I was lucky enough to be able to read Five Found Dead as an early release thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Poisoned Pen Press.

I really enjoyed this book. It has mystery, it has thrills, it has twists. I thought I had it worked out halfway through but I was wrong. So many mystery novels are predictable but this one did keep me on my toes.

Joe and Meredith are siblings on a trip aboard the Orient Express. Joe is an author and Meredith is a lawyer on a break. This background helps embroil them into the mystery surrounding a missing body and the deaths of five people on the train. There were some unrealistic moments but rather than put you off the story, they can be taken for some light hearted comedy moments.

I enjoyed reading this and will definitely be looking out for the authors other works.

This is my second time reading this author's novel. I couldn't appreciate this as a mystery but works for me as meta fiction. There is mystery in the novel, but it isn't clever or tightly paced mystery. You get few clues as the lead characters deduce them, so there's no sense of mystery.

But as meta fiction this book is really good. Author writing herself into the novel and bringing in the podcast members as characters. That's good.

Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill is a smart, atmospheric mystery set on the iconic Orient Express. Crime writer Joe Penvale and his sister find themselves caught in a string of murders during the journey, with plenty of nods to classic whodunits. Gentill blends clever dialogue, suspense, and a vivid cast of characters to keep the tension high. Though the pace lags a bit in the middle, the twists and setting make this a compelling read—perfect for fans of vintage-style mysteries with a modern twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy!

Five Found Dead was an intriguing and atmospheric mystery that felt a little like stepping into a real-life game of Clue. I had fun trying to figure out who was behind everything, and I definitely didn’t see the twist coming.

This wasn’t exactly my usual type of murder/thriller read — it had a different vibe and pacing than what I normally pick up. At times I found it a little hard to follow, with so many characters and shifting perspectives. The writing also had a bit of a tone or twang that took me a while to adjust to — maybe due to the author’s background or where it’s set — but it wasn’t a major issue, just something I noticed.

Overall, Five Found Dead is a unique, layered mystery perfect for readers who enjoy classic, slow-burn whodunits with a few surprises along the way.

Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill is a brilliantly crafted mystery that showcases Gentill’s trademark wit and intelligence. The story is fast-paced and full of twists, with a cleverly layered plot that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The characters are vivid and distinctive, each with their own secrets and motivations, making the unraveling of the mystery all the more engaging. Gentill masterfully blends suspense with literary flair, creating a murder mystery that’s both thrilling and thought-provoking. A must-read for fans of smart, character-driven crime fiction.

I recently read the woman in the library by this author, so I was excited to get to read and review this latest book and it didn't disappoint.
I loved the agatha christie feel of this book it was nostalgic.
I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Net Gally for the ARC. I've only read the Roland Sinclair series by Sulari Gentill so wasn't sure what to expected in a modern day setting but what i read was brilliant; i love this book. I can count on one hand the amount of books i have rated 5 starts and this is one of them - I could not put it down. The plot, the characters, the twists - i loved it all. It was funny, it was serious, it had everything. Will definitely re-read in a few years.

The author provides the reader with a puzzle and mystery that is centered around how Christie's story amplifies the travelers' own experience on the actual Orient Express and of their perceptions of the fellow passengers.

This theme is referred to quite often by the fictional character of crime fiction author Joe Penvale and his sister, lawyer Meredith, who embark on a journey on this famous train only to find themselves caught up in their own version of "Murder on the Orient Express".

Like the Christie novel, the reader meets Joe's fellow passengers on the train - in fact it is a train full of detectives of one sort or another. There is the locked room murder, all passengers are suspects as Joe put himself in the position of Poirot and investigates. Clues and red herrings abound, as the body count rises (a la Death on the Nile), and the author reveals that not all is what or who they seem.

An entertaining homage to the Queen of Crime.

I read the ARC on Netgalley in exchange for a honest review

This book is a fun and wild read, albeit it needs a bit of suspension of disbelief. It happens on the Orient Express (which is a real train again btw costing 2k$). The plot is intelligent and the twists are also well done.

I read this book in one day. Literally couldn't keep it down.

Thank you NetGalley! Joe and Meredith Penvale are twins who decide to have an adventure after his illness and board the Orient Express. This is a murder mystery, with an over abundance of characters in a very short book. Description of surroundings and characters are few, so I found it hard to be invested in the story or their plight. As the title states, five people were killed on the train. The setting isn’t original and revelation of the culprit didn’t feel all that shocking due to the lack of interest in the welfare of the nondescript characters. Although some may appreciate the final chapter, I found it mostly just repetitious. This was just okay for me.

