I had trouble reading the style of prose and the premise and characters did not grip me. Unfortunately this one was not for me.

I have to admit, this is not usually the genre I pick up and this was an absolute treat to experience! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, jumping to conclusions and enjoying the ride. Five Found Dead is a magnificent and timely take on a locked room mystery - Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy. I will absolutely be looking forward to future publications from Sulari Gentill.

As always Gentill plays with the mystery genre in fun & meta ways. The concept of this book is a delight, but a little sprawling without quite enough puzzles & twists. Still fun, still will recommend, will always be excited to read what she writes next!

Five Found Dead, Sulari Gentill
Publication date 19th August 2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Well, what a fabulous murder mystery book. Set on the Orient Express, we follow the Penvale twins on the journey of a lifetime.
Joe Penvale and his sister Meri booked their trip after Joe had the all clear from cancer. This was to be a fresh start for Joe to start writing again. Joe's debut novel was a smash hit, which he thought would be his first and last novel.

The storyline is great. If you're a fan of Poirot, this is a lovely story to follow. I found all the characters interesting, adding to the storyline as it developed. I will definitely keep my eye out for more books by this author.

Thank you for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Come join our protagonists Joe and Meredith Penvale on the journey of a lifetime - The Orient Express from Paris to Venice. It's a celebratory trip after the conclusion of Joe's 18 months of medical treatments. They are looking forward to a luxurious and relaxing trip, but everything changes when the cabin adjacent to theirs is found covered with blood, but the body is missing. Considering the title of the book, it's no surprise that this isn't the only dead body found on the train.

For readers familiar with Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, you'll find a lot of similarities in this modern day re-telling. It starts with the classic locked room mystery and proceeds from there to involve other train employees and passengers. Reader, be aware that there is a large cast of characters; it might be helpful to start taking notes at the beginning of the book in order to keep them all straight. I really enjoyed everything about this book -- the murder mysteries, the passengers and employees coming together to help solve them, The Orient Express, the luxury train travel, the food, and more! Highly recommended.

Thank you very much to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book. It is scheduled to be published on August 19, 2025.

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

An updated take on the Agatha Christie classic, this fun read is about Meredith and Joe Penvale, twins from Australia, who are taking a ride on the Orient Express to celebrate Joe’s victory over illness. Joe is a mystery writer working on a new novel, and Meredith is a corporate lawyer. What starts off as a fabulous vacation devolves into a locked door mystery when one of the guests on board is found to be missing, his room covered in blood. Along with the many members of law enforcement on board, Joe and Mere jump in to solve the mystery.

I always enjoy Sulari Gentil’s work. She is one of my favorite authors. And after reading the Acknowledgments at the end, it seems like she may have been on a medical journey of her own over the past couple of years. This seems to have impacted the plot and story. The story itself has her usual fast pace and twists and turns. It was a pretty quick read. The characters were interesting but somewhat stereotypical in some cases. And this is the only Gentil book I have read where I have successfully guessed the guilty party. This may not be Gentil’s best work - I’m looking at you After She Wrote Him and The Woman in the Library! But it’s clear it came from the heart and is a labor of love for the author. Worth the read.

This book was both thrilling and amusing! I really enjoyed the writing and the dialogue between the characters. The two main characters, Meredith and Joe were so likable and I loved their sibling relationship so much! I also enjoyed the setting which added a more sinister edge to the reading experience. The ending was satisfying, however the last chapter really packed a punch and I was left feeling both fulfilled yet glum.

If you liked “Knives Out” or are a fan of the Mystery/Thriller genre, please pick this up!

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

A murder mystery taking place on the Orient Express?? Sign me the heck up because what Agatha Christie fan wouldn't want another mystery with similar inspiration?

I feel very much stuck in the middle on my thoughts after finishing this book. I really enjoyed the overall plot and the mystery given to us at the outset of the novel, but there was a few things holding me back from loving it. Mostly the fact that I was confused by a lot of the directions the story took, things that seemed a little extreme or unnecessary when you finish taking in the whole book. Just little secondary things that made my brain go "huh?" in trying to unravel the mystery as I read and not in a fun, mystery-solving way. Just a confusing way.

I do like the author's styling of describing things and character building (although there were SO many characters...might be one more point of confusion for me) so I would definitely give another book from her a try. I truly appreciate the self-inspiration she input into one of the characters, as her note at the end of the book tells us about her own medical experience. I always think it's brilliant when an author can take something difficult from life and use it towards something creative like writing about it.

Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley, thank you for letting me read this book early and sharing my thoughts on it. It comes out in August, so if you love murder mysteries, train setting, Christie vibes, and stories with lots of characters, maybe add this to your TBR.

A modern twist on a classic train murder mystery. Trigger warnings for this book include cancer and COVID. Overall this book is a good easy read. However I felt like there may have been a few too many characters to keep up with and causes slight confusion at times. I particularly enjoyed the two young podcasters. This book will attract young murder mystery readers

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review the ARC for this book

Thank you, Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for an Advanced Readers Copy of Five Found Dead, written by Sulari Gentill. I am not getting paid for this review. These thoughts are my own.

