As the title suggests, Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict is a modern take on Agatha Christie’s novel, Murder on the Orient Express…sorta. A group of passengers are on a train on Christmas Eve when the train derails. As they wait for help, a body is found in a sleeping compartment locked from the inside. Then another. It is frighteningly clear to the remaining passengers that there is a murderer among them who seems determined to pick them off one by one and help is still a long way away.

When I started this novel, I expected a nice Christmas cozy with all the trimmings but this is definitely not that. First, the only connection to Christmas is the time of year but it hardly factors into the story. Second, it was a long and sometimes draggy ride to the first murder which doesn’t occur until about a third of the way into the story. And there is nothing cozy here. This is a very dark tale with several references to rape, sexual, emotional and physical assaults as well as descriptions of a high risk pregnancy.

Having said that, although I can't say I enjoyed this book, I didn't hate it either. It is well-written and compelling. It kept me guessing right up to the ending which seemed an appropriate homage to the original story.

I received an arc of this book from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review

***spoiler and trigger warning***

To get this right out of the way, there are multiple graphic retellings of sexual assault in this book. If that is not your thing, I totally get it. It was pretty hard to read at points. There are effective moments of community among SA survivors in the story, but it was jarring in what I had expected to be a lighter Christmas puzzle.

To be honest, that really colored the rest of my experience of the book. It was hard to look out for anagrams and Kate Bush song titles while I was wading through multiple traumatic incidents. It seemed to diminish the pain of the victims. It's a shame, because I really enjoyed the puzzle elements of Benedict's last Christmas outing, The Christmas Murder Game. It can seem contradictory that these particular plot points bother me when I don't bat an eye at the actual murders in the books, but murders in books are often so over the top and ridiculous it's easier to keep it in the realm of fiction. SA, on the other hand, is so prevalent that including it as a plot point in a puzzle book seems in poor taste.

For full disclosure, I received a free digital copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review. With that being said, let's dig into Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict:

Despite reading this book in the summertime, this was a delightful wintry mystery! While I was woefully lacking in understanding some English Christmas customs (the song referenced, for example), it did not at all deter me from enjoying this book. It's very of the Agatha Christie spirit, which is exactly as it's intended to be. A death occurs on a train, and our investigator is on the case! The plot has the usual twists, turns, subtle hints, and surprising solution one would expect from a novel in the genre. I loved being able to get glimpses into the personal life of the investigator as well, through some flashbacks, phone calls, and inner thoughts. In the end, which I won't spoil, you are hoping for the investigator to do exactly as she does, or at least I was!

The setting of the book was not too small to tell a large, well-connected story. The pacing of the plot itself was great, and kept me hooked from page to page. I kept interrupting my partner's nap with my out-loud musings and reactions, and he was almost as invested as I was from my verbal summary of the story at each point I recounted it to him. While the inspector is, presumably, retired, there seems to be some hope for more stories to come from Benedict that involve the inspector, and I for one would love to get my hands on those in the future.

Another important thing about the book that I wish to highlight is the inclusivity in the characters. People simply are who they are, and, minus one small conversation (because the character inciting it is sort of rude in general), nobody bats an eyelash. It's wonderful to have people of all sorts in a story, so that readers can see themselves in the written works they consume, and this novel does that exceptionally well, along with everything else.

If you love Agatha Christie, murder mysteries in general, stories set on trains, or trying to figure out the final reveal _before_ it's revealed to you (and I'm almost certain that you won't, here), this book is definitely worth checking out!

Trigger warning: This book mentions sexual assault a lot during the last act of the book.

This was a fairly uneventful read, considering what it’s about. It felt kind of.. anti-climactic.

I really enjoyed the multiple POVs throughout the book. I also found the characters likeable - with as much as we know about them. There were only two characters who I absolutely despised and the author did a great job at that!

I liked this book, but the only fairly exciting part was from the third act on. As the reader, you know about the murderer being onboard and it still took a long time for it to happen. But overall, it wasn’t a bad read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the author, Alexandra Benedict, for providing this book for my honest review. I read Alexandra Benedict’s previous mystery and was excited to read this one as well. This book is a nod to Agatha Christie, but with perhaps a bit darker and heavier topics. There will be triggers for some readers, so please be aware to do research on trigger warnings. I didn’t mind the heavier topics but I also wouldn’t categorize this as a cozy mystery because of them. That all being said this is just as enjoyable overall as her previous book. If you enjoyed the built in puzzles in her previous book you will be delighted with all of the quizzes and anagrams throughout this one as well. I love that puzzles are included! It such a unique addition! I look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you again for providing this book for my review.

