I think the description of this book as an homage to Agatha Christie puts an expectation on this book that doesn’t necessarily pan out. I myself have only read a couple of AC books, but it made me think I was getting into a murder mystery, or something like Knives Out. I don’t think it does the book justice.

On its own merits, the book was good. I didn’t love it, I got very bored and found myself skimming pages during the historical fiction flashbacks with Genevra and Ansel. I WAS very interested in the modern day plot, although the characters themselves (except Gabriele and Chiara!) weren’t very likeable. It was a story of everyone having a secret, and stressing out during their chapters that someone else was going to find out the secret. And then poor Rory…just stumbling about trying to be strong but really just a bumbling insecure mess.
The ending was the best part, I really enjoyed the “twist” and resolution!

In another note, I really like the cover, and like her previous book The Chateau, I think the description of the setting to be wonderful.

Thanks to Jaclyn Goldis, Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

While this one had a lot more drama than I was anticipating, I still ate it up! If you've read the authors previous novel then you won't want to miss this one either.

This is a good thriller to read will many twists and lies all aboard a train. I like unlikeable characters and this book had many. This is a great book for spring or summer and I really enjoyed this book.

4.5⭐️

For each of her novels, reclusive, best-selling mystery author Ginevra Ex hires a real person to interview extensively and put into her book. She meets with her main characters friends and family to learn as much about them as she can before fictionalizing them and putting them in her books. Each of the main characters have been highly compensated throughout the year, but her current main character, Rory has gotten the best bonus of them all: a trip on the newly renovated Orient Express.

But when Rory gets on the train she realizes this isn't just a casual ride that Ginevra has sent her on. For one, she finds that her brother, best friend and ex-fiancé are all on the train as well, all sent by the author. And with each stop on the trip, it becomes clear to Rory that Ginevra knows everyone's secrets and isn't willing to keep them.

I really enjoyed this! I loved the thought of taking a real person and fictionalizing their real life to fit into a story. Each of the characters featured in this were well thought out with their own flaws that really advanced the story. I liked the way that the relationships between each of these characters really raised the stakes for the conflict throughout the book and that there were connections that weren't really expected throughout. This was also a good study in just because you have a part of the story doesn't mean you can jump to conclusions about what really happened.

The pace was fun and really helped buildup the story. I liked the background story of Rory's father, his escape from the Soviets, and his later Alzheimer diagnosis that really pushes Rory and her brother to succeed. I feel like there was a bit at the end of the train ride where the story got a bit convoluted and wild and that's all that kept this from being a five star read for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for providing this ARC to me!

Rory is given an opportunity. Not only is the going to be the base of Ginevra Ex's next book, she also receives the chance to ride the Orient Express, a luxury train going through the Mediterranean. Once on board, Rory is shocked. She knew Ginevra is was going to dig into her life to create her main character but she had no idea how far she'd go. Now facing people from her life, she's told they are all harboring secrets. Ginevra's approach to writing is very different but what kind of plot is she really writing. Rory must get to the bottomo of the web of lies before a murder or a few arise on the opulent train.

I really loved the premise of this book, however I'm finding I don't mesh well with the writing style. I'm a huge mood reader and this didn't do it at this time. The pacing is a slow and then it goes on a train wreck down hill slide. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy. This one just wasn't for me.

A best-selling author writes in a very unique way. She hires real people, investigates and interviews them, and then writes a fictional account for her books. It is a very odd but very successful process. Her newest "main character" is Rory, who has completed all interviews and has been rewarded with an extravagant trip on the newly renovated Orient Express. She is surprised to find her brother, her BFF, and her ex are also on the train. Truths are revealed throughout the trip, with chapters from different characters POVs and different timeframes. The story drags a bit before getting to the end, where I almost didn't care about the big reveals. I can only give a mild recommendation to this book. Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing an ARC.

This is one of those books I wanted to love based off the synopsis, but it didn’t live up to the expectations I had for it. My main thing was that it took me so long to get in to the story, and by the time things picked up, the book was almost over.

I really enjoyed the first book by Jaclyn Goldis and had high hopes for this one. It took me awhile to get through this book mainly because it was hard for me to connect with the characters. The premise was promising, I mean who doesn't want to be taken along on a train ride through the beautiful setting of Italy's coast. Unfortunately, the book was more character driven and left me wanting for more description of the setting. The plot was unique and enjoyable but a little slower paced. I am not a fan of character driven stories and I think that's why I didn't rate this one higher. If you enjoy mysteries with character driven plots this is the one for you. I still look forward to reading future books by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

All aboard! The train will soon be leaving the station and what a wild ride it promises to be!

Ginevra X is an aging, best-selling mystery writer who uses real people and their backstories to develop the characters in her novels. With her newest novel soon to publish, she arranges a luxurious, all-expense paid Italian journey on the Orient Express for her newest main character, Rory. However, when Rory boards the train, she finds her brother, her best friend and her ex-fiancé are passengers as well,.. and all funded by Ginevra. Is the author's generous gift simply a kind-hearted gesture or does she have an ulterior motive.

Told from the POV of all of the characters, this deeply layered, page-turner is full of twists and turns and set against the picturesque backdrop of the Italian coast.

This was a great read! But it's gonna be an IMPOSSIBLE book to review without spoilers, since basically everything is a clue or a hint or foreshadowing. I love the setting, blending a retro-mystery luxury train with modern tech bro/health startup secrets and modern-day immigrant secrets. The relationships are believably complicated and mystery-novel dramatic. So good.

This book was to pay homage to one of the all time greats Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express”. Unfortunately it fell short, the characters felt unbelievable and the story too long. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The Main Character is a modern twist on the classic Agatha Christie novel Murder on the Orient Express. Needless to say, the setting for this book was picture perfect. I loved the lux description of the train cars and exotic locations. Goldis did a great job with her character development, adding in the perfect amount of family drama. With one final twist at the end for good measure, The Main Character had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. A must read for 2024!

Ginevra X is an extremely successful author with a unique technique. The main character of each of her mysteries is based on a real person whose life has elements that inspire Ginevra. With her subject’s cooperation Ginevra conducts intense interviews and delves deeply into their life to gather the background and scenarios for her book. She intends for her next book to be spectacular. She has selected Rory Aronov, an LA newscaster whose career and love life has just blown up for this book. Rory agrees to be the main character and allows Ginevra to delve deeply into her life. As a bonus at the end of the process Ginevra sends Rory, her brother, best friend and ex on a luxurious Orient Express excursion along the Italian coast. At this point things get tricky. There are secrets, things are not what they seem - not only with Rory and her crew but Ginevra may have much more than an author’s interest in these four.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eGalley of this title.

A delicious Agatha Christie type story, this was such a fun mystery, full of twists and turn, with messy and flawed characters.

A clever and turbulent story, paced largely by: an achingly slow character-driven build; a plot-driven puzzle that surfaces early, is tweaked and dangled and kept alive with tiny tantalizingly hidden clues (very much solvable, if the reader sticks with it); and a supremely chaotic, crazily consistent ending.

Our story is narrated by Ginevra, our main character, and interestingly, the only narrator, (of the five in this multi-POV book), who tells her tale in an arms-length, third-person voice. Ginevra is a fascinating enigma of a woman - a fabulously rich and successful Italian author, somewhat mysterious and reclusive, with an eccentric appearance, being short, a caftan enthusiast, and favoring Sophie Loren-style eyeliner, pancake makeup and purple-red hair.

Ginevra’s tried-and-proven formula is to base her murder-mystery stories on the real-life foibles and formative experiences of a “main character” who is in fact a live person (with a licensing contract in place) - allowing Ginevra to weave tales of observed passion and angst without exposing her own personal hidden truths.

As Ginevra spins her literary web around her new main character, Rory, a thirty-three year old former news anchor, bruised and battered both professionally and romantically, Ginevra’s incredibly intrusive prying extends to those nearest and dearest to Rory, including: the beautiful Caroline (Rory’s best friend); Max (Rory’s science-nerd turned hi-tech-CEO brother); and Nate (Rory’s ex-fiancé, he of the “soft blond curls and almond brown eyes“).

The plot, (Ginerva’s, as well as our author’s) now staged, unfolds theatrically, manipulated by Ginevra, as she arranges for her characters to experience an all-expense paid luxury train excursion on the extravagantly revamped Agatha Christie-esque Orient Express, a once-in-a-lifetime journey through the gorgeous western Italian coastline.

