The Poisoned Petal Express: A Charlotte Wren Cozy Mystery

by Finley Page

A snowbound train. A poisoned influencer. And nowhere to run from a killer.

Librarian Charlotte Wren lives by lists and schedules, craving order.

When she inherits a mystery bookstore from a great-aunt she barely knew, she boards the Poisoned Petal Express with her packed suitcase.
One impulsive rescue of a shivering golden retriever named Bessie sparks chaos.

Charlotte’s careful plans collapse in minutes.

When ruthless influencer Dylan Rhinehart is found dead in his compartment during a blizzard, the elegant train becomes a locked-room on rails.

With sidekick Bessie, charming travel writer Theo Parker, and rookie Deputy Mindy Collier, Charlotte must crack the case.

Was it the flamboyant magician he humiliated? The ice-queen socialite shielding her husband’s past? Or the quiet chef with a family secret Rhinehart aimed to expose?

As snowdrifts bury the train and suspects grow desperate, Charlotte must unmask the killer before they realize she’s seen too much. On this train, everyone aboard hides secrets, but only one is worth killing for.

72 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 8, 2025

Reviews

[Cornel Diaconu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this (short) story quite a lot ... especially the beginning, where Charlotte rescue a stray dog, and unexpectadly (not to mention illegaly) boards up this dog, hiding her (Bessie is the name she concocted for this dog) in her compartment.
Well, Bessie leads Charlotte to the compartment of the nasty influencer (ughhh, what a nasty word, this one) that lies dead, poisoned.
Could the title, as well as the name of the train, Poison Petal Express, be a coincidence ? I tend to believe it's not.

[Lorraine O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte, a librarian, has received an inheritance from a great aunt she never heard of, a bookstore. She must see the store in person before making an decisions about it per the will. She has the habit of making lists and checking and rechecking them. She has been told by her family and her ex that she is damaged, her brain doesn't function normally. So she packs her suitcase and heads to the train station in NJ to head up to Vermont to see her new bookstore. As she is standing on the platform, she sees a filthy, wet dog shivering violently next the a pillar. She was always ridiculed for saving strays but before she could stop herself she goes over to the dog. She throws her gray sweater over the dog and sneaks it on the train with the help of a very nice man. She names the dog Bessie. The nice guy, Theo Parker, a travel writer asks her to diner on the train. This is an overnight trip. While eating diner, they hear & see this awful man going up to certain tables and making very outrageous comments to them. During the night, Bessie starts crying and pawing at the door. Charlotte opens it & she takes off down the corridor. She stops outside 8B where the door is partially open. The dog sits and doesn't move. Charlotte uses her phone flashlight & shines it in the room. She finds the awful man on the floor, dead, his eyes wide open staring at the ceiling. She makes a point of noting all the oddities she sees in the room, then she it finally dawns on her what she is looking at and she screams and falls backwards to hit 8As door. Theo comes out, sees what's across the hall and gets in front of her to try & keep her from seeing what's in there. The conductor shows up, assesses the scene and orders all passengers to the dining car. Theo helps Charlotte up and guides her Bessie to a table. After waiting hours, the conductor introduces a police officer to the group. I gave this a 5 star rating due to the fact that it is well written and has a great plot. You'll have to read it to find out what happens.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte Wren is on her way to open a bookstore she inherited from a great aunt. She takes the train to get there and is ready to start a new life. During her travels she rescues a dog and names her Bessie. Together, they board the train and head to Willow Bay.

The train ride is more than a little exciting. A blizzard stops the train in its tracks, and all the passengers are stuck onboard. Then, a dead body is discovered. With limited resources available on the train, Charlotte tries to figure out who could have done this. Obviously one of her fellow passengers is a killer.

This is a great start to a new cozy mystery series. I loved Charlotte and Bessie immediately. It’s a short novella, but it packs quite a story in each page. It’s filled with multiple potential suspects and many twists and turns along the way. I really enjoy these bite-sized mysteries. I look forward to my next visit with Charlotte and her new sidekick, Bessie.






Disclosure: This one is from my own e-book collection. I received it as a freebie through the author’s newsletter. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[J.E. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Poisoned Petal Express is a well-written cozy murder mystery filled with danger, a snow storm, murder on a train, and new relationship. Charlotte Wren finds a golden retriever and sneaks her onboard the train. Charlotte names her Bessie and finds out she has some special talents. Charlotte is traveling to Willow Bay to see an attorney about an inheritance. She learns more about herself on the train.

There are multiple murder suspects, that kept me guessing as to who the real suspect is. The ending wrapped up everything nicely, but with some surprises. I enjoyed the mystery and journey on the train. The characters were a varied group, each with their own faults making them look like suspects.

I received a complimentary copy from the author; a positive review is not required. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great beginning to the Charlotte Wren Cozy Mystery series. Charlotte and her rescue dog, Bessie are on a train to the bookstore she inherited from her great-aunt. Like a closed room mystery, this is a moving train mystery which keeps a murderer right there with no escape. That has the main character, Charlotte with her very smart clue finding rescue dog, Bessie, investigating a murder, after Bessie found the victim. With so many twists and turns, and false alibis to track down, will Charlotte be able to solve the murder while staying out of the killer's eye? This is a page turning, past paced read that you will want to read straight through. I can't wait to see what Charlotte and Bessie get into next. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[G. Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one book I wish was longer so I could see what happens next, but I have to wait.
Charlotte is a women who is from an abusive family. They do not understand her so instead if trying they belittle her and make her feel week. She is not, she is so much more, she is strong, determined and very observant. Boy does it help on this journey to a life she was not expecting and was scared to go to all because of her parents and other people who kept telling her to not listen. Come go grab this new book and walk with Charlotte and see what she reviews and how it changes her to become someone better. I am just waiting for the next book in this series. Happy reading.

[Tiffany Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the newest member of my cozy corner collection I can say with certainty that Finley Page nailed it with the atmosphere, character line-up, main character arc, and the ability to keep the reader engaged and invested. I won't give any spoilers, but there is so much more to learn about Charlotte and Bessie.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent cozy book and, hopefully, a good series to follow!

The main character [Charlotte] is just right.

"This is what I do. I am a librarian. I find information."

The book starts with her partnering up with Bessie - best supporting character! - while the later additions of Theo & Mindy are also promising (I'd hope to see them in future books).

A nice, gentle, clean mystery.

[Linda Whitenight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte and Bessie, her newly rescued stray, investigate a murder on the train. After Bessie leads her to the mans body. Can she figure out the truth even with a false confession on board? A great start tot he Charlotte Wren Cozy Mystery by Finley Page.

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't understand why the train is announced as the "Poisoned Petal Express". Couldn't understand how the cop was so happy letting the ordinary characters take part in the investigation.

I liked the dog.

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Lilly Guirguis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m in love with this book and I hope the author makes a sequel to Charlotte and Bessie’s adventures.