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Murder on the Christmas Express
Eighteen passengers. Seven stops. One killer.
In the early hours of Christmas Eve, the sleeper train to the Highlands is derailed, along with the festive plans of its travellers. With the train stuck in snow in the middle of nowhere, a killer stalks its carriages, picking off passengers one by one. Those who sleep on the sleeper train may never wake again.
Can former Met detective Roz Parker find the killer before they kill again?
All aboard for . . . Murder on the Christmas Express.
In the early hours of Christmas Eve, the sleeper train to the Highlands is derailed, along with the festive plans of its travellers. With the train stuck in snow in the middle of nowhere, a killer stalks its carriages, picking off passengers one by one. Those who sleep on the sleeper train may never wake again.
Can former Met detective Roz Parker find the killer before they kill again?
All aboard for . . . Murder on the Christmas Express.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,126 reviews
December 2, 2022
I picked this book up on a whim because I liked the cover and was in the mood for a Christmas mystery going into December. Now, if only there were some kind of proverb about judging books by their cover...
My main problem with this book is that it's very tonally confused. Despite the cosy, festive cover and Christie-esque dressing, within the first twenty or so pages we've lurched from domestic abuse to light-hearted comments about food on train journeys, to inserting train-related puns all over the place, to the main character trying to suppress flashbacks to serious sexual assault. Some of the subject matter treated by the book - sexual and physical assault against women - is serious and traumatic, and I think the novel has been badly marketed - I shouldn't imagine it would be a pleasant experience for any abuse survivor to accidentally pick this up thinking it was a cosy, Christmas-themed Murder on the Orient Express.
My other issue with the book is that none of the characters come across as particularly likeable; they don't really develop any kind of personality other than long descriptions of what they're doing or obsessing about. This isn't helped by unnecessarily long descriptions of how a character uses his vape pen, or eats a sweet. In the first part of the book, the detective, Roz, is trying to get to Scotland to be with her daughter who has gone into labour. Roz feels that she's failing her daughter by not being there. We know this because we're told it over and over again. Roz has made a traditional Scottish sweet to take with her. We hear about this sweet endlessly while Roz is waiting for the train, how it tastes, how long it lasts, how she should have sent some to her daughter in the post.
Finally, Benedict name checks so many products that I had to check that the book wasn't sponsored. It has the feel of one of those books set in the 80s, that drops in as many retro products as possible for nostalgia points. It comes across here as an attempt to be relevant: hey, kids, my characters use Twitter and TikTok and Google and e-cigarettes and wear skinny jeans and are influencers and reality TV stars and are totally topical. This isn't helped by a slightly breathless writing style that uses a lot of simple, short sentences and comes across as stilted and disjointed.
Overall, I was disappointed with Murder on the Christmas Express. Benedict could have written a cosy Christmas thriller, a dark psychological examination of trauma and violence against women, or a light-hearted feel-good tale of family reunion. In attempting to do all three at once, Benedict ends up with a tonally confusing and difficult read.
My main problem with this book is that it's very tonally confused. Despite the cosy, festive cover and Christie-esque dressing, within the first twenty or so pages we've lurched from domestic abuse to light-hearted comments about food on train journeys, to inserting train-related puns all over the place, to the main character trying to suppress flashbacks to serious sexual assault. Some of the subject matter treated by the book - sexual and physical assault against women - is serious and traumatic, and I think the novel has been badly marketed - I shouldn't imagine it would be a pleasant experience for any abuse survivor to accidentally pick this up thinking it was a cosy, Christmas-themed Murder on the Orient Express.
My other issue with the book is that none of the characters come across as particularly likeable; they don't really develop any kind of personality other than long descriptions of what they're doing or obsessing about. This isn't helped by unnecessarily long descriptions of how a character uses his vape pen, or eats a sweet. In the first part of the book, the detective, Roz, is trying to get to Scotland to be with her daughter who has gone into labour. Roz feels that she's failing her daughter by not being there. We know this because we're told it over and over again. Roz has made a traditional Scottish sweet to take with her. We hear about this sweet endlessly while Roz is waiting for the train, how it tastes, how long it lasts, how she should have sent some to her daughter in the post.
Finally, Benedict name checks so many products that I had to check that the book wasn't sponsored. It has the feel of one of those books set in the 80s, that drops in as many retro products as possible for nostalgia points. It comes across here as an attempt to be relevant: hey, kids, my characters use Twitter and TikTok and Google and e-cigarettes and wear skinny jeans and are influencers and reality TV stars and are totally topical. This isn't helped by a slightly breathless writing style that uses a lot of simple, short sentences and comes across as stilted and disjointed.
Overall, I was disappointed with Murder on the Christmas Express. Benedict could have written a cosy Christmas thriller, a dark psychological examination of trauma and violence against women, or a light-hearted feel-good tale of family reunion. In attempting to do all three at once, Benedict ends up with a tonally confusing and difficult read.
March 28, 2025
This tried very hard to be MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Between the Scottish-isms, birth subplot, and glaring red herrings, the meat of the story was lost. As an aside, I am very much what the far right would call "woke," but even I cringed at the tossed in bits of diversity in a nearly all white cast.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press
December 28, 2022
I'd give it negative stars if I could. I resist researching mysteries before I read them, I don't want them spoiled. But I wish I had researched this one.
The premise feels like an Agatha Christie classic - murder on a train, locked room... lots of suspects all stuck together... Then a few chapters in it felt like Agatha Christie wrote an afterschool special on abusive relationships, but it was still bearable.
And then - suddenly it's a book about violent rapes. Several of them. All described.
There are so many things thrown into this story, it felt like an attempt to make every single book list category. LGBT reads? Check! In one sentence she listed as many sexual orientations as possible. Not in context, not in characters, just a list, in one sentence. She does have a daughter marrying a woman - peripheral mention that has little to do with the story... but the list in one sentence was when it started to really feel like the author was checking off boxes.
A Christmas story? Check! Well, it happened at Christmas time and ends with a Merry Christmas...
Agatha Christie type mystery? Check! It feels like an insult to Christie to keep mentioning her name here, but the actual mystery had all the right elements, under all the clutter and rape stories.
A celebrity influencer and details about her brand promotions, to make the old style mystery "fresh and current"? Check!
A Police detective with a scarred past? Check!
A wise elderly woman so that someone in the story is likable? Check! And a cat thrown in for good measure!
A "romance"? Check! And hey, even if she didn't remember him, he's obviously her one true love, returning to her life.
A recipe at the end? Check! YES! This book about rapes also includes a candy recipe at the end!
And then it's wrapped up in one of the most ludicrous endings. Check.
So if you have a themed book list challenge, and didn't cross off all of your themes for the year - there's even more than I listed here. You could probably cross off half a years themes in this book if you read it quick this week.
I still wouldn't recommend it.
The premise feels like an Agatha Christie classic - murder on a train, locked room... lots of suspects all stuck together... Then a few chapters in it felt like Agatha Christie wrote an afterschool special on abusive relationships, but it was still bearable.
And then - suddenly it's a book about violent rapes. Several of them. All described.
There are so many things thrown into this story, it felt like an attempt to make every single book list category. LGBT reads? Check! In one sentence she listed as many sexual orientations as possible. Not in context, not in characters, just a list, in one sentence. She does have a daughter marrying a woman - peripheral mention that has little to do with the story... but the list in one sentence was when it started to really feel like the author was checking off boxes.
A Christmas story? Check! Well, it happened at Christmas time and ends with a Merry Christmas...
