I enjoyed a lot about this book but at the same time it wasn't a novel that blew me away.

The plot centres around Meredith and her twin Joe, a crime fiction writer who is recovering from cancer. The two are about to embark on a trip on the Orient Express in Paris, accompanied by two goofy podcasters who are obsessed with crime and fans of Joe in particular.

It's an obvious setting for murders to begin taking place, and references to Agatha Christie abound, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. The day after embarking, a grisly murder scene is discovered in the cabin next door to Meredith and Joe, sparking some panic and the setting up of a 'committee' to investigate. Meanwhile one cabin is completely cut off due to a nasty strain of Covid. Or is it?

The story is told from Meredith's point of view. Both she and Joe are both likeable and realistic characters, and there's some witty dialogue between them and also with other passengers.

The author sets up several intriguing and suspicious characters, leading the reader down all kinds of rabbit holes when trying to figure out who the killer is. It's a nice enough read and there are lots of believable characters with secrets to be uncovered. It just didn't grip me or bowl me over as some other novels have.

But for an easy and readable whodunnit I would definitely recommend it.

The Orient Express. An iconic multi-day train journey between Paris and Istanbul that for more than a century has symbolised both luxury travel, and murder, thanks to Agatha Christie’s iconic 1934 novel. The mere words can’t help but conjure images of a moustachioed Belgian sleuth, in whichever of his various forms, from Albert Finney to Kenneth Branagh, Alfred Molina to David Suchet.

While there is no Poirot in sight, there are plenty of sleuths on board in Five Found Dead, Sri Lankan-Australian crime writer Sulari Gentill’s modern homage to the Christie Classic. Narrator Meredith is a lawyer accompanying her twin Joe on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, celebrating Joe surviving a life-threatening illness, and to hopefully rekindle his crime writing mojo. Their fellow passengers include former spies, police officers, private eyes, and a pair of sisters on the trail of a swindler. Suspicious? Or merely to be expected given the iconic train’s drawcard mix of literary history and luxury?

Joe’s muse is stirred by the setting and company; on the first evening he begins to write again. But the next morning the murder mysteries become all-too-real, as the cabin next door is bathed in blood. But where’s the body? Cut off from the outside due to various factors, including a COVID strain tearing through parts of the train, Joe and Meredith are requested to join a group looking to find answers. But what if one of them is the killer? Especially as other bodies begin to show up.

Gentill, who earlier this year won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for her novel The Mystery Writer at the 2025 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, clearly has lots of love for Golden Age-style mysteries given her own terrific series set in 1930s Australia starring artist-sleuth Rowly Sinclair. She appears to be thoroughly enjoying herself with Five Found Dead, a clever and engrossing mystery that like her

prior novel plays with the mystery genre, and has plenty of winks and nods to Christie, Hitchcock, and others. There’s even an appearance by real-life Australian books podcasters Flex & Herds (who host "Death of the Reader", which deep-dives into classic and foreign mystery fiction), who enthusiastically (and dangerously?) insert themselves into the investigation.

It’s a fun read, and more, that like Christie herself at times, rides the implausibility curve to its limits. But there’s depth here too, Gentill threads in nods to memento mori and meditations on the fragility of life – perhaps inspired by her own cancer scare - as Joe and others confront their mortality.

