Kelly Oliver, The Case of the Body on the Orient Express, Boldwood Books, July 2025.


Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this uncorrected proof for review.

What an absorbing and enjoyable read Kelly Oliver has served up, along with the food that Dorothy L. Sayers consumes throughout the hunt for a murderer. Agatha Christie, only slightly more circumspect with her cups of cream that she enjoys at almost every turn of the plot, joins her, Eliza, and Theo on the Orient Express on its journey to Constantinople, as they knew Istanbul. Jane, Eliza Baker’s sister, also features, as a MI5 agent, introducing a spy theme to the ‘cosy mystery’ as this series is described. This is the first of the Detection Club series that I have read, and I look forward to more as I found it more enticing than the usual cosy mystery.

The combination of real and fictional characters is smart. Agatha’s trip has been arranged to help her recover from her husband, Archie’s, deception. However, personal despair is secondary to her enthusiasm for life – a possible trip to an archaeological dig, and closer to events on the Orient Express, a murder to solve. Her friendship with Dorothy provides plenty of discussion about writing, plotting a murder, and solutions. The introduction of the obnoxious Eric Blair adds to the deft weaving of fact and fiction, not at the Tom Stoppard level in his Rosencranz and Guildenstern Are Dead, but nevertheless, genuine fun. Eliza, Sayers’ companion, and secretary to the secretary of the London Detective Club (and formerly of Scotland Yard) is an engaging character, with her distaste for the humorous way the Club treats death, her commitment to her sister and beloved Queenie, her beagle. Theo Sharp, erstwhile chess companion who disappeared abruptly in the middle of a game, rejoins Eliza and the detective novelists on the Orient Express – in a steward’s uniform.

Death is an almost immediate companion as the Orient Express travels towards Istanbul. But it is accompanied by comic interludes, descriptions of Eliza’s and Jane’s shady past, sharp asides about Eric, who has renamed himself George Orwell, and the red herrings associated with any Agatha Christie plot. Kelly Oliver’s Death on the Orient Express owes something to the latter but has its own daring characters and plotting to make it very much her own. This is a comfortable but nicely harrowing read for a wintry night.

I like this series. like the characters and the setting. Mystery did keep me guessing, I hope for many more in this series.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

The second case involving members of the Detection Club, Eliza is informed at a meeting of the club that she will be travelling with her employer, secretary to the club Dorothy L Sayers to attend a Crime Writers’ Conference in Constantinople. The next day they board the Orient Express, along with another member of the club Agatha Christie, who is heading to an archaeological dig at Ur.
Also on the train, albeit as stewards are Theo and his friend Eric Blair, both aspiring authors recently living in Paris. All seems well until one of the first class passengers collapses and dies and his wife disappears.
It is up to Eliza and Theo to solve this, ably abetted by Dorothy and Agatha and of course Eliza’s sister Jane.
A really good read and my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

The writing was engaging and kept my interest from the beginning right through to the end. I really enjoyed the extra little details of the sights and smells surrounding the characters every so often. They added a well rounded feel to the story. I also enjoyed the romance that was added to the mix. It was a nice little side story to the mystery that I enjoyed reading about. It helped to give more emotion and tension to the overall story.

The chapters were long and sometimes split (indicated by a row of stars) so you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. I didn't really feel their length though as I was engrossed in the story.

There was a good pace to the story despite the long chapters. There was a lot of detail, but it added to the story rather than took your attention away. You were constantly moving forward and making progress with the story which was good.

There was a good flow between the chapters and I was happy to read it for long periods of time.

The characters were excellent. You do need to have read the first book to fully appreciate them and their relationship to each other. Quite a lot went on in the first book to build their personalities. I also enjoyed the blend of fact and fiction with regards to the characters (at the end of the story is a nice bit about what was fact and what was fiction). It gave the story a bit more life.

Lastly the settings. As I have mentioned they were well described with lots of little details such as specific sights and smells. I particularly enjoy it when food is described as I feel that it grounds the story well and gives it some realism.

Overall an excellent read. I would quite happily read more about all of these characters and follow them on their adventures.