I love this take on the Christie classic. I was absolutely thrilling. I couldn't stop reading it. So good. I loved it! It actually made me feel as if I was in Scotland it was so atmospheric and descriptive. Perfect book for a cool night.
I just reviewed Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict. #NetGalley
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Thank you Net Galley for providing this book and allowing me to read it in advance. I was unable to personally get into this book but that is the power of reading. There’s books for everyone. I know someone else will adore it!

Recently retired Met detective Roz Parker is traveling from London to the Scottish Highlands to visit her daughter, Heather, who is soon to give birth to Roz's first grandchild. Their mother-daughter relationship is fraught, and Roz is anxious to make up for past mistakes. Roz's fellow passengers on this sleeper train are memorable to say the least: two social media influencers whose relationship is on the rocks; a group of university students preparing for a quiz show; and a murderer, who narrates select chapters throughout. Then the train derails in a snowstorm and one of the passengers is found dead, inside her locked compartment. Benedict excels at depicting complex characters, building suspense, and adding satisfying twists at the reveal. With imbedded anagrams, quizzes, and a recipe for Christmas Tablet, this is a treat not to be missed.

In the early hours of Christmas Eve, the sleeper train from London to the Highlands derails, along with the festive plans of its travelers. With the train buried in snow in the middle of nowhere, the passengers have only each other, and not all of them will reach their holiday celebrations. As a killer tries to pick passengers off one by one, former Met Detective Roz Parker can't resist one last investigation, but murder in a locked room is a formidable puzzle for even the most seasoned investigator. As accusations begin to fly, the group of travelers fractures and unexpected alliances form. Can Roz find the culprit before anyone else is lost?

Don't let the cosy cover draw you in for a comforting read in front of the fire. In a surprisingly dark Christmas read, we meet Roz, on her way to Scotland for the birth of her first child. We spend a good chunk of the book getting to meet all of the characters in a very GA murder-on-the-train read, however it did feel like it wasn't enough. I felt that there has been a little too much focus on the side story of Roz's life and that it didn't really add anything necessary to the plot. Don't get me wrong, this read was still enjoyable, I just never would include it in a Christmas time format. Please check warnings on this one - it is incredibly heavy and does have some vivid SA themes.

3.5 Stars rounded down: Murder on the Christmas Express is a locked room mystery with shades of Murder on the Orient Express. It is December 23rd and everyone is trying to get home for Christmas. Roz Parker is a recently retired Detective and is heading home to the Scottish Highlands for the birth of her granddaughter. There is a winter storm blowing and many trains have been canceled. Roz's train is still running, but with a tree on the tracks, a derailment and now a couple of murders, it seems unlikely she will make it. Can Roz help solve the murders so they can get back on their way once the tree is removed.

Murder on the Christmas Express was originally published a year ago, but is being reissued by Poison Pen Publishing. I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I had hoped. It is not a simple murder mystery, but has a lot of heavy issues within it's pages. It seemed like it was trying to do too much. There are several characters including a group of University students vying for a quiz team, a couple of social influencers, a somewhat dysfunctional family, a mother and son, a stowaway, a prosecutor and the train staff. Most of the characters are unlikable and by the time the book was finished, I had had enough of many of them. Roz has a lot of issues in her life. With her daughter going into premature labor, her new grandchild in trouble and flashbacks to her own trauma, I was surprised she was able to solve the case. This book deals with rape, domestic abuse, bullying and more, which I was not expecting at all. It does not have graphic descriptions, though. I did keep reading trying to figure out who the killer was and when the the third death occurred, I had no idea of the culprit. There are a lot of suspects and motives come out along the way, but the final reveal surprised me. Overall, this was an interesting mystery, but is is a lot heavier than you would think from the blurb. If rape and/or abuse triggers you, I suggest you steer clear of this one.

