This is my first book by this author but won’t be the last, I like mystery books where authors are the main characters and figures out the mystery. I was more interested in this one cause of the orient express setting, I LOVE Agatha Christie’s ‘ murder on the orient express’ so this one got me intrigued. Here we have our main character Joe who is an author and his twin sister on this train and he is supposed to get some writing done. The next morning they found out there is a crime scene right next room and they try to figure out what happens, thy have few fellow passengers whose background is law enforcement joins them in this. I found it very easy to read. The mystery was good and pretty good read. I will try and read the authors book related mysteries!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. for providing me with the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I love locked room mysteries and this one set on the famous Orient Express rises to the top! Twins Meredith, a lawyer, and Joe, a writer, decide to celebrate Joe's having successfully come through cancer treatment by riding the luxury train to Instanbul. Joe is hoping to write his sophomore mystery novel after a long drought of inspiration, and the two plan to relish this amazing experience. As the train's other quite diverse and interesting occupants are introduced during their first few hours aboard, the cast is (mostly) set, and it abounds with possible victims and suspects.

Enter the first murder. Or is it really a missing person case? Either way, blood is found around the cabin next to the twins' after the first night, and its single occupant is nowhere to be found. As the traveler on the other side of the bloody cabin is a retired French police detective whom they befriended the night before, the trio soon begin to investigate. When a steward's body is then discovered, the train's "conductor" creates a task force of passengers with law enforcement or legal backgrounds to investigate. Why not just pull in at the next stop of Venice and let the authorities handle it? Because it appears a strong and possibly lethal Coronavirus strain has been detected in two carriages, and with those people quarantined and the risk of infection high, the Italian authorities do not want to allow the train to make that stop. In fact, as the train is forced to turn around, more murdered bodies are added to the count, the task force makes little headway, Joe's writing has taken off like a speeding train in the night, the virus fear expands and all passengers minus the task force are quarantined, and murder suspects abound.

Will Joe and Meredith make it through? Will the killer or killers be found out and caught? Will the motive(s) be disovered in time? Will the virus spread through the train? Will the non-infected quarantined passengers riot to be released? These questions and their answers are all interwoven into a compelling mystery set aboard an historical luxury train with plenty of nods to Agatha Christie, Hitchcock, and other writers and directors and their stories and heroes. What fun!

Deliciously Done..
Writer Joe and twin sister Meredith are taking a well deserved trip on the sumptuous Orient Express, boarding in Paris, and hoping for luxury, rest, relaxation, rejuvenation and, in Joe’s case at least, literary inspiration. As they mingle with other guests and enjoy the delights that the train has to offer everything seems perfect - at least, until they discover the bloody and gruesome crime scene in the cabin next door. When more murders swiftly follow and bodies pile, and with several carriages of the train cut off with a dangerous contagion, they realise that they are trapped with at least one killer on board. A simply perfect locked room mystery with shadows and references to Christie’s classic, an eccentric and eclectic cast of well drawn and beautifully formed characters populating a pacy plot bubbling with red herrings and twists and turns aplenty, amply laced with wry humour. Deliciously Done.

At no point did I know where the book is going. I was on the edge of my seat. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a great murder mystery!
The characters were developed well and the storyline was a nice flow throughout the entire book.

4 stars
Thanks NetGalley

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

The train setting was super immersive and reminiscent of Agatha Christie! The siblings seemed to enjoy a good mystery and drew the reader in. It had a strong plotline with the perfect amount of suspense without becoming confusing. It was a very good book.

Sulari Gentill's upcoming novel, Five Found Dead, slated for release on August 19, 2025, is a masterful blend of intrigue, suspense, and literary charm. Set aboard a train journey, the story follows Joe and Meredith as they navigate a series of mysterious deaths, beginning with a passenger's disappearance and escalating to a killing spree that leaves five dead and one still missing. Gentill's sharp, witty prose and intricate plotting make this a must-read for fans of twisty mysteries and books about books.

Gentill's ability to craft complex characters and maintain a gripping narrative ensures that readers are kept on the edge of their seats. The confined setting of the train amplifies the tension, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere where trust is scarce, and danger lurks around every corner. As Joe and Meredith delve deeper into the mystery, they must confront their own fears and biases, leading to a climax that is both unexpected and satisfying.

Five Found Dead is a testament to Gentill's prowess in the mystery genre, offering a fresh take on the classic whodunit with contemporary sensibilities. It's a compelling read that will leave you pondering the nature of truth and deception long after the final page.

I was given the opportunity to read this ARC curtesy of Netgalley.

I quite enjoyed this thriller, it's a murder mystery with a hint of Agatha Christie and the mystique of the Orient Express.

I found this book to be very detailed with every chapter providing multiple twists, turns and suspense.

There was so much going on in each chapter including multiple murders and also a pandemic, it was actually a bit difficult at times to keep track of everything that was going on at all times throughout the book.
However that's not necessarily a bad thing, it means that Sulari Gentill put as much effort into the book as possible.