[This review was first published in the Summer 2025 issue of Deadly Pleasures magazine]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 19, 2025
Sulari Gentill, lawyer-turned-author, has taken “Murder at the Orient Express” and given it a modern twist. Her new novel, “Five Found Dead”, takes place on the infamous train, where a crime fiction author and his lawyer sister become embroiled in an actual murder mystery.
Meredith Penvale is a lawyer, who took some time away from her occupation to care for her ailing twin brother, Joe, an author. Now that Joe is in remission, the twins decide to take a vacation, booking a trip on the Orient Express, in hopes that Joe will find inspiration for his second novel. Both Meredith and Joe do not expect, however, to be brought into an actual murder investigation on the train, as the bodies of travelers and stewards alike continue to pile up. With a recent Covid outbreak plaguing Paris, the passengers can’t disembark, so the train is at a literal standstill, which means the murderer is on board. Time is running out for the Penvale twins to help discover the identity of the new murderer of the Orient Express.
“Dead” is a superbly modernized re-creation of Christie’s “Express”, with Gentill’s own personal touch. Meredith is the protagonist and, along with her brother Joe, they begin to investigate the murders, along with the help of some very eccentric passengers. Although there are many characters aboard the train, the main ones are so eclectic and unconventional that they stand out, with their quirky and hilarious personalities. Of course, with more than half the train on lockdown due to the Covid virus, Gentill has created a reasonable suspect pool for the murderer to hide within, making the guessing game to find the killer addictive and completely suspenseful.
The relationship between Joe and Meredith is charming, and both characters are likable. In fact, it is hard to take a stab (haha) at who the suspect is, because all of the passengers on the train are completely relatable, hilarious and delightful. When the final twist is revealed, it totally caught me off guard in the best way. The unexpected yet believable ending speaks to Gentill’s ability to craft a well-developed plot, ensuring all of the remaining questions have been answered.
Christie’s “Orient” is a classic for a very good reason, but Gentill has developed a modern take that deserves recognition in its own right. “Dead” is completely immersive, engaging and entertaining, and Gentill has managed to pay tribute to Christie and similar writers of that time, all while leaving her own mark in a story all her own.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sulari Gentill for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Five Found Dead coming out August 19, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really wanted to love this book! I enjoy this author and always check out her books. I thought it felt a little like Agatha Christie, who I love. It’s obviously Murder on the Orient Express. But I was getting confused with the characters. I just wanted a little more. I would check out other books by this author.

Sulari Gentill’s *Five Found Dead* is a sophisticated, slow-burning mystery that pays homage to classic whodunits while weaving in modern psychological and literary threads. Set aboard the opulent Orient Express, the novel follows crime fiction author Joe Penvale and his twin sister Meredith as they embark on a journey meant to rekindle Joe’s creative spark after a battle with cancer. But when a blood-soaked cabin is discovered—eerily missing a body—the trip descends into a chilling game of survival and deduction. As more passengers are murdered, Joe and Meredith join forces with a group of retired law enforcement officers to unravel the mystery before the train reaches its final destination. Narrated by Meredith, the story gains emotional depth and a unique perspective, especially as it explores themes of trauma, sibling bonds, and the blurred line between fiction and reality. Gentill’s prose is atmospheric and elegant, turning the train itself into a character steeped in menace and nostalgia. While the cast is large and the pacing deliberate, the novel rewards patient readers with layered twists and a haunting sense of inevitability. *Five Found Dead* is ideal for fans of Agatha Christie, metafictional storytelling, and mysteries that linger long after the final page.

This was fine? It was fine. I’ll start with what I liked - I really liked how the writing and the story evoked Agatha Christie. You can never go wrong referencing the OG Queen of mysteries. To that end, I really enjoyed how the story was written. It had a similar feel to one of Christie’s books and that made for a fun read. I was also entertained by the author writing the story within the story, which added a fun layer to it. I liked the characters, though there were far too many for any to be more than superficially described. I of course enjoyed the ongoing murders, which helped keep the story interesting and the pacing going. Where we lost me was Meri. I could not stand her. Which made parts of the book impossible to enjoy because she was so gosh darn annoying. I just could not get passed her very bland personality or lack there of. That together with the lack of twists and the rather unexciting, predictable reveals ultimately made me enjoy this book less than I hoped. I also found the end to be merely fine. Everything wrapped up neatly. That being said, I still really enjoy this author and will continue to read anything she writes. I keep chasing the high of The Woman in the Library and this one just didn’t get there for me.

Fans of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express will want to travel with Sulari Gentill to discover her take on the historic train haunted by ghosts of the past in Five Found Dead.

