Meredith and Joe board the Orient Express to celebrate his recovery, and in hope that the settings will inspire him to write his next book. However, things take a turn when the siblings wake up to find the compartment next to theirs covered in blood, even though there's no body in sight. As they join a group of other passengers to try and figure out what has happened, the murder of the steward that was guarding the crime scene marks the beginning of a killing spree.

This was honestly such a silly, fun, entertaining read, with an interesting premise. It's such an absurd, completely out there, maybe a little ridiculous story, but in the best way possible. There are many characters to keep track of, which sometimes can be a little confusing, but they're all fun and distinct enough to make it a little easier the more you get into what is going on. The writing is very descriptive, which makes the story very atmospheric, and makes it easier to imagine you're on the train with these characters as everything unfolds. It is set during COVID, and there's a whole plot about it, which I honestly didn't really like— it felt like there already; definitely a great one to binge on a cosy day.

Loved it! Who wouldn't when it combines a modern day Murder on the Orient Express retelling with a great sibling sleuth duo, plus a dozen cops, detectives and lawyers all resembling different sleuths from various Agatha Christie, and perhaps other, novels. It's quite convincing how so many dead bodies could pile up on a train and people could temporarily disappear. I loved the conclusion, but I also felt like it was slightly out of place with a case of identity game-play. That said, totally kept my interest and I'd love to see a sequel for the siblings to star in another murder mystery.

What an entertaining mystery to solve aboard a train! I have no desire to set foot on a train because I have read too many murders aboard them lately. LOL This one is actually intriguing and hilarious. Not sure if it was intended to be but the duo brother and sister Joe & Meredith were an absolute joy to ride along with. If you are a fan of "Murder on the Orient Express" then you will enjoy these travelers.
Joe is on an eventful excursion as a crime writer to refresh and reinvent after his cancer treatments. His sister is taking a hiatus from her corporate lawyer job to encourage and share the adventure with him.
~Many characters alert~ Most of the characters on the train come in handy with their investigative jobs when 5 people are found dead and 1 missing. The first is next to their cabin when they discover a Bloody scene but no victim, which should have been a man in Cabin 16G.
There are many speculations about each traveler and even more humorous discussions. A surprising twist will be worth this locked room mystery. There are some characters that are sincerely locked in a room after they tested positive for COVID. Joe has lots of options in writing his book after solving this real life mystery. It is enjoyable! I think the author is very talented and have enjoyed all of her books.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read early!

If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, cozy crime and locked door mysteries, this is THE book for you!

A modern reimagining of Murder on the Orient Express, a crime writer and his twin duster board the historical train, on the search for inspiration for his next novel.
The historical setting and obnoxious characters get him in the mood.
But the whole exploration goes awry as a bloody crime scene in their neighboring cabin is discovered.

A wild goose chase starts as the twins and a suspicious amount of police, special forces and even spies try to solve the murder as the bodies keep piling up and also a new variant of COVID is spreading through the train.

This was so fun, I found myself getting sucked into the story and nearly seeing the opulent train! The characters were pretty two-dimensional but absolutely entertaining.

I almost read the entire book in one sitting with only a few pages to spare before I fell asleep.

Fun dialogue, twists after twists and the perfect crime, what a journey!

Unfortunately I found the solution to be pretty dull, I was hoping for a bigger surprise.

A murder mystery set on the Orient Express is my catnip and I couldn't wait to read this! Gentill sets her latest on the famous mystery train with lots of references to Agatha Christie's famous novel. Joe and Meredith set out to solve the mystery as the bodies continue to drop with lots of other detectives on board as well. The story was riveting and moved along at a steady pace. Two things I struggled with was the mention of cancer throughout the story and her using Covid as a plot device. Otherwise, I think it was a great mystery that I would recommend for Agatha Christie and mystery fans!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5 stars

A new take on a favorite mystery setting -- the Orient Express. Successful author Joe Penvale, a recent cancer survivor, and his twin Meredith, sign up for the storied train journey as a reward and celebration for the end of his medical ordeal. Joe has had writer's block since his treatment ended and hopes to rediscover his groove. Meredith stepped away from her corporate attorney life while Joe was ill and is ready to branch out into a new life.