Agatha Christie type mystery? Check! It feels like an insult to Christie to keep mentioning her name here, but the actual mystery had all the right elements, under all the clutter and rape stories.
A celebrity influencer and details about her brand promotions, to make the old style mystery "fresh and current"? Check!
A Police detective with a scarred past? Check!
A wise elderly woman so that someone in the story is likable? Check! And a cat thrown in for good measure!
A "romance"? Check! And hey, even if she didn't remember him, he's obviously her one true love, returning to her life.
A recipe at the end? Check! YES! This book about rapes also includes a candy recipe at the end!
And then it's wrapped up in one of the most ludicrous endings. Check.
So if you have a themed book list challenge, and didn't cross off all of your themes for the year - there's even more than I listed here. You could probably cross off half a years themes in this book if you read it quick this week.
I still wouldn't recommend it.
January 15, 2023
So that wasn't the read I thought I was getting when I chose this.
I'm going to make this short. This looked like exactly the kind of wintry read I love but I never connected to the characters (unusual for me even when they're unlikable). None of these folks were given enough depth and they were a bit too much of the current moment. Additionally, while the reader knows there's a murder from the outset, the actuality of it is far too far into the story (and then the subsequent ones) for me not to call shenanigans, especially in a book of this length. So much rigamarole in the lead-up and it just got to the point that I just didn't care any longer. That's the worst thing that can happen with a book.
In the end, this seemed to be trying to do many things at once and sadly for me, didn't do any of them well enough to save the story overall. YMMV and every book can't be stellar for every reader. I may well be an outlier.
I'm going to make this short. This looked like exactly the kind of wintry read I love but I never connected to the characters (unusual for me even when they're unlikable). None of these folks were given enough depth and they were a bit too much of the current moment. Additionally, while the reader knows there's a murder from the outset, the actuality of it is far too far into the story (and then the subsequent ones) for me not to call shenanigans, especially in a book of this length. So much rigamarole in the lead-up and it just got to the point that I just didn't care any longer. That's the worst thing that can happen with a book.
In the end, this seemed to be trying to do many things at once and sadly for me, didn't do any of them well enough to save the story overall. YMMV and every book can't be stellar for every reader. I may well be an outlier.
April 25, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Murder on The Christmas Express is an engaging and dramatic Locked Room Mystery by Alexandra Benedict.
This story is set aboard a Sleeper Train, traveling from London to the Scottish Highlands, on Christmas Eve.
I have a thing for stories set on trains. It's one of my favorite set-ups and this story did not disappointment in that regard.
I was a little nervous starting this one, since the overall rating seemed on the low-end for a newer release. I almost didn't pick it up because of that. I'm so glad I ignored the rating and gave it a go. It sure paid off for me.
This story mainly follows Roz Parker, a former Met Detective, who is about to become a Grandmother for the first time. She's traveling on the train to try to reach her pregnant daughter's side before Christmas.
Unfortunately, due to a severe storm, the train schedules are a mess, with many routes cancelled. This Sleeper Train is the only way to get to the Highlands for the holiday.
Eighteen passengers. Seven stops. One killer.
That tagline sold me, and for the most part, I feel like this story delivered on that. It did give me what I was looking for. I'll admit, initially, the writing style did feel a little wonky. It took me a minute to get myself grounded in this author's style and to connect with the narrative voice.
I did end up enjoying Roz quite a bit. Her no-nonsense attitude drew me in. She's tough, but she's also at a turning point in her life and still grappling with some earlier trauma that's had a hold on her ever since. In that regard, I found her realistic and relatable.
We did get various other perspectives as well and some of those were a little strange. I did feel most connected when I was reading from Roz's perspective.
The other passengers are quite a mix and it was fun watching them all interact. There's some real jerks aboard, make no mistake about that. I tend to really enjoy an unlikable cast of characters though, and that was definitely the case here.
There is a murder foreshadowed in the beginning and then it takes a wee bit to catch up with that event. I had a lot of theories as the story was building-out.
I liked how this is a true locked room mystery. That type of set-up, figuring out how the killer would have been able to achieve their goal is always so fun for me and I enjoyed Roz trying to piece it together here.
There were many red herrings and false leads. Enough to keep me engaged and guessing throughout. Some things I got right, others I didn't, but regardless of the outcomes, I enjoyed scratching my head about it.
I think some Readers may have been turned off by the repetitive theme of sexual assault and its aftermath. I think perhaps this was marketed as a Cozy Mystery and you generally wouldn't explore that type of thing to the depths that this story does in a Cozy.
I will say, for me, I didn't think this was a Cozy going in, so didn't end up having that experience with it. I don't think I've ever read a Cozy with a black cover, so when I picked this up, I was just expecting a straight-forward Adult Mystery, which I would argue this is.
Either way, Readers should be aware that this does discuss sexual assault, as well as abuse, in detail on page. If that could be triggering for you, proceed with caution.
For me, I was much more invested in the actual mystery than in the side details of the characters lives, so that portion of it didn't really impact me. Further, I think just anticipating an Adult Mystery, versus a Cozy, I felt this fell right in line with my expectations.
While this isn't perfect, I enjoyed it a lot. The ending dragged a bit, but I still felt it to be a solid Locked Room Mystery. The train setting was an absolute delight and I always love when inclement weather traps characters in an unsavory circumstance.
Thank you to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me a with a copy to read and review.
I had fun with this and would actually love to see another story with Roz Parker in the lead. Perhaps she can solve a New Years Eve murder next?
Murder on The Christmas Express is an engaging and dramatic Locked Room Mystery by Alexandra Benedict.
This story is set aboard a Sleeper Train, traveling from London to the Scottish Highlands, on Christmas Eve.
I have a thing for stories set on trains. It's one of my favorite set-ups and this story did not disappointment in that regard.
I was a little nervous starting this one, since the overall rating seemed on the low-end for a newer release. I almost didn't pick it up because of that. I'm so glad I ignored the rating and gave it a go. It sure paid off for me.
This story mainly follows Roz Parker, a former Met Detective, who is about to become a Grandmother for the first time. She's traveling on the train to try to reach her pregnant daughter's side before Christmas.
Unfortunately, due to a severe storm, the train schedules are a mess, with many routes cancelled. This Sleeper Train is the only way to get to the Highlands for the holiday.
Eighteen passengers. Seven stops. One killer.
That tagline sold me, and for the most part, I feel like this story delivered on that. It did give me what I was looking for. I'll admit, initially, the writing style did feel a little wonky. It took me a minute to get myself grounded in this author's style and to connect with the narrative voice.
I did end up enjoying Roz quite a bit. Her no-nonsense attitude drew me in. She's tough, but she's also at a turning point in her life and still grappling with some earlier trauma that's had a hold on her ever since. In that regard, I found her realistic and relatable.
We did get various other perspectives as well and some of those were a little strange. I did feel most connected when I was reading from Roz's perspective.
The other passengers are quite a mix and it was fun watching them all interact. There's some real jerks aboard, make no mistake about that. I tend to really enjoy an unlikable cast of characters though, and that was definitely the case here.
There is a murder foreshadowed in the beginning and then it takes a wee bit to catch up with that event. I had a lot of theories as the story was building-out.
I liked how this is a true locked room mystery. That type of set-up, figuring out how the killer would have been able to achieve their goal is always so fun for me and I enjoyed Roz trying to piece it together here.
There were many red herrings and false leads. Enough to keep me engaged and guessing throughout. Some things I got right, others I didn't, but regardless of the outcomes, I enjoyed scratching my head about it.