Australian twins Joe and Meredith Penvale board the train in Paris as an escape from the last eighteen months. Joe is the bestselling author of a mystery who spent over a year going through chemotherapy and radiation for cancer. Meredith, a lawyer and the narrator, was Joe’s companion during his ordeal, spending her time worrying about her brother. They both need a vacation. Meredith hopes the trip will inspire her brother to write again.

At dinner the first night, they meet some of their fellow travelers. But, they’re shocked the next morning when the cabin next door, 16G, is opened by the steward who finds it bathed in blood, and the occupant is missing from the locked compartment. Joe and Meredith are recruited to join a group of passengers with law enforcement background to investigate the whereabouts of the missing passenger who may be a murder victim. But, the investigation is stymied when the Orient Express crew is caught up in another crisis. The last cars on the train are quarantined because passengers may have a new strain of COVID. The murder of the steward guarding 16G, along with the quarantine, leaves the small group of passengers on their own in search of answers. When the train is turned away from Italy due to the quarantine, Joe and Meredith realize there really isn’t any professional back-up for help.

When a second man is murdered, rumors fly, and those passengers not involved in the investigation are suspicious of those allowed free rein to question people and roam the train. And, Joe makes it clear to Meredith that they’re in the middle of a locked room mystery with a murderer on the Orient Express.

There are more investigators than suspects in Gentill’s outstanding mystery. The descriptions and imagery of the Orient Express are beautiful. Gentill handles Joe’s cancer, and the feelings and emotions of those dealing with it, both the patient and loved ones, with a great deal of knowledge, experience, and empathy. There’s also a great deal of humor. At times, the action seems right out of a Keystone Comedy as sleuths crowd in narrow corridors and follow each other from car to car. However, Meredith and the reader never forget that there’s a killer on board. With the thoughts of authors and fictional detectives of the past, Joe summarizes the trip and the action. “You’re haunted by history and story, the imaginations of the writers who’ve gone before you.”

Sulari Gentill’s manipulative mystery, Five Found Dead, is skillfully written and a worthy addition to stories of crime on trains.

What fan of crime fiction hasn’t dreamt about a luxury trip on the Orient Express? It turns out it still runs from Paris to Istanbul and it is the setting for Sulari Gentill’s latest mystery novel.

Joe Penvale, successful mystery writer, has just finished his cancer treatment. As a celebration, he and his sister Meredith decide to get a sleeper suite aboard the Orient Express. They also hope it will inspire him to start on his next novel. Steeped in tradition and vintage details, they sip champagne and enjoy five-star service.

A plush upholstered seat takes up one wall. On the opposite wall are curved doors that open to reveal a wash basin, complete with complimentary toiletries. The Art Nouveau veneer in the cabin is a pattern of flowers and swagging at picture-rail height. On the table under the window, a lamp, a platter of hors d’oeuvres, and a silver bucket containing a bottle of champagne chilling in ice. ~Loc. 127

They also get acquainted with fellow travellers. Staying in the next cabin is a French-speaking detective named Napoleon Duplantier with more than a passing resemblance to M. Poirot. On the other side is an unfriendly man that no one seems to have had a conversation with.

The next morning somewhere in the French Alps, the taciturn passenger is missing and his cabin is covered in blood. Presumed dead, a search turns up nothing suggesting he may have jumped (or been thrown) out of the train. The ever-professional crew organize an unofficial task force of passengers with law enforcement or legal backgrounds — which includes Joe and Meredith.

The mystery unfolds well and keeps you reading. The final climax is a little messy but the solution is ultimately satisfactory. The best part is the amateur detecting and the nods to classic train mysteries. Astute readers will recognize hints of The Wheel Spins, in addition to the clear references to Agatha Christie, Patricia Highsmith, and Alfred Hitchcock.

All aboard the Orient Express—this time heading from London to Istanbul, and in the hands of Sulari Gentill, it’s every bit as decadent, dangerous, and deliciously over-the-top as you’d hope. Our narrator, Meredith Penvale, is traveling with her twin brother Joe, a once-brilliant mystery author still reeling from cancer remission and a stubborn case of writer’s block. The trip is meant to be a creative reset for him—and perhaps a personal turning point for her.