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is the first Kelly Oliver novel I have read. I assumed that given the title and descriptions that said Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie were on board, they would have a larger role, but on the train, itself, They did little. Eliza, who is Dorothy's secretary, and Theo, who is in love with Eliza, were left to carry the action and narrate the novel. The plot was complex and even convoluted, more so than a typical Christie novel. would have been, since there are even a few chases. There are lots of secrets and secret codes in this cozy mystery.

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is the second novel Detection Club series. For a novel set on the Orient Express, readers would not know the setting if not in the title. There is no description of the Orient Express. Readers don't learn anything about the train, the rail cars, or the food and drink. This is a disappointingly missed opportunity. Don't waste that terrific setting. Very little research will provide terrific descriptions of the setting and how the train feels. What is first class like? Second class? Describe the cabin and the food.!

I did enjoy this fast-paced mystery. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC. I do recommend this mystery.

3.5 = 4stars

This was my first book by Kelly Oliver, and it was a simply delicious cozy mystery. Fast-paced easy read with wonderful relatable characters.

I look forward to reading more of Kelly's books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

How can we make sure the reader really understands that we're in the early 1900's? Oh I know, say knickerbocker 5 times on one page! This did have me looking us some things, like when did the term "True Crime" actually start popping up, I thought more recently but I guess it was 1700's and even earlier, and when did they start carrying around bottled water (but I think the term 'bottle' is used loosely here).

Romance was unneeded, but with most cozy mysteries, it will be there, just part of the formula. It didn't overtake the plot so it's ok.

My only feedback is if/when this gets an audiobook, please get them to do British accents for the British characters! I use the read aloud function and hearing it just plain American accent say "blimey" really takes you out of the story.

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is book 2 in the Detection Club mystery series by Kelly Oliver,.

The series features real life authors Agatha Christie, and Dorothy L. Sayers as characters, but although they play significant roles, they are not the main characters in the novels which makes the series a little different from other mystery series' I have read which feature these authors.

I have not read the first book in the series, and although I was curious about the back story, specifically between the two narrators, this book is easily read as a standalone novel.

Speaking of narrators, the story is mainly told in third person from the points of view of Eliza, Dorothy L. Sayers' assistant, and Theo, an aspiring writer who has a bit of a history with Eliza.

I half expected the mystery in this book to reflect the mystery from the famous Agatha Christie novel, but other than being set on the Orient Express and having numerous characters who serve as suspects, there didn't seem to be much similarity between the two stories. In fact, I found this to be less of a traditional mystery, and more a story of espionage. Personally I'm not a huge fan of stories involving spies, so I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped, but it was still an okay read.

If you like murder mysteries where the location limits the suspects, and don't mind the espionage aspect thrown in, then you may enjoy this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read the first in this series in February and really enjoyed it, so was really happy to join the crew again, this time on the Orient Express. Seemed fitting for Agatha to be involved 😊

On their way to a writers conference in Istanbul, Dorothy bumps into an old friend who is not her first choice for a travelling companion. Within no time at all, he drops dead and she is a prime suspect. Eliza doesn’t believe this and sets her sights on finding the real killer.

Before long, more old friends have turned up and everyone gets involved. This is the perfect cosy mystery series by an author who is one of my favourite cosy mystery writers, I can’t wait for another in this series.

When traveling with Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers on the Orient Express, one can certainly expect dangerous possibilities to occur. Sayers is accompanied by her intrepid secretary, Eliza, who is the story’s POV. Traveling across Europe to a Crime Writer’s Convention in Constantinople/Istanbul. Set as Christie has just ended her marriage to her first husband and not great reviews for her latest book, Sayers is also dealing with her own ghosts from her past. When someone from Sayers’ past dies on the train, Sayers is a suspect. Eliza and her friend, Theo, work together to solve the mystery before Sayers is arrested. Sometimes, the POV switches to Theo’s and that can be a challenging transition. While the writing is well done, Theo’s unrequited love thoughts for Eliza can get a bit tiresome.
This is the second book in this series and the premise is such a good one. I look forward to the next book in this series.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author (and the second in The Detection Club series) and I’m officially so invested. I loved the first one, and this follow-up was just as delightful!

