A review by anas27
Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill

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

4.25

[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.