This was a book that the publisher offered to me - thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity.

I found this booked a little repetitive. Theo kept repeating to himself how much he admired Eliza, and she thinking how much she esteemed Theo. And the story as well, repeating the details of the investigation into the two murders on the Orient Express. I eventually started to skip sections, and read only every other paragraph. I won't be reading any more of this series.

When Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie decide to attend a writers’ conference in Istanbul/Constantinople, it’s a given that Eliza Baker will be traveling with them on the Orient Express.

Dorothy meets a couple men from her past. One is an old friend, Peachy Fitzroy but Eliza isn’t sure how to describe the other one, Ivan Grigor. Ivan gives her the creeps. Once Dorothy sees Ivan, she refuses to leave her cabin.

Eliza thinks she is alone to investigate until she glimpses Theo out of the corner of her eye. Theo had suddenly left her a couple of years ago and she’d been unable to forget him. Eventually they connect on the train, and she discovers that he has been living like a homeless person with some guy named Eric who was a little too touchy feely with her. The two men were also on their way to the writers’ conference. Eric’s pen name was George Orwell. He was the reason the men were working the train so that Eric could experience life as a poor person.

Eliza’s sister Jane, who works as an agent for MI5, left London before Eliza on assignment. When Eliza explained that she couldn’t take her beagle Queenie with her, Jane took her with her.

When a body is discovered, there are numerous suspects and Eliza isn’t sure that Dorothy might not be one of them. Could Dorothy be so upset that she could kill someone for real?

When the victim’s wife disappears and a second body is found, Jane arrives on the train with Queenie. Eliza then realizes she may be in over her head.

This feels like a homage to Murder on the Orient Express. I love the interaction between Agatha and Dorothy.

I am also looking forward to see what happens with the romance between Theo and Eliza. Will they ever accept that they are in love or will they be star crossed lovers?

The book starts in both London with the ladies and Paris with Theo and Eric. Most of the action happens on the Orient Express. It’s an interesting look at how it was to travel back then. The difference between first and second class. There are plenty of interesting characters, some you love and some you don’t. I loved the atmosphere. At times, it felt like I was riding on the rails with them. I could hear and feel the click of the tracks.

Kelly Oliver uses description like an artist. She is subtle, only highlighting what is important and hiding clues like breadcrumbs for the reader to follow.

I love that she used real life characters whose story lines are woven through the story. I have long been an Agatha Christie fan, so I try to read anything about her. I have yet to discover Dorothy L Sayers books. I loved that she included George Orwell and how she created his character.

I also liked the settings. The Café in Bagdad and the cave in the desert.

If you are a fan of the Golden Age mysteries, you would love this series.

This is the second in the Detective Club series that I was lucky enough to get an advance readers copy of. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for gifting me a copy for my honest review. You have introduced me to another favorite author.

Scheduled release: July 14th.

Thanks to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for the chance to read this.

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is an intriguing and delightfully imaginative mystery that blends real historical figures with fictional characters in a clever, if slightly cheesy, way. The use of real-life personalities adds a playful charm, though at times it can feel a bit much. Still, it’s a creative twist that ultimately works in the story’s favour.

The cast is truly lovely—engaging, varied, and well-developed—which makes the journey all the more enjoyable. While I found the romantic subplot somewhat distracting and not entirely necessary, it didn’t take too much away from the overall narrative.

The final section of the book is particularly compelling, full of twists and momentum that kept me hooked right through to the end. It definitely left me eager to continue with the series.

Although I hadn’t read the first book prior to this, I didn’t feel lost—and I’m now planning to go back and catch up!

I love the idea of creating a cozy mystery with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers as characters! That said, they were not filled out very well as characters and played quite a minor role in this story. I thought the author created the feel of the time and place well. The mystery itself was a bit all over the place. It was hard to follow the whodunit aspect of the plot. It was more of an espionage suspense story which made it less appealing for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This is a charming concept for a historical mystery! It’s the 1920s and esteemed novelists Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers are on the Orient Express, on their way to Constantinople for the International Writers' Convention. Someone is discovered murdered, Dorothy is implicated and her assistant Eliza tries to figure out who the culprit is. It’s a fun, though not deep, mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I am typically not a Historical Fiction reader, but I love a good cozy mystery. With that being said, this was a bit difficult for me to get into the story. I didn't read the first book, and I don't think I missed much because the important bits were brought up in this book. Not to say I won't go back and read the first book at some point.