Snow for Christmas is not lovely when it is a blizzard and transportation grinds to a halt just as people are rushing to join family for the holiday. Recently retired detective, Roz, has just made it onto one of the last trains heading to Scotland. She is anxious to be with her pregnant daughter who has gone into early labor. Joining her on this sleeper train are 2 social media darlings, a professor and his family, a set of college quiz kids, and a few others. The snow continues, a tree comes down and the train is stranded. Oh, and someone has just been murdered. Shades of The Orient Express! Roz may have one last case to solve.
This isn't a cozy Christmas mystery. It deals with issues of abuse, abuse survivors and social media overload.
This is a review of an eGalley provided by NetGalley.

As a huge fan of both Christmas and trains, I had to read this book! It has lots of Christie vibes and references Murder on the Orient Express. This follows a similar format but the "investigator" has some pressing personal issues that add to the tension in the story. It was a bit darker than I expected it to be but it's not tagged as a cozy mystery so that's not surprising. You'll be guessing who-dun-it to the very end, if you're like me!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Murder on the Christmas Express was fun “locked room” mystery, reminiscent of Murder on the Orient Express. Who is killing those aboard? Only time will tell….

I didn't realise, when I started this book, that I'd read another one by the same author. As soon as I read about the end quiz, the anagrams and the hidden songs, then I knew that I'd read another.
The book does appear to be a traditional or classic mystery, but it deals with quite a few quite confronting issues. They are all linked, in one way or another to the murder and we learn more about our detective character's life as well as the story unfolds.
I've always liked the idea of taking the night sleeper train up to Scotland from London. I'm not sure that I'd want to go on this particular journey with its murder, accidents and terrible weather. Even so, there's something just really appealing about an overnight train journey like this.
I didn't completely solve this one before the end, although I had got quite a bit of it figured out. This is definitely a puzzle-type mystery and with its hidden puzzles and fun, in more than one way.
I really enjoyed Murder on the Christmas Express and I'd love to read any more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Christmas in July #3 🌲

This tried very hard to be Murder on the Orient Express. Between the Scottishisms, birth subplot, and glaring red herrings, the meat of the story was lost. As an aside, I am very much what the far right would call "woke," but even I cringed at the tossed in bits of diversity in a nearly all white cast.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

It’s the holiday season and all former Met Detective Roz Parker wants to do is make it to her daughter’s in time for Christmas (and hopefully not miss the birth of her first grandchild!).

Roz is lucky to get a spot on the sleeper car amidst all the cancellations, right? Too bad about the train getting stuck in the snow, though.

At least her passengers are a nice group, no? Well…there may be a killer in their midst.

This was an absolute fun read! The characters are developed to make this feel like a cozy mystery but alternating POVs with the killer keep the pace of the story tense. The icing on the cake is Benedict’s hiding of puzzles for the reader throughout the book (did I mention I love puzzles?).

Murder on the Christmas Express releases on October 3, 2023 and is a great read to prep for the holi

Roz, a retired London cop, is taking the sleeper train, just before Christmas. She is travelling to the Highlands to be with her almost-due pregnant daughter. While in the waiting lounge and on the train, she meets her fellow passengers – a social media influencer and her partner, a group of teen quiz-enthusiasts, a couple with four children…quite a colourful bunch. As the title hints, one of the passengers is found dead on Christmas Eve. The train is stranded in the middle of nowhere. Although worried sick about her daughter who has gone into labour, Roz has to investigate and find the killer.

This book could have been so much more! But alas, it wasn’t meant to be. First off, the cover, title and the blurb of the book are very misleading. This is, by no means, a cosy read. It does try to be, but it’s not. Roz was raped when she was young and is still grappling with the trauma, and this is thrown at you right in the beginning. It comes as a shock, honestly. And then, there are instances of physical abuse, domestic violence, graphic mentions of rape, and pregnancy horrors.

The characters aren’t memorable or particularly likeable; I found it difficult to remember who was who. There’s way too much introducing and setting up and the death doesn’t happen until around the halfway mark. There were some unnecessarily complicated sentences that sort of ruin the reading experience.

Coming to what I liked: being a murder mystery, it kept me interested and guessing. While it’s not easy reading about rape and abuse in a book that’s meant to be a cosy read, it is something that needs to be written about. Just not like this, maybe. The book also talks a bit about the difficulties of motherhood, which is rare. It’s not badly written but could have done with some more thoughtfulness.

2.5/5

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC.

Small Business BookTok ARC Reviews: “Murder on the Christmas Express" by Alexandra Benedict

Note: This ARC was given to me for free by the author and I am reviewing this book voluntarily.

