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funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was very up and down for me - there was a lot of eyerolling early on but gradually got in the groove with it. I think as a writer there were things that annoyed me as it talked about several of the industry issues that rile me 🤣
It's all very meta and interesting, and it did what it said sequels should do for those who haven't read the first book - it made me want to read the first book. So. Well done.
It's all very meta and interesting, and it did what it said sequels should do for those who haven't read the first book - it made me want to read the first book. So. Well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Pedophilia
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Murder
Minor: Rape
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Suicide, Murder
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, funny, and cleverly written whodunnit, look no further. I'd recommend this one along with the previous book, "Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone". They are not sequels in the traditional sense, but I'd recommend reading both for the full experience and to be in on the inside jokes.
I've found myself leaning towards the Mystery genre a lot less in the last few years, but still sometimes find myself in the mood for one. This one definitely quenched my thirst for a silly, fun mystery that still kept me gripped and often unable to predict what was happening. I absolutely love how Benjamin writes our narrator Ernest's voice in an upfront, fun-loving way, with a running commentary on the mystery genre as a whole.
I don’t tend to specifically seek out humour in my books, but when it's done well, it really gets me. Our narrator Ernest has such a fun sense of humour, and the way he breaks the fourth wall makes you feel even more in on the joke as a reader.
Overall, this book was a super fun and mysterious time, which is exactly what it set out to be. I personally preferred this one to the previous book (likely due to my love for Agatha Christie), but would recommend both!
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher Michael Joseph for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Car accident, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson is a fantastic mystery and a worthy follow up to the first book. It has the same fourth-wall breaking charm, frank narrative voice, and sly introduction of clues as the first, with a new setting and cast of characters. I had so much fun following Ernest as he tries to navigate the world of authors and literary festivals, blunders about his personal life, and unravels multiple secrets from the past.
There were some things that I guessed, wondered if I was wrong, and then was vindicated. But that just enhanced my enjoyement of the story. There were also a lot of things I didn't guess, and I loved the whole denoument scene. And it's so fun thinking back to all the "spoilers" in the first chapter and seeing what they mean once you know.
I also really enjoyed the setting and how vivid the Australian countryside is. The bit about opal mining was particularly interesting. I also appreciated that the book has a map of the train, which made it clearer to see where everyone was in specific moments.
This book does deal with some heavy topics. In line with the fourth wall breaking, Ernest lists all the crimes committed in the first chapter.
There were some things that I guessed, wondered if I was wrong, and then was vindicated. But that just enhanced my enjoyement of the story. There were also a lot of things I didn't guess, and I loved the whole denoument scene. And it's so fun thinking back to all the "spoilers" in the first chapter and seeing what they mean once you know.
I also really enjoyed the setting and how vivid the Australian countryside is. The bit about opal mining was particularly interesting. I also appreciated that the book has a map of the train, which made it clearer to see where everyone was in specific moments.
This book does deal with some heavy topics. In line with the fourth wall breaking, Ernest lists all the crimes committed in the first chapter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Vomit, Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Car accident
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A beautiful cocktail pairing to Brian Johnson's Knives Out with a few extra shots of classis Aussie wit. Stevenson played with the tropes of the mystery and whodunnit genre and had fun doing it. This was an easy page-turner and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual harassment
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A very good sequel. I love this writing style and it was fun to have something that builds but feels different. I will say having the reveal rely on a mystery identity again is maybe pushing it. I think it was fun but I hope it branches out more when the series continues.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, Stalking, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment