This book was a cozy mystery set on a famous train. The first half of the book seemed like it was going in circles with no major additions to the plot, but the second half picked up quite a bit. I ended up enjoying the book overall. I will say, I think the podcast element in the last (and longest) chapter was unnecessary and repetitive, adding a different perspective to the story, but not really any additional information. I figured some huge twist would be revealed in that part, but I was disappointed in the very end.

Fun and interesting tribute to famous Agatha Christie's most popular mystery. Intriguing characters and adventure in the form of luxuriously famous iconic train journey. Joe and his sister, who are celebrating Joe's recovery from a drastic disease, found themselves in the midst of murder mystery where five found dead and one body missing. Entertaining introduction to the characters from the start and the plot is twisty and suspenseful enough. I liked the use of mass media reporting at the end. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

To celebrate her brother Joe's remission, Meredith talks him into a trip on the famed Orient Express. The budding author ends up with more inspiration than he can handle when their neighbor vanishes from his blood-soaked cabin. Luckily, the train's literary history means there are a large number of passengers with law enforcement experience who can tackle the mystery. Tensions climb higher as the body count grows and a COVID outbreak ravages the train. Apart from the unwieldy number of characters and a pointless postscript, it's a fun, implausible homage to classic mysteries.

I liked this book well enough. It was a beautiful setting and it pays great homage to Agatha Christie. It was a bit cheesy and unrealistic, but isn't that part of the charm?

A writer recovering from his cancer treatment and his sister decide to celebrate his "all clear" results by taking a trip on the Orient Express from Paris to Istanbul. Following along this story line are hints at those other famous mysteries/movies set in the iconic train. When the mysterious passenger in the cabin next door to them suddenly vanishes leaving behind a cabin soaked in blood the passengers ban together to solve the mystery. But as the bodies start to pile up, it quickly becomes apparent that no one is who they say they are and no one can be trusted. With the train being rejected from crossing into Italy due to an outbreak of Covid on board, the trip on the renowned glamorous train turns from a fun and relaxing vacation to a possible death trap for the passengers.
Once started, readers won't want to put this down until the very end. It reads quickly and readers who are good at tracking the clues may be able to identify the killer on board. The ending transcript of the podcast by two fans of the writer on board did not seem necessary to me as the mystery surrounding them can easily be deduced.

I have read other books by this author and enjoyed them, so I was very excited to pick up something new that takes place on the Orient Express!

The setting was phenomenal. I ended up googling the interiors of the real train because I was so sucked into the book, and I was really impressed at how well Gentill captured the classic luxury of the train. I thought maybe she was exaggerating details to glitz the story up, but she was not.
I also loved the dynamic between the two main characters, a charming, funny brother and sister duo. Their banter was fun, and I found them very believable and likeable. Just like with Murder on the Orient Express, there is a whole train full of characters to keep track of, which can get a little confusing at times. The plot is well constructed and had some good twists.
I'm looking forward to recommending this to all the mystery readers!

3.5 stars - So what mystery fan doesn't love "Murder on the Orient Express"?? This new title "Five Found Dead" attempts to one-up Dame Aggie's story with an update and it was... funny??? Or silly??? Lots of shenanigans and over-the-top escapades in the service of this trip on the train - I smiled and laughed a lot. Assume that was the intention & the mystery was secondary & less than classic. Glad I tried it. My thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the advance reader's copy - appreciate the opportunity always.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of Five Found Dead in exchange for my review , all thoughts are solely my own.

In my opinion it takes a big deal of courage for an author to take derivates of such a famous story and make it their own, it can be a make or break scenario. While I am a murder mystery fan this novel it just didn't hit like I was expecting and that's ok. Some out there may like to see another version of The Orient Express but this one just wasn't it for me

This was fun and exciting! Loved the characters and the setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I went in having such high anticipation for this book which probably why I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. Still a fun mystery on the Orient Express and an author who is trying to find his spark again.