Roz Parker is trying to make it home for the holidays, but things aren’t beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Her daughter is about to give birth and she’s fearful of not being there for her daughter’s delivery. She’s consumed with fear of not doing enough as a mother, grieving over the death of her mother, and is still haunted by the trauma of her assault. The train she boards is surrounded by families and couples, each hiding dark secrets and pasts of their own. When the train gets derailed and one of the passengers, a famous content creator, is found dead in her train car, it’s up to Roz to solve the case of this mysterious death! Will she solve the murder and make it home in time to see her daughter and grandchild?

This book isn’t a cozy Christmas read…It subverts expectations in the best way! This book not only pays homage to “Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie, but its a murder mystery with thought-provoking commentary on a serious issue that needs to constantly be addressed. Rape and domestic violence is still a serious issue in today’s climate. No matter the gender of the victim, if someone is suffering from abuse or has been raped, it’s important that the victim is given the proper support, protection, and justice needed to help them overcome their situation.

This book is telling survivors of rape and abuse that they are not alone, that they are not weak and that they can find the strength to overcome their experience with the right support group and accommodations. It’s not easy to speak up and pain won’t go away immediately, but the author assures readers who have been through these experiences that, with time, justice will be served and they will find peace.

Roz was an excellent protagonist to follow! As a mother and a former officer who was a victim of rape in her past, she utilizes her experience and her past work as an officer to not only take on the murder case, but she uses her position to do what she can to protect victims of rape and abuse. Instead of letting her past extinguish her, she comes out of her experience as a protector and caregiver who does all she can to make sure that the experiences she's been through doesn't happen to anyone else.

This book not only had important commentary and an empowering heroine, but the book also came with trivia and quiz games once you've reached the end of the book. This is probably the first murder mystery book I've read that made me think "Wow, I came out of this book learning a ton of fascinating new facts today"! If you're looking for a book that pays homage to Agatha Christie while shedding light on a serious topic in a powerful, thought-provoking, and respectful manner, don't miss this book when it hits online shelves on October 3rd, 2023!

Rating: 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

- Tropes to Expect: Whodunnit, Murder on a Train, Second Chance, Christmas Narrative,

- Trigger Warnings: Discussions of Sexual Assault, Domestic Abuse, Premature Birth, Birthing Complications, and Generational Trauma!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read and review this book.

Roz, a recently retired Detective Inspector in London, is trying to get to Scotland for the birth of her grandchild. She is taking the overnight train and the weather is not cooperating. She joins a cast of odd train mates, trying to celebrate Christmas and getting where they want to be. We find out right away that there will be a murder at some point, so that sets the scene. As Roz is forced to investigate, she is also concerned over her daughter’s health as she gives birth. When the train stops mid-trip, Roz and the train staff have to investigate and keep the passengers happy.

There were some surprises in the plot and several twists, but should the reader be left wondering if everything was handled in the right way?

BEWARE: Wolf in sheep’s clothing.

I say this in a somewhat jesting way, but I mean this warning with seriousness. What is presented here in the title, the cover art, and the publisher’s summary is a fun holiday mystery. In actuality, this is a very upsetting book about the devastating effects of sexual assault and rape on survivors and includes multiple graphic and unsettling first person accounts of rape, as well as a lot of horror show pregnancy and delivery content as well that I would absolutely not recommend reading while pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant.

Did you expect any of that having read the publisher’s summary. Yeah, I didn’t think so. And that is a HUGE problem.

I cannot even begin to explain how frustrating it is and how negatively it impacts my feelings about a book when the publisher presents is as something it isn’t. And in this case it’s worse than just misleading the reader, it’s dressing content that is very upsetting to a segment of readers up in a cute Christmas outfit. Which is gross and irresponsible marketing.

And it’s a shame, because the story itself really isn’t bad. It just has nothing to do with Christmas, reads nothing like the summary implies it will in tone, content, or theme, and has the potential to be a nasty surprise for readers who are sensitive to this type of material.

It isn’t a bad thing at all to write a book like this. I actually think it can be good if the writer handles the material appropriately (for the most part, Benedict did). But to mislead readers about the style and content of a book like this is really, really not okay. It makes me very unlikely to review, recommend, or purchase from this publisher in the future.