I think some Readers may have been turned off by the repetitive theme of sexual assault and its aftermath. I think perhaps this was marketed as a Cozy Mystery and you generally wouldn't explore that type of thing to the depths that this story does in a Cozy.
I will say, for me, I didn't think this was a Cozy going in, so didn't end up having that experience with it. I don't think I've ever read a Cozy with a black cover, so when I picked this up, I was just expecting a straight-forward Adult Mystery, which I would argue this is.
Either way, Readers should be aware that this does discuss sexual assault, as well as abuse, in detail on page. If that could be triggering for you, proceed with caution.
For me, I was much more invested in the actual mystery than in the side details of the characters lives, so that portion of it didn't really impact me. Further, I think just anticipating an Adult Mystery, versus a Cozy, I felt this fell right in line with my expectations.
While this isn't perfect, I enjoyed it a lot. The ending dragged a bit, but I still felt it to be a solid Locked Room Mystery. The train setting was an absolute delight and I always love when inclement weather traps characters in an unsavory circumstance.
Thank you to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me a with a copy to read and review.
I had fun with this and would actually love to see another story with Roz Parker in the lead. Perhaps she can solve a New Years Eve murder next?
October 4, 2023
Sadly this one is a case of the packaging misrepresenting the contents. The decorative cover and the cutesy title suggest a nice cosy mystery, but that is not what you get.
The story begins well when the night train to the Scottish Highlands is derailed by a fallen tree and any chance of rescue is many hours away. Unfortunately there is a killer on board and several murders occur one after another. Also on board is ex cop Roz Parker and she begins the search for the murderer. Yes this does sound like the perfect description of a cosy mystery.
The problem arises with the number of social issues the writer tries to pack into a mere 250 pages. The most significant, by page count at least, is rape and if this is a trigger for any one then this is NOT the book for you.
I am still giving the book 3 stars for the good parts - a clever mystery, intriguing setting, lots of action and a surprise at the end. I liked Roz and enjoyed the role she played in solving the crime as well as preventing total anarchy on board the train!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The story begins well when the night train to the Scottish Highlands is derailed by a fallen tree and any chance of rescue is many hours away. Unfortunately there is a killer on board and several murders occur one after another. Also on board is ex cop Roz Parker and she begins the search for the murderer. Yes this does sound like the perfect description of a cosy mystery.
The problem arises with the number of social issues the writer tries to pack into a mere 250 pages. The most significant, by page count at least, is rape and if this is a trigger for any one then this is NOT the book for you.
I am still giving the book 3 stars for the good parts - a clever mystery, intriguing setting, lots of action and a surprise at the end. I liked Roz and enjoyed the role she played in solving the crime as well as preventing total anarchy on board the train!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 12, 2023
I'm glad to see that other reviewers agree that there was far too much rape, domestic violence and sexual assault in this book for it to work well as a cosy.
The light-hearted tone, cheerful banter, festive puzzles and the cover all suggest a Christmassy comfort read and the frequently darker content completely jars with that feel. The content simply doesn't match the tone.
There were things I liked about it - the characters were amalgamated well into what was set up to be a modern take on the classic mystery-on-a-train Golden Age plot (yay!) Unfortunately, it wasn't particularly twisty, the solutions were unimaginative and some of the characters behaved in ridiculous ways.
I enjoyed a lot of it, but I'm left disappointed.
After reading both this one and The Christmas Murder Game, another thing that gets on my nerves is the clumsy representation. Benedict incorporates, for example, characters of different sexualities (great!) but then over-eggs the pudding with frequent, overly didactic snippets. Most common, a one-dimensional "baddy" character makes an offensive or misguided comment and another character steps in to explain to them the error of their ways in true comments-section camaraderie. It makes me roll my eyes. It's well-meaning, but condescending.
Having said that, it's good that the author is trying to create positive representation, even if it is done in a clunky and expositional way. I'm definitely going to grow up to be a crone! It is possible to write amazing older characters (for example) without them constantly turning to face the camera and announcing with a wink how they are flouting societies expectations. Keep the characters, but with less of the sermonising.
I'm being harsh. This was still a 3 star read if you can tolerate the discussion of darker social issues. I think I'm more annoyed than I would otherwise be because I LOVE this sort of set up and I WANTED it to get it right. We do have something of a more nuanced character in Roz and I expect we will be hearing more from her in the years to come.
I will read more from the author. This book did show some development from her debut - there were more characters, there was more going on and I felt more engaged. I expect one of these days she's going to write a stonker and I'm looking forward to reading it.
One more thing - if anagrams are being used in future books, PLEEEEEASE do it like in The Christmas Murder Game, where you're looking for a single anagram in each section... Trying to find many anagrams in a whole book is nigh on impossible. I got zero. There was no point in looking, whereas last time it was a really fun and original addition!
The light-hearted tone, cheerful banter, festive puzzles and the cover all suggest a Christmassy comfort read and the frequently darker content completely jars with that feel. The content simply doesn't match the tone.
There were things I liked about it - the characters were amalgamated well into what was set up to be a modern take on the classic mystery-on-a-train Golden Age plot (yay!) Unfortunately, it wasn't particularly twisty, the solutions were unimaginative and some of the characters behaved in ridiculous ways.
I enjoyed a lot of it, but I'm left disappointed.
After reading both this one and The Christmas Murder Game, another thing that gets on my nerves is the clumsy representation. Benedict incorporates, for example, characters of different sexualities (great!) but then over-eggs the pudding with frequent, overly didactic snippets. Most common, a one-dimensional "baddy" character makes an offensive or misguided comment and another character steps in to explain to them the error of their ways in true comments-section camaraderie. It makes me roll my eyes. It's well-meaning, but condescending.
Having said that, it's good that the author is trying to create positive representation, even if it is done in a clunky and expositional way. I'm definitely going to grow up to be a crone! It is possible to write amazing older characters (for example) without them constantly turning to face the camera and announcing with a wink how they are flouting societies expectations. Keep the characters, but with less of the sermonising.
I'm being harsh. This was still a 3 star read if you can tolerate the discussion of darker social issues. I think I'm more annoyed than I would otherwise be because I LOVE this sort of set up and I WANTED it to get it right. We do have something of a more nuanced character in Roz and I expect we will be hearing more from her in the years to come.
I will read more from the author. This book did show some development from her debut - there were more characters, there was more going on and I felt more engaged. I expect one of these days she's going to write a stonker and I'm looking forward to reading it.
One more thing - if anagrams are being used in future books, PLEEEEEASE do it like in The Christmas Murder Game, where you're looking for a single anagram in each section... Trying to find many anagrams in a whole book is nigh on impossible. I got zero. There was no point in looking, whereas last time it was a really fun and original addition!
December 13, 2023
3.5/5
Odejmuję trochę z oceny za przegadaną końcówkę, ale sama historia była absorbująca!
Odejmuję trochę z oceny za przegadaną końcówkę, ale sama historia była absorbująca!
January 8, 2023
3 stars - Eh, tries a bit too hard to be clever - really, really hinting at “Murder on the Orient Express” & just not that successfully IMHO
December 21, 2022
2.5🌟
If you’re expecting a cosy Christmas murder mystery, this is not it!
This book should come with multiple trigger warnings, it includes the topics of rape, domestic violence, pregnancy/birth trauma, right from the start. Too many topics shoe-horned into one novel means that the book just seems confused, with fairly unlikeable characters as well. Roz is the saving grace, but only just!
And there are a few annoying errors as well “Wait are you waiting for?” being one of them..