This time, Eliza is traveling alongside Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers aboard the legendary Orient Express, and the setting could not be more perfect. Vintage glamour, hidden secrets, and a murder that hits a little too close to home. When a man with ties to both authors ends up dead, Eliza once again in the wrong place at the wrong time starts pulling at threads, and what she uncovers is anything but simple.

I was completely hooked from the moment they boarded the train. The pacing felt just right, the mystery was layered and clever, and the historical cameos (yes, even that one!) were such a treat. But what really kept me invested were the emotional undercurrents: Eliza’s past, her complicated feelings toward Theo, and that quiet sense of not quite knowing where she belongs. Her dynamic with Dorothy and Agatha is also fascinating, professional, a little messy, and very human. The historical setting, the cameos from classic mystery icons, the sharp dialogue, I was hooked. This series is the perfect mix of cozy, smart and stylish and I can’t wait for the next instalment.

A huge thank-you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’m already counting down to the next one! This series is fast becoming a favorite.

Oh what a joy this was to read.

Set in 1928: Agatha Christie and fellow writer Dorothy L Sayers board the Orient Express, along with Eliza Dorothys assisant.

There is murder, mystery and a touch of romance and fans of this genre along with the real life main characters will just find this cozy read just a delight.

I loved the setting, the story and I want more of the same

What do you get if you put Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers on the Orient Express? Why murder of course. In this the latest installment of the Detection Club cosy series the two authors find themselves caught up in a real life murder as they travel across Europe to attend a Crime Writer’s Convention in Constantinople/Istanbul.
While Christie is looking for distraction from her own concerns such as her divorce and the poor response to her latest book, Sayers finds herself surrounded by ghosts from her past. When the passenger Sayers is having a drink with drops dead, the evidence suggests that she has motive and it seems opportunity. Travelling with Sayers is her intelligent, resourceful secretary, Eliza and it soon falls to her and her friend Theo to look into the murder and a race against time and a speeding train to find the evidence that will prove Sayers' innocence, but as with the plots of any Christie or Sayers novel, there are more twists, turns and red herrings for the reader to weave through before the solution is reached.
Oliver’s plot is complicated, but all clues and misclues fall into place and the reader is left with a sense of satisfaction by the final line. The writing is clear, but sophisticated. The characters are well-crafted and engaging, capturing the reader’s sympathy and admiration, leaving them wanting more. The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is an exciting and fulfilling read.

Eliza is traveling aboard the Orient Express with Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie on their way to a book conference. When Dorothy sees someone she used to know she becomes upset and has an argument with him. When he dies after eating a meal Dorothy becomes a suspect. When another Author is murdered Eliza and Theo try to solve the case before anyone else is killed. This was a fun story and I recommend it.

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express brings back the ladies in the Detection Club cozy mystery series. Mystery writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers are traveling on the famed Orient Express with Dorothy’s trusted assistant Eliza to Constantinople. Someone from Dorothy’s past is on the train making threats before he drops dead. Then a whistleblower writer is murdered too. Eliza and her friend Theo begin investigating murders were even Dorothy is on the suspect list. Suspenseful and unpredictable, the story twists and turns as Eliza shows the star investigator she is while the not so subtle hints of romance with Theo light up the story. Wonderful characters and page turning suspense make this story another enjoyable historical mystery that will put this author firmly on my must read shelf. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Book 2 in the Detention Club Mysteries, find Agatha and Dorothy aboard the Orient Express on their way to a Writers convention in Constantinople..

Eliza, Dorothy's assistant, who had worked for Scotland Yard and Theo her long time friend become involved in the death of one of the passengers not long after departure. They are not convinced that the death was from natural causes and when another body if found, murder is definitely on their minds.

The book will have you intrigued from beginning to end ... a must read for all!!