The train itself is a star: Gentill lavishes the pages with opulent details, from glittering crystal glasses in the dining car to sweeping views that beg for a BBC period drama adaptation. The passenger list is a dream for mystery fans—eccentric nobles, chatty podcasters, enigmatic strangers, and a surprising surplus of law enforcement types, all hiding secrets in their luggage.

When their abrasive neighbor vanishes overnight and his locked cabin is found drenched in blood, the journey takes a sharp turn into murder territory. And that’s just the first death—true to its title, the body count climbs fast. Gentill blends the structure of a classic locked-room mystery with the pace and zaniness of a modern thriller. Red herrings and reversals come thick and fast, making it almost impossible to cling to any single theory for long.

There’s also a streak of dark humor here that sets it apart from her earlier work—macabre, faintly ridiculous, and all the more fun for it. The inclusion of a fictitious “Paris variant” of COVID-19 as the trap that keeps passengers on board is a clever nod to Christie’s snowbound Poirot, though readers may feel differently about pandemic references in fiction.

By the time the final reveal rolls in, it’s less about “whodunnit” and more about savoring the wild ride of twists, motives, and character moments along the way. Five Found Dead is witty, atmospheric, and wickedly entertaining—a murder mystery that knows exactly how to have fun with itself.

Thank you NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for providing me a review copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I devoured this book in less than 48 hours, it would have been even less if I didn't have to work.

"Five Found Dead" was truly impossible to put down, the story quickly sucks you in, the extremely well-developed array of characters are easy to follow and so well characterized that you feel like you're experience all the twists and turns right along side them.

The story unfolds at the perfect pace, giving the reader just enough to keep guessing along with the characters. Gentill did a brilliant job at developing perfectly flawed characters, twists and turns that you definitely don't see coming, tension so thick you won't be able to stop reading.

This is perfect for fans of:
- locked-room mysteries
- echoes of Agatha Christie's mysteries
- well-developed unreliable characters
- thrilling addictive narratives
- unexpected twists and turns

I very much enjoyed The Woman in the Library and The Mystery Writer, so naturally I jumped at the chance to request an ARC of Sulari Gentill's newest novel Five Found Dead. Once again, Sulari delivers the perfect thriller, complete with a flawless incorporation of Agatha Christie's Midnight on the Orient Express as the backdrop. If you love unreliable narrators and locked-room murder mysteries, Five Found Dead is the book for you! 10/10 recommend!!

I am really struggling with how I felt about this one.

On the one hand, it was a quick read and an engaging story. I really liked our twins, Joe and Meredith, and enjoyed spending time with them as they worked with others to solve this locked-door, isolated mystery. This is the first time I have read a book inspired by Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express and I did enjoy the meta vibe of it all.

On the other hand, there was a lot about the story that just felt too over the top for my personal taste, and it made it difficult for me to really get invested in the story. There were so many characters that it was sometimes a little difficult to keep track of who was who. Some of the “twists” were also a little too easy to figure out and it seemed unlikely it would’ve taken our twins as long as it did.

Overall I did have an enjoyable time and I would definitely recommend this one to people.

Sulari Gentill's latest is a a meta-mystery with overt and not-so-overt references to different classic mysteries. You are never quite sure who you should trust, and where there might be misdirection. It is a fast, engaging and satisfying read.

Five Found Dead is a clever twist on Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, with twin siblings Meredith and Joe at its heart. This locked-room mystery unfolds aboard the iconic Orient Express. When a passenger disappears and their cabin is found covered in blood, a small group of travellers are tasked to track down the killer—and uncover what happened to the missing body. As the journey continues, more corpses turn up and the tension grows.