From the author who wrote The Woman in the Library brings you on a ride from the mysterious train of the Orient Express. Yes, the same train that Hercule Poirot solved a murder case many years ago. Murder on the Orient Express written by Agatha Christie…before you write off this book as a copy. It’s not. I read it just to make sure. I also watched the start studded cast of the 2017 film.

Joe Penvale and his sister Meredeth are taking a holiday on the Orient Express in celebration of Joe beating cancer. Joe is a writer and Meredeth a lawyer. Both pausing their life with Joe’s health diagnosis. What starts off as a holiday in luxury turns into a ride that they will never forget. The cast of characters were unique and easy to relate to. Often referring to Agatha Christie and what would Hercule do…I found endearing.

I found the book to be a slow departure (slow start) and chugging along in a slower than I am used to pace. It did hold my attention, and I enjoyed many scenes within the book. I enjoyed how the book ended…and not because it was over. But I found through character development that it was fitting and enjoyable. Overall, I would recommend this book to someone.

Thank you netgalley and Sulari Gentill for the chance to read this arc.
Loved this thriller!! Could not put it down once I started it. Will definitely be putting this on preorder for when it comes out.

Sulari Gentill’s Five Found Dead is a modern homage to Agatha Christie and her popular murder mysteries, set aboard the legendary Orient Express. The novel follows artist-turned-amateur-detective Rowland Sinclair and his twin sister Meredith as they once again find themselves embroiled in a series of murders on the train. The local authorities are quick to draw conclusions, but Rowland’s curious mind and keen sense of justice compel him and Meredith to dig deeper.

The novel’s pacing is measured and engrossing. Gentill eases the reader into the plot, allowing suspense to build gradually through red herrings and character interactions. What sets Five Found Dead apart from standard murder mysteries is the way Gentill uses the Orient Express as a character than just a backdrop. The Orient Express is rendered in lush detail, from the polished wood and crystal in the dining car.

This was my first Rowland Sinclair series, but it didn’t feel like I was reading a book in a series. My unfamiliarity with the characters didn’t take away from the joy of reading the book. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Rowland Sinclair or a newcomer to his world, like me, this novel offers a satisfactory read to the mystery lovers.

3.5 *’s
Good mystery- great setting. The threat of the pandemic along with the mystery was extra shiver-sauce. I enjoyed the podcasters too, who lent a thoughtful, observer point of view outside of the other characters.



Spoiler alert!
No mention of “Arsenic and Old Lace”, big GenX sigh…

The plot of this book was intriguing; it can't get any better than trying to solve a murder in the Orient Express. I found it confusing at times as there were many characters in the story, and the story was told from a single POV. The story felt very slow at times, but the twist at the end was unexpected. I often found myself forgetting who was who and why they were significant. But that would be my only critique.

Murder on the Orient Express? Say less! I found the premise intriguing and the story well written. The copious cast of characters (& accents!) was a bit overwhelming and made me feel a little lost at times. Overall an enjoyable, outlandish locked room murder mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC;

Siblings embark on a thrilling journey aboard the Orient Express through Europe—only to find themselves caught in the middle of a murder mystery worthy of Agatha Christie. As the body count rises, suspicion spreads in every direction.

This book had me hooked from the start. The plot twists kept me guessing, and the ride was full of surprises. The characters were charming, witty, and their interactions made the story even more enjoyable. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story took another sharp turn—in the best way.

A must-read for any fan of classic whodunits and modern thrillers alike.

I could not put this book down. It's an homage to Agatha Christie, the Golden age of mysteries, and the historic Orient Express. It was also such a pleasure to read this author's unique use of passengers to solve the crime. I'll definitely recommend this story and look forward to more by this author.

With this offering, Sulari Gentill has cemented my interest in reading everything she writes. This offering was reminiscent of several other classic mysteries. As in previous work, my attention was riveted by Ms. Gentill’s ability to turn a phrase and keep me guessing about what would come next, along with finding out the ultimate solution to the mystery.

The book opens with author Joe Penvale and his twin sister Meridith boarding the Orient Express. Joe has overcome a recent battle with cancer, and Meri has been his primary caregiver throughout that illness. This trip is a celebration and an opportunity to inspire Joe to begin writing again. Upon awakening the first morning of the trip, Joe and Meri are alerted that the resident of the room next door to them has disappeared, leaving the quarters locked from the inside, and soaked in blood. The scene is set, and the work to unravel the mystery begins with a fascinating cast of characters, and potential investigators and suspects in abundance.

Little more can be said without spoiling the wonderful story woven for us. Our journey with Ms.Genill aboard the Orient Express is entertaining and keeps us turning the pages to discover the outcome. This ride is one you won’t want to miss!

I was provided with a copy of Five Found Dead, by Sulari Gentill by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an honest review.

This was a locked door slow burn thriller. I think the plot line could’ve been a little more organized. Could just be me, but I felt like it was a little chaotic and confusing. I did enjoy the ending!

Siblings take a ride aboard the Orient Express through Europe and are treated to front row seats of a murder mystery made to rival Agatha Christie. The bodies keep piling up and fingers are getting pointed every direction.

This book kept me on my toes and it was such a fun read. The characters were likable, amusing and had such fun dynamics. I kept second guessing myself with where the story was going, but it played out brilliantly.

Highly recommend for a true mystery thriller.