I'd highly recommend you pick up this book today!

As always, id like to thank Sulari Gentill and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review

This talented author has written a page turner. I like this author’s books. Warning: Do not start reading late at night. You will not want to put this novel down. Written somewhat like Agatha Christie, this story takes place on The a orient Express. Yes…indeed…another whodunit…Poirot is not present, but the cast of characters is intriguing…this is suspenseful…red herrings kept me guessing. I did not want this book to end. Written in a linear timeline with one narrator…likable characters for the most part…murders happening frequently…the glamor of the train excursion…the recipe for a book that is worth reading. I cannot wait for the next story from Gentill. Thanks Netgalley…five plus stars

This was a really fun read! I liked it. I will say there were some parts I did find myself rolling my eyes at and dozing off a few times because the storyline didn’t keep my attention the entire time but that said, I really did enjoy this. I’d definitely read more by this author!

Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill offers an intriguing premise, blending literary charm with a classic murder mystery aboard the iconic Orient Express. Joe Penvale and his twin sister, Meredith, find themselves embroiled in a gripping investigation after witnessing a brutal crime on the train. With a series of twists and turns, the story delivers suspense and keeps readers guessing. However, while the setting and characters are engaging, the pacing felt uneven at times, and the resolution didn't quite live up to the build-up. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read for fans of twisty mysteries but could have used a bit more depth. 3/5 stars.

I couldn’t stop reading and had to finish it all in one day! It was funny and full of mystery. I loved the character development and all the different red herrings along the way!

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Five Found Dead releases August 19, 2025

Best-selling debut author, Joe Penvale, and his twin sister, Meredith, embark on a trip on the Orient Express as a way to celebrate the recovery of his health, and to revive Joe’s creative muse after having not written since his cancer diagnosis.

With the charged energy of being aboard the Orient Express, they can’t help but play into the mystery of it all by speculating about the other passengers and creating their own hypothetical murder outcomes.
But what starts as fun table conversation between dinner companions, soon turns into reality when the cabin neighbouring the Penvale’s is found covered in blood the following morning.

When two stewards and three passengers turn up dead over the course of the day, and it’s revealed that more than a handful of individuals on the train have ties to the known criminal and missing murder victim, it’s anyone’s guess as to who amongst them is a killer.

This was a fresh take on a literary classic, with a well-rounded cast of characters!
I wasn’t expecting covid, quarantined carriages, and border closures with military presence to be a part of the plot, but it seamlessly tied into everything else in a way that made sense.

Five Found Dead is perfect if you like locked room mysteries and books about books.

Gentill loves to write a writer, and this Agatha Christie inspired murder mystery is a fun (train) ride. With five victims and no specific jurisdiction, we get a complicated but exciting investigation following a killing spree. This book is high action, fast-paced, and suspenseful. Gotta love a book about books (and murder).

This book was very boring and all over the place, had it not been for netgalley I wouldnt have finished the book, I do not recommend this book to family and friends and won’t be reading another from this author.

Sulari Gentill's latest is a homage to Agatha Christie and the mystique of the Orient Express. Successful crime writer Joe Penvale, who is recovering from cancer, and his twin sister Meredith are treating themselves to a healing trip on the Orient Express. As soon as they embark the cabin next to theirs is discovered covered in blood but no body can be found. When further murders follow it is up to a special group of passengers to solve the mystery. It's an interesting story with some lighthearted moments, plot twists and, as is Gentill's style, well written.

This book sounded interesting to me because it takes place on the Orient Express. I've never read Murder on the Orient Express so I can't compare it to that book. All opinions were solely based on Five Found Dead.

The book starts out well with the passengers boarding the train. We meet the main characters, Joe and Meredith. They are twins with Joe being a writer, Meredith a lawyer. From there we start meeting the other passengers in time and it began to get really difficult to keep them all sorted out in my mind.

Other than all the characters to keep track of I just found the story kinda boring. I didn't find it to be really mysterious and if I'm being honest I thought it a bit silly at times. I had to roll my eyes at the reveal of one character's birth name and if this wasn't an advanced copy I was reading I would have given up on it.

This sadly wasn't the book I was expecting it to be and one I can't recommend.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

On a train, there are only so many places to hide…

Crime fiction author Joe Penvale has won the most brutal battle of his life. Now that he has finished his intense medical treatment, he and his twin sister, Meredith, are boarding the glorious Orient Express in Paris, hoping for some much-needed rest and rejuvenation. Meredith also hopes that the literary ghosts on the train will nudge Joe's muse awake, and he'll be inspired to write again. And he is; after their first evening spent getting to know some of their fellow travelers, Joe pulls out his laptop and opens a new document. Seems like this trip is just what the doctor ordered…

Sulari Gentill is fast becoming one of my favorite mystery author. This book is absolutely magnificent.

I've read a few novels with this theme where there is a murder on a train and I feel it is a difficult feat to master. I think a casual reader who buys an occasional book to read on holidays would enjoy this. But in my case I read so many books that the books I choose need to really stand out from the crowd.