If you’re expecting a cosy Christmas murder mystery, this is not it!
This book should come with multiple trigger warnings, it includes the topics of rape, domestic violence, pregnancy/birth trauma, right from the start. Too many topics shoe-horned into one novel means that the book just seems confused, with fairly unlikeable characters as well. Roz is the saving grace, but only just!
And there are a few annoying errors as well “Wait are you waiting for?” being one of them..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2023
1.5 ⭐️ rounding up out of sheer Christmas spirit
edit: marked it down to 1⭐️ in a rare Scroogelike moment
Trigger warnings: rape (graphic, on-page descriptions, more than once throughout the book), intimate partner violence (graphic, on-page descriptions, more than once throughout the book), murder, emetophobia, childbirth and complications of childbird (on-page descriptions, more than once throughout the book), Caesarean section (on-page descriptions, more than once throughout the book)
Posing this as a fun, cozy Christmas mystery and then theming it around several graphic, on-page sexual assaults is a wildly irresponsible choice, especially without providing trigger warnings beforehand.
I was also extremely disappointed with the way the character of Grant was written.
When it comes to the actual mystery aspect of the book, I found it to be incredibly underwhelming. There is no good reason to wait until the halfway point of a murder mystery for the actual murder to take place. The "twists" were not well executed and just led to eye rolling from me.
The writing itself has potential, but I felt it tried too hard to be flowery, like the author was aiming for a certain word count. And there was so much soap-boxing about so many social issues that I had to cringe — it was less 'substance' and more 'neoliberal Etsy t-shirt statements."
All in all, a disappointing read. On a more petty note, I'm still annoyed by how often Roz refers to herself as a crone. Ma'am, you are fifty. That is not old. That is middle-aged.
edit: marked it down to 1⭐️ in a rare Scroogelike moment
Trigger warnings: rape (graphic, on-page descriptions, more than once throughout the book), intimate partner violence (graphic, on-page descriptions, more than once throughout the book), murder, emetophobia, childbirth and complications of childbird (on-page descriptions, more than once throughout the book), Caesarean section (on-page descriptions, more than once throughout the book)
Posing this as a fun, cozy Christmas mystery and then theming it around several graphic, on-page sexual assaults is a wildly irresponsible choice, especially without providing trigger warnings beforehand.
I was also extremely disappointed with the way the character of Grant was written.
When it comes to the actual mystery aspect of the book, I found it to be incredibly underwhelming. There is no good reason to wait until the halfway point of a murder mystery for the actual murder to take place. The "twists" were not well executed and just led to eye rolling from me.
The writing itself has potential, but I felt it tried too hard to be flowery, like the author was aiming for a certain word count. And there was so much soap-boxing about so many social issues that I had to cringe — it was less 'substance' and more 'neoliberal Etsy t-shirt statements."
All in all, a disappointing read. On a more petty note, I'm still annoyed by how often Roz refers to herself as a crone. Ma'am, you are fifty. That is not old. That is middle-aged.
December 16, 2023
I enjoyed this, with one major caveat.
The main issue is there's a bit of a disconnect between the central darker subject and much of the tone. You expect murder, obviously, but this also explores at some length, so those triggered by that might find this difficult. Even if you are not sensitive to those subjects, it's difficult to reconcile their seriousness with what would otherwise be a cozy mystery, particularly in a fairly short book. I found the epilogue with the lighthearted inclusion of a recipe to be particularly tone-deaf and in poor taste. Frankly, I'm surprised it made the final cut.
I loved the setting so much, however, in no small part because I took the Harry Potter steam train through the Scottish highlands a few months ago and went through many of the beautiful cities and countryside mentioned. *sigh* I'd love to go back again during the winter, so the snowscape and train carriages drew all kinds of wistful emotions.
I also enjoyed how well the author wrote a modern cozy mystery. I think some purists will scoff at it, but the author certainly acknowledges the Agatha Christie influence upon the story, and she does make it her own. I often find it jarring when contemporary technology and references are included in certain stories such as locked-room mysteries, but here it's integrated organically as part of the setting and characters. I also love the snowiness and literal coziness of it all, and I liked Roz even though towards the end, giving her a little more conflict over her choices would have garnered more respect.
Maybe the tonal issues could have been resolved in a longer novel. I found enough to enjoy overall, but there's no denying that the one issue is a pretty big one. A cozy mystery that takes on more serious issues isn't impossible, but in this instance, it wasn't balanced as well as it should have been.
Audio Notes: Mhairi Morrison's narration is so lovely to listen to. The gentle Scottish lilt is so pleasing to the ear and she does all the voices well! I'm glad I listened to this one on audio.
The main issue is there's a bit of a disconnect between the central darker subject and much of the tone. You expect murder, obviously, but this also explores at some length, so those triggered by that might find this difficult. Even if you are not sensitive to those subjects, it's difficult to reconcile their seriousness with what would otherwise be a cozy mystery, particularly in a fairly short book. I found the epilogue with the lighthearted inclusion of a recipe to be particularly tone-deaf and in poor taste. Frankly, I'm surprised it made the final cut.
I loved the setting so much, however, in no small part because I took the Harry Potter steam train through the Scottish highlands a few months ago and went through many of the beautiful cities and countryside mentioned. *sigh* I'd love to go back again during the winter, so the snowscape and train carriages drew all kinds of wistful emotions.
I also enjoyed how well the author wrote a modern cozy mystery. I think some purists will scoff at it, but the author certainly acknowledges the Agatha Christie influence upon the story, and she does make it her own. I often find it jarring when contemporary technology and references are included in certain stories such as locked-room mysteries, but here it's integrated organically as part of the setting and characters. I also love the snowiness and literal coziness of it all, and I liked Roz even though towards the end, giving her a little more conflict over her choices would have garnered more respect.
Maybe the tonal issues could have been resolved in a longer novel. I found enough to enjoy overall, but there's no denying that the one issue is a pretty big one. A cozy mystery that takes on more serious issues isn't impossible, but in this instance, it wasn't balanced as well as it should have been.
Audio Notes: Mhairi Morrison's narration is so lovely to listen to. The gentle Scottish lilt is so pleasing to the ear and she does all the voices well! I'm glad I listened to this one on audio.
November 3, 2023
BEWARE: Wolf in sheep’s clothing.
I say this in a somewhat jesting way, but I mean this warning with seriousness. What is presented here in the title, the cover art, and the publisher’s summary is a fun holiday mystery. In actuality, this is a very upsetting book about the devastating effects of sexual assault and rape on survivors and includes multiple graphic and unsettling first person accounts of rape, as well as a lot of horror show pregnancy and delivery content as well that I would absolutely not recommend reading while pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant.
Did you expect any of that having read the publisher’s summary? Yeah, I didn’t think so. And that is a HUGE problem.
I cannot even begin to explain how frustrating it is and how negatively it impacts my feelings about a book when the publisher presents it as something it isn’t. And in this case it’s worse than just misleading the reader, it’s dressing content that is very upsetting to a segment of readers up in a cute Christmas outfit. Which is gross and irresponsible marketing.
And it’s a shame, because the story itself really isn’t bad. It just has nothing to do with Christmas, reads nothing like the summary implies it will in tone, content, or theme, and has the potential to be a nasty surprise for readers who are sensitive to this type of material.