I mean… who wouldn’t want to live their "Murder on the Orient Express" fantasy? Solve a train mystery, catch a killer mid-ride? Iconic. I want that.

I found myself flipping pages mostly just to keep track of who was still alive. (Yes, I was literally counting. “Okay, that’s one down… wait, that’s three now??”)

The title absolutely sets the tone in a fun way. You’re low-key dreading that fifth death the whole time. The fact that some random train passengers were like “let’s solve this murder” with zero training?? Wild. Love it.

At first, though, it was a bit of a mess. So many characters, one POV, and a plot that started off slow.While the plot was enjoyable and the twist at the end took me by surprise, I didn’t feel deeply connected to the characters. They each had a role to play, but I wished there had been more emotional depth or development to really draw me in.

Final thoughts: Not life-changing, but if you’re in the mood for a dramatic train ride with questionable logic and decent suspense, hop aboard.

This talented author has written a page turner. I like this author’s books. Warning: Do not start reading late at night. You will not want to put this novel down. Written somewhat like Agatha Christie, this story takes place on The Orient Express. Yes…indeed…another whodunit…Poirot is not present, but the cast of characters is intriguing…this is suspenseful…red herrings kept me guessing. I did not want this book to end. Written in a linear timeline with one narrator…likable characters for the most part…murders happening frequently…the glamor of the train excursion…the recipe for a book that is worth reading. I cannot wait for the next story from Gentill. Thanks Netgalley…five plus stars

Who wouldn’t want to solve the murder on the orient express? I found the plot behind this book extremely interesting and I was excited to read it. But I feel as if it fell short of my expectations. I found many aspects of it really confusing and hard to follow. I think that was because there were so many characters. Overall I enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t say it was a favorite. I think this could be better if the physical booo has a character list readers can refer back too. It does pick up, but not enough to keep me truly engaged.

Thank you so much netgalley and poisoned pen press for the ARC

Murder and Mystery? Yes please! I love a good thriller and this one did not disappoint. One of the better books I've been able to read. Unput downable and kept me engulfed the entire time trying to figure out what happened!

Five Found Dead is a modern murder mystery set on a luxury train during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The story follows twins Joe, a writer, and Meredith, a lawyer, who are celebrating Joe’s cancer recovery. But things take a dark turn when a cabin is found covered in blood — with no body inside.

As the train rolls on, more murders follow, and everyone becomes a suspect. The story is full of twists, red herrings, and a mix of interesting characters, many with police or legal backgrounds. It’s a clever tribute to classic mysteries like Murder on the Orient Express, but with a fresh, modern edge.

Some readers found the plot a bit complex with so many characters, but overall, it’s an engaging and suspenseful read for fans of murder mysteries.

The plot of this book was intriguing; it can't get any better than trying to solve a murder in the Orient Express. However, as I started to read the book, 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. TW in this story: cancer, COVID

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

Mystery writer John Penvale and his sister Meredith go travelling on the Orient Express, where they are witnesses of several crimes.

It was an interesting story set on the Orient Express, and I love books of train journeys. However, the story dragged a bit in the middle, as there were so many subplots happening.

This is my 3rd book with this author and really my 3rd different reading experience--which is a good thing. Sometimes when you read an author, you know exactly what you're going to get and the books remind you of one another (which can also be a good thing, if that's what you like). In this case, Gentill's books--the three I've read--have all had some literary theme, but the plots and delivery have been quite different. In this novel, we are aboard the Orient Express in an intentional, sort of meta, play on Murder on the Orient Express.

While some of the plot was a bit implausible and almost farcical, it was also a great deal of fun. I liked the setting and also the intentional and constant awareness of the Christie's original opus. The bodies start piling up and our protagonist, Meredith, and her mystery-writer brother Joe have to figure out the locked-room mystery before death comes knocking on their passenger carriage door.

This is a fast and fun read. Plan to go into it expecting a bit of a playful tone rather than a heavy, literary thriller. I hope Gentill keeps writing her literary themed books!

This book has a very interesting storyline. It’s about a journey on the orient express and like every train mystery out there a murder occurs. I think this concept was interesting when the author got passengers involved in the murders to figure out who the killer was. I think this book has some slow points but it’s overall a good story.

I really enjoyed this book. Kept me on my toes! I was not expecting the ending at all. Recommended on my book group on Facebook.