Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
6 writers, 5 detectives, 4 days, 3 weapons, 2 murders and 1 train. Read this review to learn why the author is the Penn and Teller of crime fiction.
I had my eye on Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect* from the minute I bought Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone. It's the perfect sequel, with spoiler-free callbacks.
The title also does a brilliant job of giving you a peek at the plot, reminding you of Murder on the Orient Express*, and doing all that with a little wink so you know not to take it too seriously.
After reading these novels, I think of Benjamin Stevenson as the Penn and Teller of crime fiction.
Like the American magicians, Stevenson is a master of his craft, but with a unique and humorous approach. He blends superb storytelling skills and perfect comedic timing with an in-depth knowledge of murder mysteries.
On top of all that, Stevenson (or Ernest Cunningham as the narrator) regularly breaks the fourth wall to stand shoulder to shoulder with the reader. He plays fair and gives you the same information he has access to, pointing out clues as they appear in the story.
Of course, there are twists and secrets hidden within the layers of information that you discover as the train makes its way from Darwin to Adelaide.
Best of all, Ernest tells the reader how many times the name of the killer will be mentioned during the story. There's even a great horse-racing-style commentary based on a running tally of their mentions to date.
Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect* is an excellent read if you like crime fiction that doesn't take itself too seriously. That's why I'm hoping there'll be more Ernest Cunningham stories in the near future.
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