This is the second Sulari Gentill book I've read, and I love her writing style. The Woman in the Library was one of my favorite books that I read in 2023, so I had great expectations for this one.

The story is inspired by Murder on the Orient Express (and to be honest, I haven't read it yet); it also takes place on the Orient Express. Since I had never read Agatha Christie's book, my only interest in Five Found Dead was Sulari's writing style and my expectations for another story written by her. I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed The Woman in the Library, but this one was actually pretty good.

I loved Joe and Meredith's sibling dynamics; I also loved them as characters. I expected more main characters to die (I mean, those who were part of the investigation). I wasn't disappointed, though.

The characters were interesting, but I thought there were too many at times. Some of them could have been removed, and it wouldn't have made any difference whatsoever. I liked Napoleon, though. His dynamics with the siblings were nice to read (or maybe I also have a thing for French guys). I also would have liked to see more of the podcasters; they were interesting characters and deserved a little more screen time.

Overall, I enjoyed the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay this one slipped into my shelf list on NetGalley and I didn’t even notice! I am so glad I didn’t miss the date to read cause I really really enjoyed this!

This thriller kept me turning the pages from start to finish. With just the right balance of suspense, twists, and emotional tension, it pulled me in and didn’t let go. The pacing was strong, the characters were compelling, and just when I thought I had it figured out—bam, another curveball. If you enjoy thrillers with unexpected reveals and a few dark turns, this one’s worth adding to your list.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

While I really liked the concept of this book, I struggled to get into it. I pushed through, but the plot felt overly complicated and confusing at times.

I love this author’s writing style. They effortlessly exhale coziness, even when their stories carry a lot of mystery. There’s just something warm and inviting about the way they write.

That said, this one didn’t land quite as well for me as their previous work has. It was incredibly silly, but in a genuinely delightful way - wild, implausible and still somehow enjoyable. The heavy inspiration from Murder on the Orient Express was noticeable and, at times, a bit much, but in the end, it kind of just... worked.

There were moments where the plot lost me and felt a bit overwhelming, but overall, it was still a fun and cozy mystery read.

Agatha, oops I mean Sulari has done it again. This orient express ride has all the makings of a classic whodonit. The original locked door mystery is brought back to life. The characters and settings help bring the reader back to the original feel but with a modern twist. Quarantine, murder, train ride. This novel was fabulous!!!

A murder on the Orient Express! Not exactly an original idea, but this is not a predictable story. It has the feel of a classic murder mystery, with some fresh characters and dialogue.
Meredith and her brother Joe are travelling the Orient Express with a cast of quirky characters. A lot of them have a very strong interest in crime and crime-solving. Perhaps a suspicious number of them. It takes a while to find the first body, but as you may have guessed by the title, there are many more to come. I did guess most of the plot twists, but I still had fun getting there.

Absolutely loved the premise and book. It is a homage to Agatha Christie while also being a story in itself.

It has a set of interesting characters and a locked room mystery. I liked the author sister combo. The book kept me guessing and the Orient Express touch was a favourite. An amazing read for all fans of Christie and thrillers.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

Debut crime fiction writer Joe Penvale and his sister Meredith are celebrating his hard-fought recover from cancer by boarding the fascinating Orient Express in Paris. Besides riding in a literary legend, they both want to know if Joe will write again. They are quickly swept into an unfathomable mystery with detectives and former French police officers and a blood-filled room. Is the mysterious passenger dead or has he disappeared?
An absolutely great ride! Wonderful characters, complex mystery, an homage to Christie and other great mystery writers. You do not want to miss this!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this DRC.
#fivefounddead #NetGalley

I loved the chaotic natures of the characters. The impact of the overlapping storylines and the setting of the train were all well done. Even some of the twists I might have predicted played out vastly differently than expected, so it kept me on the edge of my seat. To that end, it took me a while to really get into it with the need to set up so many moving parts. Additionally, details pertaining to the pandemic and the fear surrounding it, while useful in the story, really pulled me out of this crazy world of chaos.