This was really good. I very much enjoyed the previous book in this series, Everyone in my family has killed someone, because it was so beautifully written, and so deeply meta. I was worried, coming into this one, that it would be hard to recreate what was so effective in the first book. I was somewhat correct: at it's core this had the same Golden-Age-turned-modern vibe and a meta, tongue-in-cheek humour that I really enjoyed, but this instalment wasn't as gritty, the characters weren't quite as well developed, and some of the interactions felt more farcical.

Stevenson has an exceptional talent for description: he is a master of the quirkily effective simile, and the way he layers in detail and energy, colour and texture, comes together to create deeply impactful imagery. I also really enjoy how he builds characters, introducing details like clues, letting our understanding of these characters grow with our suspicion. I do not know is Elmore Leonard's are another set of writing rules he subscribes to, but Stevenson does avoid physically describing his characters, beyond what they're wearing. This isn't a problem, but personally I find it harder to connect to them, because I can't really picture these people in a real way. He is an immensely talented writer, and that is as clear in this book, as it was in the first.

I really enjoyed the story of this one, the characters were not quite as realised as the last, but I don't think that hurt anything. These are all first person, so it makes sense that they wouldn't be as real and fully-fleshed to Ernest as his own family. Like the last, the mystery here was complex, the clues slotting together in a comedic, exciting and multi-faceted denouement. Ernest is a wonderful narrator, he is both actively and self-consciously pro-woman, he bows to superior understanding, he appreciates his role as accidental protagonist. In many ways Ernest is the anti-thesis of the Golden Age male detective, because he sees and understands the value of others, he is Watson to the universe's Holmes. In this second book we see Ernest trying to find his feet in this new space, and trying to unlearn some of his bad-habits, I loved seeing Ernest grow as a character, and the way he found confidence in himself.

A last little issue, this is not a romance. It isn't trying to be a romance. But Ernest's relationship with Juliette is possibly the only weak element of this book. Juliette tells us she is not the stereotypical sidekick girlfriend, Ernest tells us she is talented, she is helpful, they are in love. We as the reader see very little of this, we see, in fact, very little of them together. When they are together they converse, they kiss, they don't really seem any closer than any other two people. Given that we didn't see them get together, and we have no real insight into their day-to-day together, Stevenson needs to give the reader a little more to understand why these two are together at all. His lack of physical description is also an issue. Ernest tells us Juliette is beautiful, but we don't know what she looks like, she is not lovingly described. In fact, the only detail we get is that she is 'a head' taller than him. What I'm saying, is that it's hard to picture this loving couple, when you don'y know what they look like, or why they're in love. I hope this series continues, I would love to read another, but I would hope if it does that their relationship is more fully realised.

Overall, this was a fantastically written, well-formed, exciting mystery novel. I throughly enjoyed reading it, and I will be reading any further instalments.

I really enjoyed everyone in my family has killed someone, so I was really excited to be offered the opportunity to read the next instalment.
This time the setting is aboard a luxury train hosting the 50th Australian Mystery Writers Society festival. The story follows Ernie who, once again, finds himself in the midst of a murder mystery! Using the murder as inspiration for his novel, he takes on the role of an investigator in order to uncover the truth behind the crime.

Another fantastic read! I really hope there is a third instalment in the pipeline

Benjamin Stevenson’s first book, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, was refreshingly unusual. The author directly addressed the reader and swore to abide by the Golden Age of Detection “rules of fair play”, even helpfully giving, in Chapter One, the page references for all the forthcoming deaths in the book. Stevenson’s follow-up book, Everyone on This Train is a Suspect, adopts a similar technique.

The scenario is that the protagonist from the first book, Ernie Cunningham, has been invited to be on a writers’ panel for a literary festival, accompanied by his partner, Juliette. The festival will take place on a luxury train (the Ghan) that travels through Australia from Darwin to Adelaide. Ernie, as he tells us, is proud to be a very reliable narrator. I’d use the adjectives precise and accurate. For example, Ernie keeps reminding us that he promised, in Chapter One, “I use the killer’s name, in all its forms, exactly 106 times from here.” He also tells us there that the case is solved by a comma – and he’s deadly serious: it really is. You can be 100% sure that, if you read the text carefully enough, there will be enough clues for you to identify whodunnit. If you pay attention to the text, you’ll realise the significance of that comma and may deduce the murderer too. I told you Stevenson writes very carefully indeed!