It's obvious pretty quickly that this is an unusual group of passengers, including a high number of people involved in crime, security, or law enforcement. Almost immediately the compartment next to Joe and Meri is found deserted, covered in blood, but with no body. And then the corpses begin piling up.

Lots of characters, but not too many to keep track of. Joe and Meri are likable sleuths and this is well paced and entertaining with a few surprises along the way. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Five Found Dead is the fourth stand-alone novel by award-wining, best-selling Australian author, Sulari Gentill. Meredith Penvale had put her career as a corporate lawyer on hold to support her twin brother, Joe through his cancer journey. Now with the all-clear, they are celebrating with a trip on the Orient Express, Paris to Istanbul. Meri is hoping it will spark the muse, worryingly absent during the cancer treatment, that helped Joe hit the best-seller list with his first crime novel.

Joe tells her that he can feel the presence of Christie, Hitchcock and co on the train, and she’s pleased to see him tapping away on his laptop already. While they don’t have a rotund Belgian detective for company at dinner, they do get an attractive retired French gendarme and a Jamaican-born Novocastrian policewoman on vacation, and they have fun speculating about their fellow travellers. The Orient Express is everything they dreamed of.

The next morning, things are different: the cabin next door to Joe and Meri’s is thoroughly blood-splattered, but there’s no sign of the body of the unfriendly man they encountered going in the night before. The train manager places a steward on guard at the cabin’s door, but too soon, the man is absent, only to be found later, stabbed to death.

At which point, the manager gathers together passengers (as you do) with a background in police work, the law, or a connection with the elusive passenger. There’s a surprising number of them, and he reasons that surely this wide knowledge base will be able to prevent further deaths. Think again! Meri is included for her legal expertise, irrelevant though it may be, and Joe is included by default: she’s not leaving him behind alone. They deduce, he sits in the middle and turns it into a novel.

Passengers (an entitled bunch) are none too pleased to be confined to cabins. And just to add another twist, the last two passengers on at Gare de l’Est test positive for a highly virulent strain of COVID; OE management quarantines the end two carriages, and outside communications are disabled. What else can go wrong?

What a wonderfully quirky cast of characters! Law enforcement officers, past and present, from a wide variety of jurisdictions, many of whom seem to know something of the missing passenger; two Australian podcasters well known to Joe and Meri; a Duchess and her tame Chicago cop; a pair of Miss Marple-like old women; a finance guy and his travel-writer wife; a Russian gangster; and a woman who might be stalking Joe.

It’s easy to see that the author had a lot of fun with this, and also called on some personal experience, all to good effect. There are clues and distractions and red herrings, enough to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the reveal. Tongue-in-cheek hilarious!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press.

3.5 closed train stars

This is my third book by this author, and this one features the famous Orient Express. There are numerous references to Agatha Christie, including a character reminiscent of Hercule Poirot. I also liked all the descriptions of the train.

The main characters are a set of twins, Joe and Meredith. Joe has just survived a battle with cancer, and the train trip is a celebration. It’s very fitting as he’s a crime writer and wants to get the creative juices flowing again. There’s also a pair of true crime podcasters on the train, creating content for their show.

As the train leaves Paris, heading to Istanbul, it doesn’t take long before the first crime happens, in the cabin right next door to Meredith and Joe. We learn about the stewards on the train and how they aim to provide a wonderful experience for all passengers. They are also now pressed into service as security!

Some passengers are also pressed into service to solve the crimes; conveniently, many of them have some connection to the police. Then, there’s an outbreak of COVID for some of the passengers, causing even more chaos, searching for a murderer while quarantining sick passengers.

As the title suggests, there are five dead by the end, and it’s shocking! There’s a madcap atmosphere on the train, and many things feel unrealistic. There was entertainment value in this one, but quite a few characters to keep track of for the reader. In another nod to Christie, the final chapter provides a brief recap from the podcasters, explaining many of the key events.

I really enjoyed this mystery novel. I thought all of the characters were really well-developed and the dynamics and interactions between them were captivating. The plot was solid, but it did drag a little in the middle. The idea of hosting this book on the Orient Express was also genius since it's such an atmospheric location.

I really liked the throwback to the Christie nuances in this novel.