It isn’t a bad thing at all to write a book like this. I actually think it can be good if the writer handles the material appropriately (for the most part, Benedict did). But to mislead readers about the style and content of a book like this is really, really not okay. It makes me very unlikely to review, recommend, or purchase from this publisher in the future.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I say this in a somewhat jesting way, but I mean this warning with seriousness. What is presented here in the title, the cover art, and the publisher’s summary is a fun holiday mystery. In actuality, this is a very upsetting book about the devastating effects of sexual assault and rape on survivors and includes multiple graphic and unsettling first person accounts of rape, as well as a lot of horror show pregnancy and delivery content as well that I would absolutely not recommend reading while pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant.
Did you expect any of that having read the publisher’s summary? Yeah, I didn’t think so. And that is a HUGE problem.
I cannot even begin to explain how frustrating it is and how negatively it impacts my feelings about a book when the publisher presents it as something it isn’t. And in this case it’s worse than just misleading the reader, it’s dressing content that is very upsetting to a segment of readers up in a cute Christmas outfit. Which is gross and irresponsible marketing.
And it’s a shame, because the story itself really isn’t bad. It just has nothing to do with Christmas, reads nothing like the summary implies it will in tone, content, or theme, and has the potential to be a nasty surprise for readers who are sensitive to this type of material.
It isn’t a bad thing at all to write a book like this. I actually think it can be good if the writer handles the material appropriately (for the most part, Benedict did). But to mislead readers about the style and content of a book like this is really, really not okay. It makes me very unlikely to review, recommend, or purchase from this publisher in the future.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
November 16, 2022
⭐⭐⭐
I enjoyed this one slightly less than "The Christmas Murder Game". This one was just too full of heavy topics that it took away from the enjoyment of trying to figure out the mystery. I still enjoyed it overall, but the first book is definitely better in my opnion.
I enjoyed this one slightly less than "The Christmas Murder Game". This one was just too full of heavy topics that it took away from the enjoyment of trying to figure out the mystery. I still enjoyed it overall, but the first book is definitely better in my opnion.
November 5, 2024
Oh dear. The perfect example of how you should never judge a book by its cover.
This suggests a Poirot style Christmas mystery, instead we have a dull whodunnit with a ham-fisted attempt to tackle some serious issues.
Roz has just retired from The Met and is on the way home to her pregnant daughter when the train is derailed in the snow. She is soon faced with a killer on the loose.
Full of paper thin, irritating characters and some truly awful dialogue. There is a good idea in there somewhere but in attempt to include several big themes, this falls short and what we end up with is a murder mystery where you literally don't care if anyone survives.
This suggests a Poirot style Christmas mystery, instead we have a dull whodunnit with a ham-fisted attempt to tackle some serious issues.
Roz has just retired from The Met and is on the way home to her pregnant daughter when the train is derailed in the snow. She is soon faced with a killer on the loose.
Full of paper thin, irritating characters and some truly awful dialogue. There is a good idea in there somewhere but in attempt to include several big themes, this falls short and what we end up with is a murder mystery where you literally don't care if anyone survives.
November 8, 2022
This is my second book by this author, both based around Christmas. This mystery has a very Golden Age feel, with events taking place on a train. We have Roz, a retired ex-detective, heading to Scotland for the birth of her first grandchild. She has a difficult relationship with her at times, feeling she has put her career first and still having issues with coming to terms with events when she was young and about to become a young mother herself.
On the journey, more or less half the book, involves setting up the characters. We have Meg, a social media influencer, her aggressive reality television show partner, some students, a belittled father, an elderly woman with her adoring son, and some others. When the train is detailed and a body found, it is up to Roz to solve the crime.
I enjoyed the characters and felt the book made a typically GA crime more contemporary. On the minus side, I felt there were a lot of coincidences and I felt impatient with Roz at times, for wanting to investigate, yet also backing away. Realistic, perhaps, but not as decisive as the reader would often want in their detective. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
On the journey, more or less half the book, involves setting up the characters. We have Meg, a social media influencer, her aggressive reality television show partner, some students, a belittled father, an elderly woman with her adoring son, and some others. When the train is detailed and a body found, it is up to Roz to solve the crime.
I enjoyed the characters and felt the book made a typically GA crime more contemporary. On the minus side, I felt there were a lot of coincidences and I felt impatient with Roz at times, for wanting to investigate, yet also backing away. Realistic, perhaps, but not as decisive as the reader would often want in their detective. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
December 12, 2024
Looking for some Christmas reading, I turned to another holiday-themed murder mystery by Alexandra Benedict. Benedict pens a great mystery, full of thrills that are sure to get the heart rate up. Roz Parker is focussed on her train journey up to Scotland, where her daughter has gone into premature labour. However, with winter weather limiting access and a train derailment, things cannot get much worse. That is, until a killer begins taking victims and sending Roz into a panic. Benedict creates a great thriller that is ideal for the holiday season.
Roz Parker is a former detective with the Metropolitan Police in London, looking forward to the Christmas season. When a call comes that her daughter has gone into premature labour, Roz rushes to catch a train up to Scotland, the only way she can travel with some degree of fiscal restraint. While many other trains have been cancelled due to the weather, her train appears to be a go and Roz can breathe a sigh of relief.
While the train begins its journey, others onboard make appearances and flavour the trek for Roz. It is only when a jolt wakes Roz from her reverie that she learns of impending trouble. The train has derailed in the middle of nowhere and the weather is getting worse. Roz can only wait and rely on the gruff conductor to ensure everyone onboard is safe and someone is out to help them. As if things could not get more dire, Roz hears of her daughter’s distress and the baby is in danger. Trapped in the train and powerless to do anything, Roz can only wait.
The discovery of one passenger, dead in their sleep car, sends panic through all those on the train. The killer appears to have a motive, though it is not yet clear. The more time passes, additional bodies appear, leaving Roz sure that the killer is hunting for victims in this contained murder scene. Roz will have to rely on her instincts and catch a killer, who hunts when others close their eyes for a sleep from which they might not ever wake. Alexandra Benedict impresses once more with this holiday thriller!
I have enjoyed a number of Alexandra Benedict’s Christmas thrillers this holiday season and have been quite impressed. All three (to date) have been unique in their own way and yet provide great storylines for the reader to savour. The key aspects to the narrative help shape a strong story that speeds along, akin to a rushing train on the track. The chapters whip along and keep the reader in the middle of the action from the outset as the tension mounts. Great characters and a setting perfect for a murder or two help provide additional support in this book, allowing Benedict to delve deeply into the subject matter. Plot points are well-placed and keep the reader guessing as they try to decipher the answers before the story wraps up. This is surely a page-turner and one I would recommend to anyone, alongside the other novels Alexandra Benedict has written over the last few years.
Kudos, Madam Benedict, for providing me strong holiday mysteries to pass the time this holiday season!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Roz Parker is a former detective with the Metropolitan Police in London, looking forward to the Christmas season. When a call comes that her daughter has gone into premature labour, Roz rushes to catch a train up to Scotland, the only way she can travel with some degree of fiscal restraint. While many other trains have been cancelled due to the weather, her train appears to be a go and Roz can breathe a sigh of relief.
While the train begins its journey, others onboard make appearances and flavour the trek for Roz. It is only when a jolt wakes Roz from her reverie that she learns of impending trouble. The train has derailed in the middle of nowhere and the weather is getting worse. Roz can only wait and rely on the gruff conductor to ensure everyone onboard is safe and someone is out to help them. As if things could not get more dire, Roz hears of her daughter’s distress and the baby is in danger. Trapped in the train and powerless to do anything, Roz can only wait.
