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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Classic setting of the Orient Express, people boarding during the pandemic, everyone having their own secrets and motivations for being on board. What could go wrong? As the reader can ascertain from the title of the book, 5 are found dead. It's a really interesting classic mystery told in a modern setting. Who is killing these people? Who is next? Why?
We get to read this story from the first person perspective of Meredith Penvale who boards the train on a celebratory adventure with her brother Joe, who has recently completed cancer treatments. He is a mystery writer so she thought this would be the perfect trip to get his creative juices flowing again and take a much needed breather. We meet many characters along the way and get fully invested in their secrets while trying to solve murders.
I really enjoyed this book! It's definitely got a different twist on it than typical mysteries I've read. It provides a bit of nostalgia as well as some great "whodunit."
We get to read this story from the first person perspective of Meredith Penvale who boards the train on a celebratory adventure with her brother Joe, who has recently completed cancer treatments. He is a mystery writer so she thought this would be the perfect trip to get his creative juices flowing again and take a much needed breather. We meet many characters along the way and get fully invested in their secrets while trying to solve murders.
I really enjoyed this book! It's definitely got a different twist on it than typical mysteries I've read. It provides a bit of nostalgia as well as some great "whodunit."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Release date: 19 August 2025
It began, as all good mysteries do, aboard a train…
Joe Penvale and his twin sister Meredith set out on the storied Orient Express for a journey of rest and recovery—Joe, a crime fiction author in remission, and Meredith, ever the hopeful twin, eager for inspiration to strike once more. But as snow falls and wheels turn, fiction becomes fact, and blood is discovered where only words should have been. No body, just red-stained sheets. And so begins the mystery of Cabin 16G…
The scene is set for a classic locked-room whodunnit, the cast assembled like suspects in a parlour: former law enforcement officers, travellers with secrets, and a killer who’s always one step ahead. As the death toll rises—five found dead, one still missing—the question lingers: who among them is capable of murder?
This is the second novel I’ve read by Sulari Gentill (the first being The Woman in the Library), and once again, the premise is enticing: literary nods, a moody train setting, and a deliciously Christie-esque setup. And yet, for all its potential, the execution didn’t quite reach the heights I hoped for. The pacing lagged at times, the plot veered into the implausible, and some characters fell into nationalistic stereotypes that felt more outdated than artful.
Still, I appreciated the homage to classic crime fiction, and the sense of atmosphere aboard the Orient Express was palpable. There is something irresistible about a train, a mystery, and the ticking clock of arriving at your final destination.
Murder may be timeless, but sometimes, even the best intentions miss their stop.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
It began, as all good mysteries do, aboard a train…
Joe Penvale and his twin sister Meredith set out on the storied Orient Express for a journey of rest and recovery—Joe, a crime fiction author in remission, and Meredith, ever the hopeful twin, eager for inspiration to strike once more. But as snow falls and wheels turn, fiction becomes fact, and blood is discovered where only words should have been. No body, just red-stained sheets. And so begins the mystery of Cabin 16G…
The scene is set for a classic locked-room whodunnit, the cast assembled like suspects in a parlour: former law enforcement officers, travellers with secrets, and a killer who’s always one step ahead. As the death toll rises—five found dead, one still missing—the question lingers: who among them is capable of murder?
This is the second novel I’ve read by Sulari Gentill (the first being The Woman in the Library), and once again, the premise is enticing: literary nods, a moody train setting, and a deliciously Christie-esque setup. And yet, for all its potential, the execution didn’t quite reach the heights I hoped for. The pacing lagged at times, the plot veered into the implausible, and some characters fell into nationalistic stereotypes that felt more outdated than artful.
Still, I appreciated the homage to classic crime fiction, and the sense of atmosphere aboard the Orient Express was palpable. There is something irresistible about a train, a mystery, and the ticking clock of arriving at your final destination.
Murder may be timeless, but sometimes, even the best intentions miss their stop.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
slow-paced
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
Crime fiction writer Joe Penvale triumphed over the toughest challenge of his life. After completing a rigorous medical treatment, he and his twin sister, Meredith, are stepping aboard the magnificent Orient Express in Paris, eager for some well-deserved relaxation and renewal. Meredith also hopes that the literary spirits aboard the train will inspire Joe to tap into his creativity once more. To her delight, after an enjoyable first evening mingling with fellow passengers, Joe retrieves his laptop and begins a new writing project. It appears this journey is just what he needed.
However, their adventure takes a dark turn the following morning when Joe and Meredith are stunned to discover that the cabin next door has turned into a crime scene, drenched in blood yet devoid of a body. They quickly find themselves entangled in a murder mystery reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s tales. With no assistance from the police and the victim still unaccounted for, they are invited to collaborate with a group of fellow travelers who have law enforcement experience to investigate the puzzling disappearance of the occupant of Cabin 16G. The situation escalates when the steward assigned to the crime scene is murdered, triggering a series of killings that leaves five dead and one still missing.
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
Five Found Dead presents an intriguing, locked room mystery aboard the Orient Express. It had a vivid atmosphere and setting that were easy to visualize. However, I found the beginning somewhat sluggish, which made it a bit challenging to fully engage at first. I occasionally felt confused, particularly when trying to remember all the characters and their names—having a character list at the start would have been beneficial! Once the story gained momentum, it became much more engaging. Overall, it was a decent read.
Thank you to @NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to review this ARC.
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
[NetGalley Read #27]
4.25 ⭐️
"What do you think, Joe?"
"I don't know, Meri. They all have their points." He leans close. "I do wonder why there are so many bloody cops and spies on board."