Overall, this was a really solid mystery thriller and I'd be excited to read more of Sulari Gentill's novels.

4.5 Stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this mystery/thriller that echoes Agatha Christy's Murder on the Orient Express. This journey on the same train running from Paris, Venice, and to Istanbul, is implausible and over-the-top. It ranged from silly to ridiculous. Some passages, whether intentional or not, were hilarious. I loved it and was highly entertained.

The luxury of the train's decor, meals, and services lures guests into a sense of relaxation and pleasure. The tickets are expensive, and this is the summit of their longed-for dream journey. Many of the new passengers had a history in the law or its enforcement. This is a twisted and tangled tale containing shocking revelations and the unravelling of secrets.

The story is told in the first person by Meredith, who is travelling with her twin brother, Joe. He is recuperating from a life-threatening, lengthy illness and has been unable to focus and write a second bestselling book. Meredith hopes the trip will inspire him.

The contentment and pleasure of the trip are soon disrupted, and the trip dissolves into one of fear, anger, and unscheduled stops. The passengers and staff are intriguing, some with secret motives and identities. I wish the book had included a list and brief description of the many characters named. Some guests came aboard infected with a new, deadly, and highly infectious COVID strain, and are forcibly confined and quarantined to small cabins at the back of the train.

One of the passengers has vanished and may be dead. He was inside a cabin locked from the inside. The room is blood-soaked with no window exit. The missing man was known by several names, and nobody can figure out what happened to him. Next, two stewards from the efficient and attentive staff, and a passenger claiming to be a detective, are found murdered. No one understands why the train has turned around. At one stop, uniformed men fire guns as a warning not to disembark. The passengers are overwhelmed by fear, especially when those sick with COVID break out of confinement. Before the multi-layered, convoluted mystery is resolved, two young men who were recording events for their blogging site have been killed.

Highly recommended for prospective readers who don't mind an implausible but entertaining tale and
where the solution to the mysteries is almost impossible to predict. Publication is scheduled for August 19/2025.

It's been awhile since I read an Agatha Christie but Murder on the Orient Express was always a fav. The Orient Express is a bucket list item for me so I was super excited about the setting for this cozy murder mystery. I really enjoyed the 2 main characters - Joe and Meridith and thought their sibling dynamic was fun. This novel read a bit like a game of "Clue" to me with its' far fetched nature and the large number of suspects. If you can put aside a need for reality (despite the number of COVID references) you will most likely find yourself enjoying the ride! I wasn't surprised to read that the author Sulari Gentill has had her own experience with cancer recently as she writes about cancer with insight, understanding and sensitivity. While I overall enjoyed this read and found it entertaining, I have to admit I found it dragged on a bit in the last 3rd and I kept waiting for it to be all tied up.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press and the author Sulari Gentill for providing me an ARC in exchange for this review.
3.5 stars!

Five Found Dead is a cross between Murder on the Orient Express and the game Clue. It's a fast-paced read where it seemed anyone could be the killer. With a train full of real detectives, the fact that an author and his sister are the two who figure it out (almost) was interesting. The characters are off-beat, but interesting and the setting was perfect. It's a classic whodunits with a fresh spin.

I received this advance review copy from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.

This book had a lot of good potential. It felt like a modern day Clue. The characters started out very interesting and the bodies being found kicked off a great start. Sadly, it started to drag quite a bit through some areas that felt like they didn’t need to be pushed. I did struggle about halfway through as it was dragging too much. I did manage to finish. Upon finishing, I can appreciate the storyline and the way it was written however it lacked some characters development, storyline engagement and overall needed to be beefed up in terms of some suspense.

While I wouldn’t use it in a classroom, this is a good leisure read.

Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill presents an interesting premise with a blend of mystery and suspense, but unfortunately, it didn’t fully meet my expectations. The story has a lot of potential, and I appreciated the dark atmosphere and the buildup of tension. However, the execution didn’t quite live up to the intrigue I had hoped for.

The plot is engaging initially, with the discovery of five bodies setting the stage for a compelling investigation. However, the pacing felt uneven sometimes, and certain parts of the story dragged on longer than necessary. The character development was also lacking, and I found connecting with the leading players challenging.