Joe, a novelist, sees the whole ordeal as perfect material for his next book, leaving me wondering right to the end whether the story we’re reading might actually be Joe’s novel. The cast is full of quirky, unpredictable characters, and I never knew who to trust. The train setting was richly atmospheric, giving the sense that we explored every corner of it. Overall, it’s an entertaining and engaging read.

📚 Book Review: Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill

⭐ Five stars | Mystery Thriller | ARC from NetGalley | Release date: 19 August | Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

This is my third read by fellow Australian author Sulari Gentill, and after loving The Woman in the Library and The Mystery Writer, I was more than ready to jump aboard this one—literally.

The premise? Mystery fans, prepare to swoon. We’re on the Orient Express, London to Istanbul—yes, the reverse route of Christie’s classic. Our narrator, Meredith Penvale, is accompanying her twin brother Joe, a mystery author whose first novel was a smash hit. Since then? Well… cancer, remission, and a brutal case of sophomore-book blues. This trip is meant to revive his creativity—and maybe help Meredith figure out her own next chapter after putting her corporate law career on hold to care for him.

As expected, the train is its own star. From opulent décor to sweeping landscapes, Gentill paints a lush sense of time, place, and nostalgia. I could practically hear the clink of crystal glasses in the dining car. This would translate beautifully to a BBC TV drama—just imagine those camera shots!

We get a deliciously classic setup: an international mix of passengers—victims, suspects, amateur sleuths—each with secrets tucked away like contraband in a suitcase. And, of course, no one is exactly who they seem. Gentill’s done me dirty before, so I pored over every clue, smugly nursing my theories… until she derailed them one by one. (Pun absolutely intended.)

Red herrings abound. Bodies pile up in the best locked-door-mystery fashion—ludicrous and delightful. Honestly, by the end it almost didn’t matter whodunnit; the real fun was in the twists, the turns, and the slow reveal of motives.

There’s also more dark humour here than in Gentill’s previous books, which I adored. The faintly ridiculous is my happy place, and this book delivered it in spades.

All aboard. Loved it. Five stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press—opinions are entirely my own.

Joe Penvale along with his twin sister, Meredith, and a couple of crime podcasters who've been following writer Joe's literary life, all boarded The Orient Express in Paris, headed on a great journey; a trip of a lifetime. Joe and Meredith were from Australia; Joe had just been declared cancer free after an incredible eighteen month battle, and the trip was a celebration of sorts. The siblings were hoping the magical trip would awaken Joe's writing muse, which had vanished along with his treatment. But on waking the following morning, the cabin beside theirs was in the process of being declared a crime scene; lots of blood but no body...

When a second person was murdered, a group of those onboard who had police/investigation/law backgrounds was formed to find the killer, and the body missing from 16G. Meredith was part of the group with her law background, with Joe along for the ride - he wasn't leaving Meri on her own. But the siblings didn't know if they could trust any of the group, along with passengers, so vowed to find the killer themselves. Which of course was dangerous as the killer had no compunction about who they killed. Soon there were five found dead, and still the person was missing and the killer hadn't been found.

What a gripping, intense and chilling book, Five Found Dead was! Aussie author Sulari Gentill has absolutely nailed it with this one - I loved it, and couldn't put it down. A fabulous mystery - bordering on a cosy - with exceptionally written characters; the train itself was a character! The staff on board, the journey, the delicious food and drinks, and the twisty mystery was up there with Sulari Gentill's best yet! Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for my digital ARC to read and review.

If you enjoyed Sulari Gentill's previous books, I think you'll like this one, too!

Crime writer Joe and his twin sister Meredith board the famous Orient Express for a trip from Paris to Venice. To celebrate Joe's recent recovery from cancer, they decided to take the same journey that famed detective Hercule Poirot did in Agatha Christie's classic novel. Also on board the train are a pair of mystery-loving podcasters, a Scottish duchess, two old British ladies on holiday, a dashing Frenchman with a mysterious past, and a surprising number of cops, private eyes, and other law enforcement officials. During Joe and Meredith's first night on board, their rude neighbor disappears, and train officials discover his room is filled with blood. But how could a killer get into the locked cabin, and where's the body?

As the title suggests, this is only the first suspicious incident in a book that will prove to have a very high body count.

Though Five Found Dead leans more zany thriller than classic Golden Age mystery, it does have a fun meta element to it. I didn't even realize until I read the acknowledgements that the two podcaster characters, Herds and Flex, are actually based on two real podcasters Gentill knows, and their podcast, Death of the Reader, is a real podcast. I may have to listen to some episodes after this!

There are a lot of characters in this book, and plenty of twists at the end. When we found out who was behind it all, it wasn't who I was expecting. Honestly, as I was reading, I was focused on enjoying the ride (pun intended) and not really thinking about theories much. I was just ready to go wherever Gentill was going to take me.

Note, this book does include COVID-19 as part of the plot. Whereas in Murder on the Orient Express, Poirot and co. are trapped on the train due to inclement weather, in Five Found Dead, an outbreak of the fictitious "Paris variant" serves that narrative purpose. I understood where Gentill was going with this and how she was trying to illustrate the psychological impact of isolation. When people feel trapped, how will it make them snap, and what will they do to escape? I personally don't think I'm a big fan of incorporating COVID into books. I lived it, and that was enough for me! But to each their own. I still think it was overall enjoyable nonetheless, and would recommend it to Sulari Gentill fans.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!

Novelist Joe Penvale & his twin sister Meredith are taking the Orient Express after Joe’s battle with cancer, as a way to relax. And hoping Joe will begin writing again. They meet an eclectic group of people, worthy of a Christie novel. When the person in the cabin next to theirs goes missing, the siblings join fellow passengers who have former law enforcement backgrounds to investigate. Along the way five people turn up dead & that doesn’t include the missing man!

I always love a good murder mystery on a train trope & admire the author that’s willing to take that on. Especially The Orient Express . The self awareness & respect of what stories have come before is delightful. This is a book for book lovers, especially Golden Age mysteries.

There’s plenty of interesting characters to go around. And a unique take, as a whole group of them set out to solve the crimes together. So our leads aren’t necessarily sneaking around. Overall it’s a good novel that acknowledges the tropes inherit in the story but adds a few of its own twists to keep it fresh.

🚂

Read if you like:
* Murder On the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
* Everyone On This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
* With a Vengeance by Riley Sager

Five Found Dead was a fun Clue like mystery that takes place on the iconic Orient Express. As far as settings go - I don't know what more you could ask for. The atmosphere of a crime on a train is next level. This was no exception. I loved the dynamic of a brother/sister main character pairing. I think that is fairly unique and adds to the story. The incorporating of Covid to the setting was also an interesting choice. I thought it helped serve the story well. Overall such a fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was looking for an easy, lighthearted read and am delighted that I came across Five Found Dead. It’s a refreshing modern take of the classic Agatha Christie whodunnit Murder on the Orient Express with plenty references to Hitchcock and Patricia Highsmith. Instead of the legendary Hercule Poirot, we have the Aussie novel writer Joe Penvale and his twin sister Meredith who board the Orient Express in Paris to celebrate Joe’s recovery from a life threatening illness. The author describes the glamour and horror of the journey brilliantly and very atmospheric, and I felt the whole time as if I was on board the train myself. A Covid outbreak reminds us that we are in the present time and right from the beginning, staff and passengers are fighting on two fronts - crime and disease. This is a closed door and fast paced mystery with - you guessed it - five murders. Halfway through it, I thought I had figured out who’d done it but quickly an unexpected twist proved me wrong. I really loved the modern touch, and you could say that this is a book about books and podcasts. I found it highly entertaining and couldn’t put it down. It was funny, suspenseful, mysterious and inspiring, most of the characters were really likeable and well developed. I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to reading more from this new-to-me author.
Thank you Netgalley, #PoisonedPenPress and @SulariGentill for gifting me an advance copy. I truly enjoyed reading it. The above is my honest review and own opinion.