As secrets hinted at begin to wreak havoc, it will take a final flash of ingenuity to predict, and resolve, the who, what, when and why, as murder is dramatically freed from the pages (and stories, within the stories, are revealed and enacted).

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

I’ve seen this compared to Agatha Christie but I’ve also seen another review say that the only similarities are that they’re on a train and there’s a murder and I have to agree. The only thing I would add is that each character does have their own motive and secrets but I don’t feel it was as complex. There are a few other nods to Christie but that’s about it. The entire plot is pretty straightforward but we’re following the characters and multiple POVs so it takes a while to get to the meat of the story. It’s very character driven and all the characters are well thought out, some more interesting than others. The ending really saved this book. There was a last minute plot twist that I did not see coming. It was really heartbreaking too. I understand that all of the character backstory and buildup was needed to really feel the gut punch of the twist but you can’t tell that when you’re reading it. Overall it was an interesting idea but I just feel like it took too long to get there

"The Main Character" is definitely a suspense thriller but at its core it's a family-driven drama, which is set on the picturesque Italian coastline. The story unfolds with a unique twist, adding a whimsical touch to the story.

Amidst the stunning backdrop, the plot revolves around Ginevra, a renowned author, who hires Rory, a talented writer, to fictionalize her life story. This decision sets in motion a series of events that take the characters on a luxurious trip aboard the legendary Orient Express.

As the journey progresses, the story takes an unexpected turn, with shocking secrets and hidden truths gradually coming to light. The modern-day Orient Express adds an element of mystery and intrigue, which kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters, for the most part, are portrayed as unlikeable, with their flaws and complexities laid bare. However, Ginevra and Ansel stand out as the exceptions, capturing my heart with their relatable and endearing personalities.

The setting in Italy serves as a captivating backdrop, with its exotic charm and breathtaking landscapes. The author's vivid descriptions transported me to the sun-soaked shores, immersing me in the beauty and allure of the Italian coastline. The cultural richness and vibrant atmosphere of Italy add depth and authenticity to the story, making it all the more engaging.

At its core, The Main Character is a poignant reminder to seize control of our own narratives and embrace the joys of life. It encourages to move beyond mere survival and actively pursue happiness and fulfillment. The underlying message resonated with me, urging me to reflect on my own life and make the most of every moment.

However, the book does have its flaws. The slow start kind of detered me, as it takes time for the story to gain momentum. Additionally, the characters, aside from Ginevra and Ansel, lack distinct personalities, making it difficult for me to fully connect with them. Furthermore, the ending feels abrupt and unresolved, which left me with unanswered questions and a sense of dissatisfaction.

Overall, The Main Character presents a promising premise with its unique blend of family drama, quite interesting characters, and a modern-day Orient Express. The captivating setting in Italy adds an extra layer of allure to the story. However, the execution falls short, with a slow start, indistinct characters, and an unsatisfying ending. While it may appeal to some readers who appreciate the blend of drama and mystery, it did not win me over completely.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

I loved this thriller! A famous author hires disgraced news anchor, Rory, to be her “main character” in her upcoming book. She interviews Rory’s closest people, her best friend, Caro, her brother Max and her ex flame, Nate. She delves deep, uncovering their secrets and lies. The author sends Rory on the trip of a lifetime on the Orient Express. Rory is estranged from her these people, imagine her shock and concern to find them all on the train. Why are they here? Atmospheric and brooding, with rich, complex characters. Agatha Christie would proud! Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware.

this was a mystery with a twist at the end. I enjoyed the story very much. was hard to put down read in three afternoons.

I previously enjoyed The Chateau by this author and this premise sounded good, so I gave it a chance. Pretty good story. Ginevra writes best-selling thrillers based on real people, Rory is excited to be chosen as a "base" for a character. She is invited on a mysterious train trip and is surprised to find friends and family along for the ride. All have secrets and murder happens. What is going on? I enjoyed this and yes, it definitely has Agatha Christie vibes. Perfect for fans of her or more modern locked-room type stories. The story is told from 4 POV's plus Ginevra's "chapters", which was interesting. I did figure out a lot of it, but still a nice twist at the end. Ready for more from Jaclyn Goldis!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Jaclyn Goldis and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication.