I knew I was going to love this book as soon as I read 'locked train mystery,' and it did not disappoint! Loved the relationship between the siblings, Joe and Meri, and especially was surprised and pleased by the clever twist the author put on one of my favorite stories ('Murder on the Orient Express'). Definitely kept me guessing until the very end!

Really enjoyed this nod to the golden age, specifically Christie, where a new murder on a very famous train baffles everyone, not least the reader.

Tightly plotted, entertaining, really intricate character and detail and also a bit of a page turner. Been lucky enough to have a few like that recently.

Excellent writing, a noir feel, old school storytelling done in a very modern way.

Recommended.

In Five Found Dead, Sulari Gentill delivers a gripping, Agatha Christie-inspired mystery set aboard the iconic Orient Express. Crime fiction author Joe Penvale and his twin sister, Meredith, are hoping for a relaxing getaway after Joe’s intense medical treatment, but their vacation quickly turns into a chilling investigation when a bloody crime scene appears in the cabin next door—without a body in sight. What begins as a quiet journey turns into a twisted series of events as Joe and Meredith, joined by a group of fellow passengers with law enforcement backgrounds, delve into the disappearance of a man from Cabin 16G. When the steward guarding the scene is murdered, the stakes rise as the death toll mounts, and the siblings must race to catch a cunning killer before the train reaches its final destination. With its fast-paced plot, intriguing characters, and a literary nod to classic whodunits, Five Found Dead is a suspenseful, page-turning ride that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last line. Perfect for fans of twisty mysteries and books about books.

If you're a fan of detective novels, you'll likely enjoy this one.

The story is set aboard the famous Orient Express — a setting any Hercule Poirot admirer would instantly recognize. Twins Joe and Meredith, after their long battles with cancer, decide to take a much-needed break. Joe, a mystery writer by profession, hopes this trip will help him reconnect with his writing. Meredith, though a lawyer by trade, has a true passion for painting and has become somewhat of a shadow to her brother. Both are enchanted by the charm of the train, and as devoted Agatha Christie fans, they revel in the experience. Inspired, Joe finds himself writing again.

Onboard, they meet several passengers in carriage 16 and quickly form friendships within a single evening. But soon, events take a dark and unexpected turn — just like in the classic crime stories they admire. Is it mere coincidence, or has something truly sinister been set into motion?

The book moves at a fast pace, with fine, vivid descriptions. However, I found it hard to connect with the characters. It starts off slow but picks up speed as the plot unfolds.

Overall, I would rate it 3 stars.

I thought this was a great twist on Agatha Christy’s Murder On The Orient. We had a wild cast of characters, we had an intriguing locked door mystery, and lots of twists to throw us off the trail. I really liked the side characters but I felt like Meredith could have had more depth, she was a bit one note for me clearly worrying more about her brother than an actual murderer on the train. I would have liked to see at least one person freaking out over a murder on the train, everyone just accepts it very fast.
Instead of the podcast episode at the end I with we had the prologue of Joe’s second book with a dedication to those who died on the train.
It is an incredibly dialogue heavy book so if that is not your vibe I would be aware. Overall I think it’s a good book with lots of intrigue.

So exciting to read a new Sulari Gentill book with new characters too! I've read her Rowland Sinclair series, but I think I like the protagonists in this book even better.

The main characters are twins who are taking a trip on the Orient Express in celebration of one of them being done with all of his cancer treatments. His twin sister hopes this trip will help him start writing again. The story is full of references to other fictional detectives on the Orient Express and does feel Agatha Christie-esque, but in a slightly over the top way as if it's not taking itself too seriously. I found it fun to read and very entertaining and I also did not guess how it would turn out, so the mystery part is definitely taken serious enough! Also, there are a pair of young podcasters, mysterious strangers, vaguely sinister secret law enforcement and so many others in the cast of characters that add insight and amusement along the way.

I would love for this to be the start of a series especially since I liked so many of the characters.

A throwback to Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, this novel captured the same intriguing atmosphere and immersive setting. The author really brings the train to life, and I found myself feeling as though I was onboard, experiencing the tension firsthand.

However, after a few days of reflection, I find myself a bit underwhelmed by the story. It didn’t leave a lasting impression, and I found that the details and character development were lacking in comparison to what I expected from this author. In The Woman in the Library, the smaller, more intimate cast of characters made the twists and turns feel sharper and more impactful. In contrast, this book follows the two Penvale siblings but introduces a larger ensemble with the task force investigating the first body. Unfortunately, I never truly connected with any of the characters or cared about their motivations.

While the setting and atmosphere are solid, the rest of the story didn’t quite live up to what I was hoping for. I’m still eager to read more of Gentill’s work, but I think I’ll hold off on picking up the next book until it’s fully released.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love thrillers, but this "whodunnit" mystery just didn't hit the mark for me.
Siblings Joe and Meredith board The Orient Express to celebrate a big milestone in Joe's cancer treatment. As the journey starts and the train gets quarantined due to positive COVID tests, five people wind up murdered and the people with investigative experience in their careers are brought in by the train staff to help solve the cases.
It felt too blase and casual. I kept expecting to feel an increase in excitement and suspense, but it never got there. The last 40 pages or so are when it finally picks up pace, but before that it really dragged.

Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: when people make comparisons to Christie, I get very nervous. A lot of times, it feels like it sets a book up to be a knockout or fall flat on its face for me without a lot of gray area in between. I’ve read ~35 Agatha Christie books, some of which are the best books I’ve ever read, some of which were….. just okay. But I was enticed enough by the description of a book taking place on the Orient Express to give it a shot and request an ARC.

This was my first Sulari Gentill book, and I did enjoy it very much. The setting of the Orient Express in modern day felt very refreshing. The addition of COVID as a mechanism within the story was unexpected for me, but very clever, along with another plot point that was so incredibly cool I won’t even reference it in case of spoilers. Overall, I had fun reading this, I liked the dynamic of Joe and Meredith, I loved the murderer reveal, but I did feel like the epilogue was just too long and not needed.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill will be published August 19th, 2025!

Five found dead is a murder mystery that takes place on a train! Not my usual style, but this slow burning book gives “Clue” vibes which originally drew my eye to it. The book is good, but I did find it a bit long and hard to follow at times with the amount of characters that are involved in the book. Though a critical element of murder mystery includes multiple characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

All aboard the Orient Express for a mystery that's anything but ordinary! Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie with a penchant for playful twists, Five Found Dead is a rollicking journey that proves murder can be both mysterious and mischievous.

I've really enjoyed following Sulari Gentill's contemporary mysteries over the last few years--and i specifically love mysteries set on trains, making me especially eager to get my hands on this one. Set on a modern invocation of the Orient Express, I enjoyed the reverence and commentary on golden age mysteries, adding an extra layer of tension and speculation. I spent a decent portion of this book trying to superimpose classic characters like Poriot, Miss Marple, and Sherlock/Watson onto Gentill's characters. I loved our main characters the Penvale Twins and the commentary on the impact of terminal illness on a person and their caretakers. Between the staff murders, COVID quarantine, and detective connections to the missing passenger, there were a lot of interesting and compelling storylines being woven. However, some of them I would have liked to see contribute more to the final pay off. This coupled with the final chapter "twist" unfortunately knocked this down to three stars for me.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the free ARC I exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, despite being a love of all things thriller and murder mystery, this one was not for me. I understand the logic behind it and why it was written the way it was was a little too tropes heavy, the characters caricatures of people.

The writing style is good and well suited to the genre and I do think this would have been a 5 star had it not relied too heavily on conventions of said genre.

I enjoyed it, but can't help but feel like this is somewhat feels like Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express but with it's own twist.

But the way I enjoyed it was also different the way I enjoyed the other book. I enjoyed the story and the writing of the author was definitely good.

It was a bit confusing and slow at first but after some time it was starting to make sense, the characters and their story are getting interesting.

I just want to thank the publisher for giving the opportunity to read it.

Honestly got hooked from the first chapter and enjoyed it till the end. The way story go and keeps on going from scene after scene honestly love it ❤

An enjoyable read if one suspends beielife while reading and if one hasn't read Murder on the Orieant Express first. The story takes place on a train, and well there are deads, a mystery, suspects, and even a former policeman who is here to help out. While the story differs in many pleaces the feel is still the same and one where it is difficult to shake. I enjoyed readin this take but couldn't quite get out of my head the compairson of the two. There were plot holes and places where in life it just couldn't be possible but over all it was a fun read. I think this will be a hit with mystery readers and those who want a quick fun story, maybe even on a train ride!

Five Found Dead is an exhilarating, suspense-filled mystery set aboard the legendary Orient Express. As a fan of twisty crime thrillers, I was drawn to this book's unique premise, with a crime author, Joe Penvale, and his twin sister, Meredith, being thrust into a real-life murder mystery while on their much-needed getaway. It starts with an intriguing set-up, where a bloody crime scene unfolds in the cabin next door but with no body in sight—setting the stage for a classic whodunit.

The dynamic between Joe and Meredith is well-crafted, and their investigation, despite the lack of law enforcement support, feels both intense and authentic. I loved how Gentill skillfully weaves the literary background into the plot—Joe, a writer, finding himself in a story that might as well have come from one of his own novels. The atmospheric setting of the Orient Express, with its historical charm and luxurious feel, adds to the overall tension, making the journey feel like a ticking clock.

With multiple twists and an ever-increasing body count, Five Found Dead had me on the edge of my seat. Gentill’s pacing is spot-on, and the murder investigation kept me guessing until the very end. This book is a must-read for fans of intricate mysteries with an unforgettable setting.

The Orient Express, COVID, a mystery writer, a lawyer, numerous detectives, and the "ghosts" of fictional characters, I mean what is there not to love about this book??!! The plot, the characters, the setting...all lovely. The conclusion was a tad soft, but I still liked it.

Mystery writer John Penvale and his sister Meredith go on a trip on the Orient Express, where they are witnesses of crimes.
I had high expectations going into this as it is something that is right up my alley genre wise. However, the story dragged a bit in the middle, as there were so many subplots happening. It was a let down and didn’t live up to the hype.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! *Five Found Dead* is a fun, twisty mystery set on the Orient Express! Giving Agatha Christie vibes with a sharp, modern edge.
The plot is smart , the characters are full of interesting secrets, and I couldn’t put it down. This was a fast-paced, addictive and intriguing read. Definitely a five-star read! definitely would recommend!