I liked Eliza's character and her background in law enforcement and her martial arts training. I wanted to like Theo but I felt like his whole personality revolved around his attraction/love for Eliza. I don't feel like I really know much about him even though he was prominent in the book.

I enjoyed the dual POV of Eliza and Theo. Once I really got into the story, I was also trying to figure out who the killer was or of it was more than one. I do wish there had been more of a complete ending with what happens after Jane goes on her mission. Hopefully that storyline will pick up in the next book.

Overall this was a pretty good story and intriguing murder mystery.

I want to say thank you to the author the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book.

I didn't realize when I read this book at first that it was a second in a new series. You can read this book on it own, however you would benefit from reading the previous book, as some of the events are alluded too. I kind of actually wish the author had done a couple quick recap paragraphs where appropriate to catch you up, it would have helped the story a little more, and not taken away from it. But it's okay as is. Aside from that, the book despite being smaller seems a lot longer than it truly is, and I don't know what it is about it that does that. It might be because of the many allusions to the previous book, without prior background knowledge for me that makes it seem that way. I'm honestly not sure.

Apart from that the book does flow well, it is a dual-pov, and Theo's pov has such beautiful internal prose, that works amazing with his writer persona. Eliza's is a bit different, she is rather brash, and comes across as a lot more Sherlock Holmes like than what has been captured on paper. There's some recall issues where it's ends up taking a bit to register that an important fact has already been mentioned for her, that are very obviously notable to the reader, and it draws a little from the story. But she works, she reminds me a lot of an adult Enola Holmes more than a Sherlock. The authors descriptions in this book are where she really shines. They are perfect! They're not too much, they're perfect and they're perfectly immersive. I felt the whole time like I was along for the ride.

What stole my heart the most were the historical mentions to other real life individuals! Well the time line is changed a tiny bit from reality, I loved the real historical references to the real life Detectors club and George Orwell. The author really brought to life some real life historical moments (some characters with slight name and fate changes that don't impact it that much) for Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and a nod to G. K. Chesterton the author of the Father Brown mysteries which I loved reading! My love for real history was brought out so much because of this book and I can't thank the author enough for it!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to read and love this book! I really appreciate it!

Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers,. accompaonied by assistant/secretary Eliza, are on the Orient Ezxpress
on their way to the International Writers' Convention in Constantinople. When an old acquaintance of Dorothy's
drops dead, Dorothy is a suspect due to their past relationship. As Eliza looks into the backgrounds of fellow
passengers helped by her friend. When a fellow writer is murdered is murdered, the two search for the manuscript
he left behind. The investigation will involve a crime syndicate as well as Eliza's sister Jane who works for M15,
British Intelligence. Lives are at stake as it becomes a race against time.
#TheCaseoftheBodyontheOrientExpress #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley

If you are someone who enjoys historical Fiction and mystery novels then my good friend this is the book for you. Not only does it have that it has a bevy of authors appearing such as Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, George Orwell, and so on. You've heard of the phrase a play within a play this a pretty much a book within a book!
Our setting takes place in the 1920's and both Dorothy and Agatha are on a train to Constantinople.They are joined by otheer authors on the train as well. However, despite the amazing company things take a turn for the worse when one of the authors is found dead! Worse Dorothy is found to be a suspect because the author had some leverage against her.
However, Dorothy's assistant Eliza jumps in to solve the case. Once Eliza figures out Dorothy is in the clear. However another murder takes place and the next suspect is nowhere to be found. Eliza will then have to go on a great journey to find this person before somebody else does.
I will admit this was very interesting from the start. I have never read the mentioned authors but after reading this I think I will check them out.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own