Very good. Thoughtful. A good mix of Christie and Hitchcock and elements of both classic and modern detective fiction with two solid main characters in the middle of it all, grappling with their own struggles ("I think the answer is that I'm not sure who I am, but I'm trying my best to find out."). You have your classic twists and turns, the red herrings, colorful characters and a setting that is iconic in crime fiction.
Recommended. 👍
Characters
- The main brother-sister duo is delightful. Charming. Fully formed characters that exist even beyond the scope of a murder mystery.
- Having that many detectives, private investigators, and people from law enforcement on the train was unexpected but it made sense, not just in a 'people in these professions are attracted to the Orient Express'. It also made sense from a plot point of view. So, well done on that.
Story
- The title alone makes you go from chapter to chapter 'Ok. That's one. That's three.' You are waiting and counting and dreading for the five to be found dead each chapter.
Setting
- Setting the story in one of the most famous trains in detective fiction, while not new or novel, works really well.
Themes
- Old stories being a character in the new stories and references to (and the concept of) Christie's people wanting to keep things civil and Hitchcock's people thinking we need more action are quite interesting.
- The fear of mortality. The fragility of our lives and the effects it has on the people we love. Loved ones putting their lives on hold to help one person through their struggle. All of these themes are explored, emotions conveyed, amidst all the murder and mayhem, through Meredith and Joe. There are some really good, thoughtful, well written passages in this book (which, after reading the Acknowledgements section at the end, I assume, are based on some of the writer's personal experiences).
Plot/Logline:
- 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…
And then some. The next morning, Joe and Meredith are shocked to witness that the cabin next door has become a crime scene, bathed in blood but with no body in sight. The pair soon find themselves caught up in an Agatha Christie-esque murder investigation. Without any help from the authorities, and with the victim still not found, Joe and Meredith are asked to join a group of fellow passengers with law enforcement backgrounds to look into the mysterious disappearance of the man in Cabin16G. But when the steward guarding the crime scene is murdered, it marks the beginning of a killing spree which leaves five found dead—and one still missing. Now Joe and Meredith must fight once again to preserve their newfound future and to catch a cunning killer before they reach the end of the line.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
My 6P review: Premise, Plot, People, Place, Prose/Pace, Praise
A modern day Murder on the Orient Express.
This was a quirky modern take on the timeless classic. A classic locked room mystery. I actually quite liked it.
The setting and description was wonderful and complimented the story.
Most of the characters were great. Some of them did fall a little flat and there really were a lot of them. I’m also not entirely sure I would be able to describe them either.
I liked Joe and Meredith’s relationship with each other.
The story was easy to follow and simply written.
Some of the story was so unbelievable it was utter nonsense and the gunshot scene was so out there but I didn’t seem to mind that either.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
Score = 99/150=0.66
3⭐️
A modern day Murder on the Orient Express.
This was a quirky modern take on the timeless classic. A classic locked room mystery. I actually quite liked it.
The setting and description was wonderful and complimented the story.
Most of the characters were great. Some of them did fall a little flat and there really were a lot of them. I’m also not entirely sure I would be able to describe them either.
I liked Joe and Meredith’s relationship with each other.
The story was easy to follow and simply written.
Some of the story was so unbelievable it was utter nonsense and the gunshot scene was so out there but I didn’t seem to mind that either.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
Score = 99/150=0.66
3⭐️
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3 stars. Got this as an ARC from Netgalley. It has some 13 characters named early on, a lot of French (ok on Kindle to translate but still a pain) and the names have no flow. As a result of so many characters plus their nicknames, it was hard to follow especially in the first 60%. I nearly DNF'd as a result of this. I'm happy I didn't as it was good once I finally was able to lock in, but it was somehow too much and too little all at once. A locked in murder mystery on the Orient Express infamous train with a lot of references to Hitchcock and Agatha Christie. It simply felt a bit like overkill or a remake of a Christie novel.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Present day. Joe (novelist) and Meredith (lawyer) are adult twins from Australia enjoying a celebratory trip on the famous Orient Express following Joe's completion of cancer treatment. All seems like a fun lark with some of the passengers presenting as the characters in the old Agatha Christie book. Until the first murder scene is found in a locked compartment that seems to be awash in blood but without a corpse. The inquisitive Penvale siblings apply their senses of observation and logic to the investigation headed by several real law enforcement passengers. The next murders are equally confusing, but at least the bodies are present. Complicating things is the presence of a couple who seem to have come down with the newest iteration of the Covid virus, thereby requiring quarantine. Good story with many twists and peppered with tongue-in-cheek sly humor. Loved it!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected e-book file from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley.Avail Aug 19, 2025
#FiveFoundDead by @sularigentill @poisonedpenpress #lockedroommystery @orientexpress #closedcirclemysteries #Cozymystery #twins #witty #chemorecovery #suspense #funcharacters @the.storygraph @goodreads @bookbub #murders @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble #nonagenarian ***** Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org #library #unputdownable @bookshop_org_uk #quarantine #contagion #improbablefun #postcancertx
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected e-book file from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley.Avail Aug 19, 2025
#FiveFoundDead by @sularigentill @poisonedpenpress #lockedroommystery @orientexpress #closedcirclemysteries #Cozymystery #twins #witty #chemorecovery #suspense #funcharacters @the.storygraph @goodreads @bookbub #murders @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble #nonagenarian ***** Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org #library #unputdownable @bookshop_org_uk #quarantine #contagion #improbablefun #postcancertx
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious