job of portraying this intense atmosphere as the trapped passengers (including a number of policemen and detectives) try to find the serial killer in their midst.

I loved this story and its nod to classic Christie and Hitchcock murder on a train stories. This modern version is a worthy addition to the genre. It’s a wonderful mystery full of twists and suspense - all wrapped up in the wonderful setting of the Orient Express. Enjoy the ride!

I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Overall, this was a really fun, locked-room (train) story. I loved the mentions and callbacks to Christie. I did not see the ending twist coming, which is always a pleasant surprise! I thought the cast of characters was well-written, although a bit hard to follow in the beginning.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley! Thank you for allowing me a chance to read and review this work before the release date.

I think this was a bad book to read right now for me. I just finished With a Vengeance and rewatched Murder on the Orient Express so for some reason this book read too similar to those too and I didn't like it but I may come back to it in the future.

Overall this was fun story withing the locked door genre with plenty of red herrings, suspects and murder. I could not wait to get to the end to find out who was the killer and/or who exactly had been killed. The main character a writer, Joe, is recovering from cancer and is on board with is slightly obnoxious older sister who is too oddly over protective. A conman boards the train and there is a whole cast of victims on board as the infamous trains winds its way from France to Italy. This story is full of delightful twists and turns with a side of danger and a hint of comedy. I do not want to give away anymore spoilers but it is a fun read.

This was a fun Orient Express mystery although some of the twists were quite predictable. The author did a great job with conveying the atmosphere to the reader.

I was super excited about this one as I love a good murder mystery. However, I found myself losing interest at times and not having that "I have to know what's going to happen next" sort of feeling. To me this was like a slow burn mystery as the story slowly introduces the characters, sets the setting, and gets into the murder. I really liked the setting being on a train and some of the things that the author used in this story was clever/unique. Overall, I'm glad I read this one but I can't say it was one of my favorites.

I've previously read The Woman In The Library by Gentill, and loved it. When I saw Five Found Dead, I walked in thinking I was either going to love it off the bat or grow to love it, and I think based off the time it took me to read it, I really didn't have that much fun.

From the get, you get met with a slow start and a group of characters. Once the book does seem to pick up, its good, but it's not great? To be fair I only gave this book a read because I knew I loved previous work by Gentill.

Crime fiction writer Joe Penvale has just completed months of medical treatment and procedures and is in remission. His twin sister has booked them a getaway on the Orient Express for relaxation and hopefully to get Joe back to writing. Little did they know that this trip would be reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s book of the same name in so many ways! After waking the first morning to a crime scene in the cabin next door with lots of blood and no body, the siblings find themselves in the middle of an investigation to find the killer…or killers, in this closed train whodunit!

This novel airs more on the side of the classic who done it with a few twists that are objectively predictable if you are a frequent mystery reader. The main characters had a good enough backstory, but as a whole, the characters were all over the place and hard to keep track of. While this was not my favorite it book, I will highlight that it was original and the mystery tied up quite nicely.

I enjoyed this book. Although it did lose its way some times but I did enjoy some of the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for gifting me this ARC

I have mixed feelings about this. I loved the beginning, the ending was fine, but somewhere in the middle, it kind of lost its way. It managed to find it's way back to give it a fun ending, so I gave it 3.5 stars and rounded it up.

This is a locked door mystery that is tongue and cheek with Agatha Christy's Murder on the Orient Express's locked door mystery. It takes place on the very train that Christy writes about, and is commented upon many times as the characters are also aware of its existence. But then, a murder with no body, and then bodies with no murderer, and the mystery begins.

What I really loved about this book is the ease Gentill distinguishes the characters. So often in these types of books, the beginning is so difficult because you have to get to know everyone before anything happens, but they can blend together easily. With Five Found Dead, I got to know everyone, and it was way more of a delight than a chore.

Towards the middle, things dragged and the story almost got away from us as red herrings were introduced. I felt they just muddied the waters rather than helped with the twist. I didn't see it coming (and was kicking myself for not seeing it), but I don't think the herrings had anything to do with it.

All in all, it's a fun book, and for those that love the genre, this may end up being a favorite.

Thank you to Net Galley for gifting my with this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Great metafictional novel. I really liked the Aussie characters, and it was really well plotted, however I did not think that the ending was necessary. Otherwise, this was a really enjoyable, and reminder me of why I love Sulari Gentill's books so much.

I very much enjoyed Five Found Dead. It's the story of Meredith and Joe who decide to take a ride on the Orient Express. Meredith was a lawyer and her brother Joe was a fiction writer. His book just hit the best sellers list. For 18 months he fought cancer and won. During that time, Meredith was his biggest supporter. The trip on the Orient Express was celebratory. Their first night on board, the man in the cabin next door to them ended up dead. And then, the next day, one of the stewards was killed. The guy who was in charge of the train, Mr. Fleischman, decided to put together a team to help solve the murders. Meredith and Joe were on that team. Also on the team were two sisters who were in their '60s, a French retired police officer, two other police officers, and a woman who was a dignitary.

All of the passports of the passengers had been collected and were stored in a safe. Mr. Fleischmann asked Maxim who was one of the stewards to go to the safe and retrieve the passports so they could see a picture of the man who was the cabin of the dead man. When Maxim went to retrieve the passports, he was killed. Also, another steward who have been placed outside the door of the first dead man was killed. There were two podcasters aboard who ended up dead as well. Another key player was Frank, the bartender.

This book was a merry-go-round with lots of ins and outs. And the solution was a twist. I would never have guessed that the murderer was who it turned out to be. The story held my attention throughout, and kept me on the edge of my seat. Really, there were several several who could have been the culprit. The author did an exceptional job keeping up the suspense. The characters were well developed and even though the plot seem to be all over the place, the storyline was especially easy to follow. I would love to read more by this author. I gave it five stars.