Gentill’s writing style is solid, and the mystery kept me interested enough to finish the book. This book could be an excellent read for fans of slow-burn thrillers, but it didn’t quite captivate me the way I hoped.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book overall—it had a great plot with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing. It follows a brother and sister on the Orient Express as several passengers mysteriously disappear. They take it upon themselves to investigate, trying to determine whether these people were murdered, what happened to the bodies, and who the culprit might be.

There was more swearing than I usually prefer, but the story itself was really engaging and well-written. It took a while to figure out who the suspect was, which made the mystery all the more compelling.

I was given this book as an ARC to read and review for NetGalley.

An Agatha Christie Homage, locked room mystery on a train with interesting and fun characters.
Smooth read, cozy and atmospheric vibes.
Overall fun and entertaining.

The only thing I didn't like is the transcript of the podcast episode at the end of the book. Didn't bring anything more to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sulari Gentill and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super fun and cozy mystery/who dunnit. There was a very large cast of characters with an array of personalities and some other languages briefly thrown in. This did take me longer than normal to read, it just didn’t hold my attention like some other books do. That being said, it’s worth picking up and trying something a little different!

Thank you to Sulari Gentill, NetGalley, and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I think if I read this at a different time/different head space I would have enjoyed this a lot more. It’s a very meta book, a murder on the Orient Express talking about the book Murder On The Orient Express. (Which I still haven’t read because it was spoiled for me and this was how I realized I no longer remember the spoiler)

The book was slow at times and I think could of improved upon pacing with maybe multiple perspectives. There’s a large cast of characters and only one narrator. The twists/conclusion was surprising and done well.

It's no secret that I have a weak spot for locked room mysteries... It's probably one of my favorite tropes, so it's easy to understand why I wanted to read Five Found Dead as soon as I heard about it. Then I saw it was set aboard the famous Orient Express with references to some of the most famous classics, and there was no way that I was going to be able to resist reading it. I do have to say that I ended up being a bit on the fence about Five Found Dead instead of finding a new favorite though.

Don't get me wrong, the premise is without doubt fantastic and I loved that both this book and one of the characters in play (Joe) want to put a twist of some of the famous Orient Express stories out there. The train setting is hands down one of my favorite parts of the story; that and the Agatha Christie feel of the murders and some of the characters. That said, things ended up being WAY over the top to be actually credible, and I think that Hercule Poirot would turn in his grave if he saw the sloppy investigation techniques being used.

I think that part of where Five Found Dead ended up losing me had everything to do with the enormous cast of characters. I get why we have to have a big cast of potential suspects and victims for this locked room mystery to work, but it was almost impossible to keep them all apart and quite a few of them were considerably one-dimensional and cliche. Add the fact that there were plenty of stupid decisions and shoddy investigation moments to endure, and hanging out with our narrator Meredith could get quite frustrating.

I also can't say that I was a fan of the big focus on COVID in the plot. I get why the author incorporated it into the plot to add another twist and make certain things happen, but it's not a topic I enjoy reading about and there were way too many pandemic references to my taste. I would honestly have much preferred a different reason for the train to fail to reach its destination... But this might just be a personal pet peeve.

Like I said before, I did enjoy the bookish elements in the plot... Both the references and the fact that one of the main characters is an author. I also can't deny that Five Found Dead was a quick and mostly fun read. Sure, certain twists were predictable while others were so over the top that they were completely ridiculous, but if you look past the credibility the plot can be quite entertaining. Certain parts were just too much though, and my eyebrows ended up having quite a workout along the way.

In the end, there were things I loved about Five Found Dead, while other elements didn't work all that well for me. It's still a quick and entertaining read if you can look past the fact that a lot about the plot just doesn't make sense... Just make sure to be prepared to suspend your disbelief and have a notebook ready to keep track of all those characters in play.

How many people can die on one train? Who can figure out the murderer?

Crime fiction author, Joe, and his twin sister, Meredith, board the famed Orient Express for a train ride of a lifetime after successfully beating cancer. Hoping to get inspiration for his next book, they get way more than what they bargained for.

Well-written but often hard to follow for this American girl with the different phrases and languages thrown in. Lots of googling while reading done on my part.