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April 2024 Group Read: Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect, by Benjamin Stevenson
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Nancy, Co-Moderator
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Apr 01, 2024 11:19AM
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I just (finally) finished the December club read by this author (Everyone in my Family has killed Someone) and didn't love it. My review for that here: I'm back and forth on this book. It's clever -- maybe too clever, if that's a thing. It's funny, but sometimes the humour seemed forced. And the "solve" was just ridiculous. Okay, sure, the reader had all the clues (he even recaps them for us, thank you very much). So, okay, the narrator didn't lie (no unreliable narrators here!). But...I dunno...he did stretch the heck out of the clues and I felt a bit cheated? Incredulous? Annoyed? Not sure of the right word. Kudos to the author, though, for inking a TV or movie deal. I can totally see it working for that, with the right cast. But for me the book was just so-so. I did want to like it more.
So before I invest in this one, I'll be interested to read the comments on whether this one is better that the first.
Judy wrote: "I just (finally) finished the December club read by this author (Everyone in my Family has killed Someone) and didn't love it. My review for that here: I'm back and forth on this book. It's cleve..."
Thank you for your comment, and for the heads-up. I have not yet started Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect.
I disliked the first book and hated this one. I kept waiting for the fun and the funny, but the first person narration was irksome and the laughs never arrived. What am I missing? both books seem beloved by their fans. Hope I haven’t lost my sense of humor.
Michael wrote: "I disliked the first book and hated this one. I kept waiting for the fun and the funny, but the first person narration was irksome and the laughs never arrived. What am I missing? both books seem b..." LOL Michael -- I did see that the rating for this one was not as good as the first, which is why I was wary about investing more time and money. I think it's okay to be an outlier. Reading is subjective! I'm currently reading a legal series by Robert Rotenberg (Toronto Criminal Attorney) and loving it. Not funny either though there's wit -- I'd highly recommend it. IF you're on Audible, the first 4 books are in the Plus catalog. anyway, thanks for weighing in on this one.
I had this book in my sights. Got the book and starting it in a day or two. I see some of the feedback here is not great but the blurb has me interested. Forging through with an open mind. It is a risk for me as I don't DNF. Just over 300 pages, let's see. Will update after.
Best.
I did not read the first book, but picked up this one based on the reader's poll recommendations as I am trying to expand my reading from police procedurals or cozy murders into something a bit different. I have to say this IS a different kind of book. I liken the main character to almost acting like an Inspector Clouseau kind of character. He is not really invited along on this Festival train (rather, his girlfriend was invited and she passed along the invitation to him) and he doesn't really write mystery fiction so he is kind of bumbling along throughout the entire book as the train slogs along it's route. Yes, everyone is a suspect and it was almost a surprise that the case was ultimately solved.I will not be reading any other books along this line nor by this author. Barely kept my interest from start to finish.
Just received by book diving in my fort read from this author. I just read some comments regarding this read. Hopefully I will enjoy it.
I absolutely love Stevenson’s tone. It is witty, sharp and never off the trigger. It compels you to want to solve it alongside it, instead of passively letting the protagonist guide you along.
I thought this was better than the first one.
Storm Bay wrote: "I thought this was better than the first one."Storm, why did you think that? I have not yet committed to buying this one as I thought the first one, the solve bordered on ridiculous. Was this more believable?
Judy wrote: "Storm Bay wrote: "I thought this was better than the first one."Storm, why did you think that? I have not yet committed to buying this one as I thought the first one, the solve bordered on ridicul..."
I liked this one better because of the humour and the play on other novels (semi-metafiction.) The solving is part of the humour of the first one and was rather ridiculous, but this one is more a la classic mystery writers. If you have access to a library perhaps borrowing this would work better for you to see if you like it better--then you don't spend money on a book if you aren't sure you'll like this better.
Storm Bay wrote: "Judy wrote: "Storm Bay wrote: "I thought this was better than the first one."Storm, why did you think that? I have not yet committed to buying this one as I thought the first one, the solve border..." thanks. not at my library. I may give it a whirl. Reading the other pick now and loving it.
Judy wrote: "Storm Bay wrote: "Judy wrote: "Storm Bay wrote: "I thought this was better than the first one."Storm, why did you think that? I have not yet committed to buying this one as I thought the first one..."
I understand. I have access to a library network through my library so am spoiled :)
Just had the book delivered -- I have a friend I trade books with, and she'll get the first, may as well get the second. Will start tonight.
I like it because it is funny. Kinda reminds me of The Thursday Murder Club. Sometimes I need something more thrillery, but sometimes books like these are just what I need. Would you agree that this is a cozy mistery?
Started this book last night. So far, the first 23 pages, present a fast, easy read with a jovial tone. (I do find it an affront when new, yet to be established authors, compare themselves with such greats as Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, such hubris!)
Well, I did buy this book despite not loving the first one. It's okay so far but doubtful I will finish it this month -- if I love a book, I read it in 3 or 4 days. This one I've been on for about 10. So far, I think it may be better than book 1, but a bit early to say.
I read the first book about his family, and I am starting this one. He, supposedly a character who is an actual person, is so determined to change the reader’s and publisher’s expectations of what they are reading. I do see it as funny.
Katarina Agata wrote: "I like it because it is funny. Kinda reminds me of The Thursday Murder Club. Sometimes I need something more thrillery, but sometimes books like these are just what I need. Would you agree that th..."
It certainly leans more toward cozy than gritty, but I tend to think of those differently and wouldn't shelve it that way. However, you're not alone and so far 36 people have shelved it cozy mystery (132 crime, 133 thriller).
aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "I read the first book about his family, and I am starting this one. He, supposedly a character who is an actual person, is so determined to change the reader’s and publisher’s expectations of what ..."It is funny, but I'm sorry I watched a video of him and his identical twin brother doing comedy because it was crasser than I prefer (humour is subjective) and it might affect how I approach his novels. This is why I try not to learn much about actors I think are talented.
My review (Finally finished this book)It took me a very long time to finish this book, about 6 weeks, though I will say once I got to the 3/4 mark I finished it off in a couple of days. Which also means that the first bit was a bit of a slog. I selected this book as part of an online book club (which had previously picked Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone). I enjoyed this book more than that one. Here's the thing. The premise of a fair play mystery, revealing the fair play along the way, is clever. But for whatever reason, I do find the pacing a bit on the sluggish side. I don't think I'd read a third book, when or if one comes out. 3.5 since I gave the last one 3 stars and this one is better.