Have you ever wondered about the real story behind the famous Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie released in 1934 featuring the now famous Hercule Poirot.
The Case of the Body on the Orient Express could be the answer to this time old mystery as Agatha Christie, still barely coping after her recent divorce, agrees to join her friend and fellow Crime writer Dorothy L Sayer at the International Writers Convention in Constantinople.
Eliza Baker is Secretary to Dorothy Sayers, a position she has held for two years, after she left her position with Scotland Yard. When her sister Jane arrives with a very impressive blue and gold envelope containing her ticket on the Orient Express, she realises Dorothy was serious about her attendance.
And so begins another riveting adventure with the new heroine of sleuth in Eliza Baker, a young woman with a very shady past, a career with Scotland Yard as a Detective cur short in tragic circumstance, a sister who works for a clandestine Government department and a somewhat broken heart due to Theo Sharpe, a man to whom she gave her heart, who then ran away to Paris.
When a body, a friend of both Dorothy and Agatha’s is discovered on the Orient Express Eliza begins to investigate what happened as best she can with the help of Theo, who she has discovered is working on the train as a Steward.
A second death occurs before the train reaches Constantinople making things murkier than they were already and the so-called script written by Peachy, a long-time friend of Dorothy, is at the centre of what and why people are being murdered.
Once they get to Constantinople, and Jane is there in her capacity with the Government, Eliza and Theo begin to understand that there is a far deeper and murkier layer to this than even they understood which places not just Eliza and Theo in grave danger but everyone who has ever had anything to do with Peachy at risk.
The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is a fast paced, complex and a thoroughly enjoyable cozy murder that just might answer a few questions as to where crime writers get their stories. Look out for the obnoxious Orson Wells as well as he plays a small but persistent part in trying to sleaze his way into Eliza’s bed!

Another Detection Club mystery investigation, The Case of the Body on the Orient Express (2025) by Kelly Oliver is an historic gentle crime tale. Dorothy Sayers, Kelly Oliver and Agatha Christie travel on the Orient Express to attend the International Writers’ Convention in Istanbul. Dorothy is upset by the presence of a former lover, now married, who is murdered in his cabin. Once again, Kelly Oliver has to find the killer amongst a number of suspects and possible Obsidian cartel involvement. A second murder complicates matters as the police investigate and the writers attend the conference. Whilst based on an actual 1920s supper club, that Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie were part of, their characters are somewhat of bit parts in the story. An enjoyable enough gentle crime mystery, it lacks sufficient tension and has a three star read rating. With thanks to Boldwood Books and the author for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

Picture this: Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, two of the golden age’s most celebrated crime writers, are boarding the legendary Orient Express, bound for Constantinople.

Christie is hoping for a break from her recent troubles, but before she can barely settle into the luxury of the train’s first-class carriages, a fellow passenger drops dead during dinner.

And guess who finds herself the prime suspect? None other than Dorothy Sayers, who was the last person to speak to the victim.

It then falls to Sayers’ assistant, Eliza, and her friend Theo, two amateur sleuths, to navigate a twisting maze of suspects as the train barrels eastward.

The chase to find the killer before they reach Constantinople becomes a race against time, with the group chasing clues with a murderer hot on their heels.

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What makes The Case of the Body on the Orient Express especially fun is how Kelly Oliver weaves in historical fact with fiction. Christie and Sayers were indeed real-life acquaintances and members of the Detection Club, a society of mystery writers.

It’s meta-fiction at its best, where we get to enjoy the thrill of a fictional mystery while appreciating the real historical connections behind it.

The only negative for me were the overly gushy declarations of love from Theo for Eliza, which can be a bit much at times.

That said, there's a cheeky nod in the book about one author’s tendency to go overboard with flowery prose, so maybe Oliver intended Theo’s romantic gestures to be a bit of an ironic joke.

Either way, it’s a minor quibble because the book is a page-turner that transports you to the golden age of crime writing, yet with a story that feels fresh, making it perfect for readers who love cozy mysteries with a historical twist.

With thanks to NetGalley for the early copy in return for an honest review.

This book is a cozy mystery to remember. I loved finding all the different references to real life people including Agatha herself. The setting was detailed and beautifully crafted which made the book enjoyable and a unique experience. I loved reading mysteries of all kinds and this book was an excellent introduction to Kelly Oliver!