The discovery of one passenger, dead in their sleep car, sends panic through all those on the train. The killer appears to have a motive, though it is not yet clear. The more time passes, additional bodies appear, leaving Roz sure that the killer is hunting for victims in this contained murder scene. Roz will have to rely on her instincts and catch a killer, who hunts when others close their eyes for a sleep from which they might not ever wake. Alexandra Benedict impresses once more with this holiday thriller!
I have enjoyed a number of Alexandra Benedict’s Christmas thrillers this holiday season and have been quite impressed. All three (to date) have been unique in their own way and yet provide great storylines for the reader to savour. The key aspects to the narrative help shape a strong story that speeds along, akin to a rushing train on the track. The chapters whip along and keep the reader in the middle of the action from the outset as the tension mounts. Great characters and a setting perfect for a murder or two help provide additional support in this book, allowing Benedict to delve deeply into the subject matter. Plot points are well-placed and keep the reader guessing as they try to decipher the answers before the story wraps up. This is surely a page-turner and one I would recommend to anyone, alongside the other novels Alexandra Benedict has written over the last few years.
Kudos, Madam Benedict, for providing me strong holiday mysteries to pass the time this holiday season!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
December 28, 2023
El año pasado conocí a esta autora con la Casa de los enigmas, fue mi elección para Navidad, un libro que disfruté mucho porque ¿qué hay mejor que un thriller ambientado en la época más cuqui del año? O mejor aún un cozy mistery (en estas fechas como que lo escabroso no va mucho ¿no creéis?
Este año gracias a @Lakylibros y a @duomoediciones podido disfrutar del nuevo libro de la autora: En tren con el asesino, un retelling de “Asesinato en el orient Express”.
Nos encontramos el día de Nochebuena, un Londres que sufre un terrible temporal de nieve. Afortunadamente el tren nocturno con destino a las Highlands escocesas aunque tarde, puede salir para llevar a la gente como el turrón, de vuelta a casa por Navidad.
18 pasajeros, 7 paradas y un tren que descarrila en medio de las montañas escocesas. ¿Qué más se puede pedir? ¡Sí! ¡Un asesinato! Pero ¿cómo es posible? La puerta está cerrada por dentro., la ventana está intacta y nada parece fuera de su sitio?
Solo ha podido ser alguno de los que están en el tren.
¿Habrá sido el grupo de estudiantes que se prepara para un reality de cerebritos, será algún miembro de la familia que viaja con sus dos hijos mayores y los dos pequeños? ¿O acaso será el famosillo que ha salido en varios realities? Cualquiera puede haber sido, nadie está libre de sospecha, ni siquiera Roz una policía recién jubilada que vuelve a casa para asistir al nacimiento de su primera nieta.
Con una pluma fluida Alexandra nos llevará por los pasillos de ese tren introduciéndonos en la mente de sus ocupantes a la vez que habla de temas tan candentes como el sexismo, la violencia de género, las redes sociales o las relaciones familiares.
En definitiva un libro que he disfrutado mucho y que recomiendo tanto para los amantes del género como para los que están empezando a dar sus primeros pasitos en los libros de crimen y misterio.
Espero que la navidad que viene Alexandra nos deleite con otro título y se convierta en una tradición.
¿Os gusta leer libros navideños? ¿Qué os parecen los cozy crime?
Este año gracias a @Lakylibros y a @duomoediciones podido disfrutar del nuevo libro de la autora: En tren con el asesino, un retelling de “Asesinato en el orient Express”.
Nos encontramos el día de Nochebuena, un Londres que sufre un terrible temporal de nieve. Afortunadamente el tren nocturno con destino a las Highlands escocesas aunque tarde, puede salir para llevar a la gente como el turrón, de vuelta a casa por Navidad.
18 pasajeros, 7 paradas y un tren que descarrila en medio de las montañas escocesas. ¿Qué más se puede pedir? ¡Sí! ¡Un asesinato! Pero ¿cómo es posible? La puerta está cerrada por dentro., la ventana está intacta y nada parece fuera de su sitio?
Solo ha podido ser alguno de los que están en el tren.
¿Habrá sido el grupo de estudiantes que se prepara para un reality de cerebritos, será algún miembro de la familia que viaja con sus dos hijos mayores y los dos pequeños? ¿O acaso será el famosillo que ha salido en varios realities? Cualquiera puede haber sido, nadie está libre de sospecha, ni siquiera Roz una policía recién jubilada que vuelve a casa para asistir al nacimiento de su primera nieta.
Con una pluma fluida Alexandra nos llevará por los pasillos de ese tren introduciéndonos en la mente de sus ocupantes a la vez que habla de temas tan candentes como el sexismo, la violencia de género, las redes sociales o las relaciones familiares.
En definitiva un libro que he disfrutado mucho y que recomiendo tanto para los amantes del género como para los que están empezando a dar sus primeros pasitos en los libros de crimen y misterio.
Espero que la navidad que viene Alexandra nos deleite con otro título y se convierta en una tradición.
¿Os gusta leer libros navideños? ¿Qué os parecen los cozy crime?
October 24, 2023
I guess will start by saying although this book sounds a cosy Christmas book to relax with before and during the festive time and the cover has an appealing Crimbo feel and look some of the story deals with abuse and sexual assault and at times is the complete opposite of what I expected when saw the info on it
Saying all that it is a well written,more than pacy Whodunit,set on a sleeper train and as the mystery deepens so the secrets of the passengers come to light,all helped by Detective Roz Parker,who I did like and enjoyed her character
If you like your crime thrillers hard hitting then this high speed tension read is for you and will definitely pique your interest and enjoyment
Saying all that it is a well written,more than pacy Whodunit,set on a sleeper train and as the mystery deepens so the secrets of the passengers come to light,all helped by Detective Roz Parker,who I did like and enjoyed her character
If you like your crime thrillers hard hitting then this high speed tension read is for you and will definitely pique your interest and enjoyment
November 25, 2024
TW: Rape
Another great Christmas mystery by this author! I highly enjoyed this one as well. I would recommend this book especially for those who want a Christmas read that isn't overly Christmassy.
Another great Christmas mystery by this author! I highly enjoyed this one as well. I would recommend this book especially for those who want a Christmas read that isn't overly Christmassy.
December 21, 2024
El capuchino estaba enfriándose en la mano del asesino, que temblaba. Sabía que con aquello no sería suficiente, que tenía que recobrar la compostura. El asesinato tenía que producirse. No había que dejar vivir a la víctima. Observó a los viajeros que atravesaban el vestíbulo a buen paso, con ganas de llegar a casa. Muchos parecían preocupados por los retrasos y las cancelaciones, o quizá por las tensas Navidades en familia que los esperaban al llegar a su destino. El asesino deseó que esas fueran sus únicas cavilaciones.
December 5, 2023
I have NEVER read a book with more references to rape in my entire life. Whether it’s the MC’s almost constant reference to her own past sexual assault that she suffered while pregnant, the domestic violence that plays out between two characters, and a serial rapist who has several victims on board, one of whose description of the rape was so graphic, it left me sick to my stomach. I am shocked that this has been marketed as a Christmas book. A book with SO MUCH reference to sexual assault ends with a WITH A CANDY RECIPE at the end?
The publishers failed to state any trigger warnings which I find inappropriate for a book with rape mentioned or described in almost every chapter.
I never post my 2 star reviews here on the ‘gram. But I made an exception for this one as I know many of you have this on your TBR’s and might find this book terribly unsettling and triggering and no one needs that ever, let alone the holiday season.
⭐️⭐️
I acknowledge I received this #gifted copy from @poisedpenpress.
National Sexual Assault Hotline. Free. Confidential. 24/7. Call 800.656.HOPE or visit RAINN.org for more resources.
The publishers failed to state any trigger warnings which I find inappropriate for a book with rape mentioned or described in almost every chapter.
I never post my 2 star reviews here on the ‘gram. But I made an exception for this one as I know many of you have this on your TBR’s and might find this book terribly unsettling and triggering and no one needs that ever, let alone the holiday season.
⭐️⭐️
I acknowledge I received this #gifted copy from @poisedpenpress.
National Sexual Assault Hotline. Free. Confidential. 24/7. Call 800.656.HOPE or visit RAINN.org for more resources.
January 4, 2023
Firstly and most importantly, this book needs a warning for SA and domestic violence, which is discussed in detail excessively throughout the book with what feels an extremely clumsy hand.
Secondly, the ending...... seriously, it's ok to protect one woman, but it's ok that another was murdered and another innocent one will go to prison. Come on.
It's kind of unfortunate because the first couple chapters had some promise, but it really was a sled ride down a snowy hill after.
Honestly, this book felt like someone who liked the idea of being an author, wrote a book, and then somehow accidently got it published. Not to mention the terrible editing, both on a grammatical/ sp standpoint but also pacing, writing support.
Secondly, the ending...... seriously, it's ok to protect one woman, but it's ok that another was murdered and another innocent one will go to prison. Come on.
It's kind of unfortunate because the first couple chapters had some promise, but it really was a sled ride down a snowy hill after.
Honestly, this book felt like someone who liked the idea of being an author, wrote a book, and then somehow accidently got it published. Not to mention the terrible editing, both on a grammatical/ sp standpoint but also pacing, writing support.
December 9, 2022
THIS IS NOT A COZY CHRISTMAS BOOK! I read it because the title and cover made me think that it was a Christmas mystery and it is but it also deals with HEAVY topics in a lot of detail. The writing is also very somber and clashes with the aesthetics. I will say that it should have a trigger warning for sexual assault, traumatic birth, spousal abuse, and cheating. Overall it just made me feel sad the entire time and it is not what I am looking for. Additionally, I could not keep the characters straight. Even when the killer was revealed I had no idea who he/she was or what their backstory was. Additionally, there were a lot of background characters that were irrelevant and could have been cut out to make the cast more palatable.
December 22, 2023
This felt like a brave attempt at trying to recreate Christie's famous Orient mystery within a modern setting, whilst adding a little bit of Christmas in for good measure.
The journey that former Met detective Roz Parker is the less glamorous sleeper train from London to the Scottish Highlands.
I liked the reason why she was travelling that distance so close to Christmas and the subplot being interspersed within the narrative.
There is of course a whole host of characters, though I found some not to be as distinctive enough.
Whilst the little puzzles for the reader were a nice touch.
It was also refreshing that modern technology was included, so many modern mysteries to and find ways to make smartphones ineffective.
Whilst this attempts to feel cozy, there's some very strong topics discussed along the way.
It did feel a little too much at times.
The journey that former Met detective Roz Parker is the less glamorous sleeper train from London to the Scottish Highlands.
I liked the reason why she was travelling that distance so close to Christmas and the subplot being interspersed within the narrative.
There is of course a whole host of characters, though I found some not to be as distinctive enough.
Whilst the little puzzles for the reader were a nice touch.
It was also refreshing that modern technology was included, so many modern mysteries to and find ways to make smartphones ineffective.
Whilst this attempts to feel cozy, there's some very strong topics discussed along the way.
It did feel a little too much at times.
January 16, 2025
EXCERPT: A young couple walked by, swinging their clasped hands. They laughed and talked about the party they were off to. Christmas for them would probably be full of light and love and cinnamon kisses. The murderer-to-be was sure that they, along with the law, the police, judges and juries, the soaps and tabloids, would say it was wrong to kill at Christmas. But then they didn't know the victim's secrets. Not yet. When they did, they'd be sure to cheer the killer, and wish them a very merry Christmas.
ABOUT 'MURDER ON THE CHRISTMAS EXPRESS': Eighteen passengers. Seven stops. One killer.
In the early hours of Christmas Eve, the sleeper train to the Highlands is derailed, along with the festive plans of its travellers. With the train stuck in snow in the middle of nowhere, a killer stalks its carriages, picking off passengers one by one. Those who sleep on the sleeper train may never wake again.
Can former Met detective Roz Parker find the killer before they kill again?
All aboard for . . . Murder on the Christmas Express
MY THOUGHTS: This is the third Christmas murder-mystery I have read by Alexandra Benedict and I have enjoyed all of them to varying extents.
Murder on the Christmas Express is a locked room mystery. Although the cover may give the impression of this being a cosy-mystery, it is anything but. There are some (one in particular) very dark themes running through the storyline.
Retired detective Roz Parker needs to get to Scotland where her daughter has gone into premature labor. With the storms, the sleeper train is her only option. Little does she expect to be both derailed and faced with a murder to solve.
Murder on the Christmas Express is yet another example of the author trying to pack too many issues into what should be an entertaining murder-mystery. And the book is a relatively short one at less than 300 pages.
I liked Roz, but perhaps there was a little bit too much angst regarding her relationship with her daughter. we seemed to go over and over the same ground with her spiralling thoughts, although I could understand her anxiety about wanting to get there quickly so that she doesn't blot her copy-book again. While Roz is adept at putting both feet in her mouth, her daughter is, at times, perhaps too quick to take offence.
The murder-mystery itself is, if you separate it from all the other goings on, an interesting one with a good number of red herrings for distraction and a surprise resolution.
For puzzle lovers, there are anagrams to find as you read, and a Christmas Quiz to answer at the end.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#MurderontheChristmasExpress #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: A.K. Benedict (aka Alexandra Benedict) read English at Cambridge and Creative Writing at the University of Sussex. She lives in Hastings and writes in a room filled with teapots and the severed head of a ventriloquist’s dummy. She did have a blow-up pirate but punctured it.
Alexandra was the front-person of an underground indie band and has composed music for film and television.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own personal opinions.
ABOUT 'MURDER ON THE CHRISTMAS EXPRESS': Eighteen passengers. Seven stops. One killer.
In the early hours of Christmas Eve, the sleeper train to the Highlands is derailed, along with the festive plans of its travellers. With the train stuck in snow in the middle of nowhere, a killer stalks its carriages, picking off passengers one by one. Those who sleep on the sleeper train may never wake again.
Can former Met detective Roz Parker find the killer before they kill again?
All aboard for . . . Murder on the Christmas Express
MY THOUGHTS: This is the third Christmas murder-mystery I have read by Alexandra Benedict and I have enjoyed all of them to varying extents.
Murder on the Christmas Express is a locked room mystery. Although the cover may give the impression of this being a cosy-mystery, it is anything but. There are some (one in particular) very dark themes running through the storyline.
Retired detective Roz Parker needs to get to Scotland where her daughter has gone into premature labor. With the storms, the sleeper train is her only option. Little does she expect to be both derailed and faced with a murder to solve.
Murder on the Christmas Express is yet another example of the author trying to pack too many issues into what should be an entertaining murder-mystery. And the book is a relatively short one at less than 300 pages.
I liked Roz, but perhaps there was a little bit too much angst regarding her relationship with her daughter. we seemed to go over and over the same ground with her spiralling thoughts, although I could understand her anxiety about wanting to get there quickly so that she doesn't blot her copy-book again. While Roz is adept at putting both feet in her mouth, her daughter is, at times, perhaps too quick to take offence.
The murder-mystery itself is, if you separate it from all the other goings on, an interesting one with a good number of red herrings for distraction and a surprise resolution.
For puzzle lovers, there are anagrams to find as you read, and a Christmas Quiz to answer at the end.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#MurderontheChristmasExpress #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: A.K. Benedict (aka Alexandra Benedict) read English at Cambridge and Creative Writing at the University of Sussex. She lives in Hastings and writes in a room filled with teapots and the severed head of a ventriloquist’s dummy. She did have a blow-up pirate but punctured it.
Alexandra was the front-person of an underground indie band and has composed music for film and television.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own personal opinions.
December 20, 2022
What
A
Mess.
The author tries to do WAY too much and therefore does *none* of it well. Half the storylines were deeply unnecessary. At times the "tough as nails" protag is so pathetic you want to give her a slap, and if I ever hear about tablet again it'll be too soon.
Not sure if the authoer has children, but description of and portrayal of premie birth etc was awful, utterly awful
A
Mess.
The author tries to do WAY too much and therefore does *none* of it well. Half the storylines were deeply unnecessary. At times the "tough as nails" protag is so pathetic you want to give her a slap, and if I ever hear about tablet again it'll be too soon.
Not sure if the authoer has children, but description of and portrayal of premie birth etc was awful, utterly awful
December 29, 2023
All aboard a cozy murder mystery on the Christmas Express. Think Agatha Christie meets anagrams, hidden word searches, a recipe and a pub quiz. It’s the perfect mysterious festive read.
Synopsis
Eighteen passengers. Seven stops. One killer.
In the early hours of Christmas Eve, the sleeper train to the Highlands is derailed, along with the festive plans of its travellers. With the train stuck in snow in the middle of nowhere, a killer stalks its carriages, picking off passengers one by one. Those who sleep on the sleeper train may never wake again.
Can former Met detective Roz Parker find the killer before they kill again?
My Thoughts:
“That was the magic of trains. The world seemed to pass you by while you were still, yet somehow you got to where you wanted to go. If only life were like that.”
I enjoyed this book so much, and reading it made me feel the Christmas spirit this year. It’s my first read in December and I couldn’t be happier to start my festive year with this title. The synopsis promises a similar plot to the famous “Murder on the Orient Express” by Agatha Christie, but you couldn’t be more wrong. Yes, it was probably inspired by the title, and someone dies on a train so everyone is a suspect, but this is where the similarities end. The plot continues to thicken and no one can be trusted. Even Roz, the former detective, starts to make people question her integrity. I quite liked the open interrogation and the many twists that happened at the very end.
“Make lots of mistakes, Rosalind. Make them frequently. And do not give up who you are to be someone else, or someone you think you should be. It never works. Find your strengths and use them. You have many. No one can figure things out like you can. No one stands up for victims like you do.”
My favourite part was how interactive Murder on the Christmas Express is. I tried so hard to find all the anagrams, but I didn’t have too much luck, without knowing what page or chapter to look for. However, I thoroughly enjoyed finding all of Kate Bush’s songs that were hiding in plain sight. I also enjoyed the Christmas pub quiz and I will definitely be borrowing some questions this year.
When it came to the ending of the book and the killer, I wasn’t surprised.
I had my suspicions on a group of people, and it tied in nicely. A lot of signs and clues were already around, so it didn’t feel like too much of a surprise. I would have loved to get to know some of the characters more, and add a few of their secrets to thicken the plot a bit more. Some of the insight information that Roz received could have added to the suspense. As a cozy murder mystery, Murder on the Christmas Express made me feel exactly how I wanted it to; excited for Christmas, entertained and engrossed in solving a lot of mysteries. If you know a reader, this will be their perfect Christmas gift for them.
“Memories are like a tray full of water. They might seem clear to you, but they’re coloured by your own ink, your schema, made up of your past experiences, the way you view the world, your own sense of time, cultural identity and values, and so many other factors. If you lay a sheet of paper on top of the tray, then it will be one colour, one set of memories. But everyone else’s memories are shaded with their own ink, and if two or more of your memories mix, then they marble together and cannot be separated. If you lay a piece of paper on top, a very different image will emerge from the first. Bartlett’s theory of reconstructive memory. No one will give quite the same version of the same event.”
Synopsis
Eighteen passengers. Seven stops. One killer.
In the early hours of Christmas Eve, the sleeper train to the Highlands is derailed, along with the festive plans of its travellers. With the train stuck in snow in the middle of nowhere, a killer stalks its carriages, picking off passengers one by one. Those who sleep on the sleeper train may never wake again.
Can former Met detective Roz Parker find the killer before they kill again?
My Thoughts:
“That was the magic of trains. The world seemed to pass you by while you were still, yet somehow you got to where you wanted to go. If only life were like that.”
I enjoyed this book so much, and reading it made me feel the Christmas spirit this year. It’s my first read in December and I couldn’t be happier to start my festive year with this title. The synopsis promises a similar plot to the famous “Murder on the Orient Express” by Agatha Christie, but you couldn’t be more wrong. Yes, it was probably inspired by the title, and someone dies on a train so everyone is a suspect, but this is where the similarities end. The plot continues to thicken and no one can be trusted. Even Roz, the former detective, starts to make people question her integrity. I quite liked the open interrogation and the many twists that happened at the very end.
“Make lots of mistakes, Rosalind. Make them frequently. And do not give up who you are to be someone else, or someone you think you should be. It never works. Find your strengths and use them. You have many. No one can figure things out like you can. No one stands up for victims like you do.”
My favourite part was how interactive Murder on the Christmas Express is. I tried so hard to find all the anagrams, but I didn’t have too much luck, without knowing what page or chapter to look for. However, I thoroughly enjoyed finding all of Kate Bush’s songs that were hiding in plain sight. I also enjoyed the Christmas pub quiz and I will definitely be borrowing some questions this year.
When it came to the ending of the book and the killer, I wasn’t surprised.
I had my suspicions on a group of people, and it tied in nicely. A lot of signs and clues were already around, so it didn’t feel like too much of a surprise. I would have loved to get to know some of the characters more, and add a few of their secrets to thicken the plot a bit more. Some of the insight information that Roz received could have added to the suspense. As a cozy murder mystery, Murder on the Christmas Express made me feel exactly how I wanted it to; excited for Christmas, entertained and engrossed in solving a lot of mysteries. If you know a reader, this will be their perfect Christmas gift for them.
“Memories are like a tray full of water. They might seem clear to you, but they’re coloured by your own ink, your schema, made up of your past experiences, the way you view the world, your own sense of time, cultural identity and values, and so many other factors. If you lay a sheet of paper on top of the tray, then it will be one colour, one set of memories. But everyone else’s memories are shaded with their own ink, and if two or more of your memories mix, then they marble together and cannot be separated. If you lay a piece of paper on top, a very different image will emerge from the first. Bartlett’s theory of reconstructive memory. No one will give quite the same version of the same event.”
March 2, 2024
I’m Scottish and it really confuses me that more of the errors in this book weren’t picked up on. The most irritating, “outwith” is not a synonym for outside (it’s the opposite of within). Other little things just seem like they should have been picked up by an editor - such as we don’t have sixth form college. They seem like small things but when they’re so obvious to the reader, it can be confusing. I also don’t understand why multiple characters had the same names, such as Roz’s mum, Liz, and her fellow passenger, Liz. There were too many late revelations for my liking. Overall, I didn’t dislike it; I was looking for a murder at Christmas, and that’s what I got.
December 8, 2025
3.25/5
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