I really enjoyed the author’s approach to writing the book. The emphasis upon abiding by “the rules” and keeping nothing back from the reader is evidence of very careful writing. However, I didn’t try to work it out for myself. I just enjoyed the plotting; the dialogue; and the playful narration. Yes, there are quite a number of characters involved, but several of them are identified in the Festival Program inserted before the Prologue; and they are all quite different personalities. Ernie is a very human hero (I think that’s an appropriate word for him) and freely admits to messing up. There is one scene involving Ernie and Juliette that I had to read between my fingers, thinking “No! He’s not really going to say that, is he?! NO! STOP DIGGING!” but he did – stupid boy!

This is a really well-written whodunnit and I cannot recommend it more highly. Although it’s stylistically similar to Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, I felt the plot was quite different. I do hope Benjamin Stevenson finds inspiration for a third, I really do.

#EveryoneOnThisTrainIsASuspect #NetGalley

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

When I saw this book was available to request, I had to request it straight away. I thoroughly enjoyed the first in the series, and this second book was so so good. The style of writing I find quite unique, and even with all the hints and tips throughout the book I still never guessed who the culprit was! A five star read for me.

Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect followed neatly on from the previous novel - Everybody In My Family Has Killed Someone, and finds main character Ernest, having authored a successful book about the events at the ski resort, taking part in a book festival with a twist: it’s held on a cross-country train journey through Australia.

I really enjoyed the meta elements - wherein the previous book becomes the book the character of Ernest has written - and the setting works well as a Golden Age of Crime homage. While I didn’t find it quite as gripping as the first book, it was still a fun read and recommended for those who enjoy their crime on the cosier side.

This is the sequel to Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, which I really enjoyed. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite live up to the first. As with before there was lots of humour and a few surprises, but there was just too many characters and it all got a bit complicated for me.
I found that I wasn't that invested in the story. Although I did enjoy the epilogue (no spoilers but if there's another on it should go in that direction).
One thing that is genius is that when you look on Goodreads Henry McTavish's one star review is there!

This book is absolutely wonderful. Set on board a train crossing the Australian desert, a literary festival goes horribly wrong when a murder occurs.
Ernest cunningly, a new writer, writes in the first person as a cross between a murder mystery guide and a novel.
He has a dry sense of humour which comes across well and lightens the mood! It's a homage to the golden age of locked- room crime writing and is a must read for crime writing fans.

Rating: 4.5/5

This is the second book to feature the character of Ernest Cunningham, who first appeared in "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone". Somehow, that one slipped under my radar at the time of publication, so I came into Ernest's second outing cold, but at no point whilst reading "Everyone on This Train is a Suspect" did I ever feel at a disadvantage for not being familiar with book one. If for no other reason than that, Benjamin Stevenson would already have been worthy of some praise - but, as it transpires, there is an awful lot about this novel that is laudable.

Although the mood of this novel is deliberately comedic, there is an absolutely rock solid murder mystery structure at the heart of it, that would not be out of place in one of Agatha Christie's works - and there are regular nods to the great lady and to "Murder on the Orient Express" in particular. I would also draw a favourable comparison with another of my preferred writers, Anthony Horowitz. There isn't simply the fact that Stevenson has his author-protagonist playing detective, as Horowitz does in his Hawthorne & Horowitz series, but there are some stylistic similarities too, not least in the satisfying way that a complicated mystery ultimately makes sense.

An amusing, engaging and impressive leitmotif that runs throughout the book is the fact that the author-protagonist, Ernest, not only outlines the structure of the mystery that he is going to be unveiling, but that he also includes regular updates on the progress versus the plan - and even telegraphs significant plot developments well in advance to make sure that the reader has no excuse for missing them. Now, this could potentially spoil the whole mystery of the reading process, but it doesn't - far from it, in fact. Not only is this approach very amusing, but it is also a little like the skilled magician who tells his audience what they need to watch out for, so that they won't be fooled, but still manages to accomplish the seemingly impossible sleight of hand in front of their eyes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which may be the last book I finish reading in 2023 (even though it isn't published until the end of February 2024). A great way to finish the year and one of my favourites reads of the past twelve months. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for Benjamin Stevenson's next offering.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

He is back!

Ernest has a on a train, and there has been a murder....

The Australian Mystery Writers’ Society has invited Ernest and other mystery authors onboard!

Ernest needs some inspiration for his next book and he’s hoping this provides the opportunity for it. Things never go to plan though!

Then one of the authors is found dead and as everyone on board is a suspect. the mystery begins!

As with the first book Ernest uses the first person with this book which I love! He starts off telling us exactly what to expect and when and what pages. He even gives clues to who the murderer is! This carries on throughout.

The same was done for the first book published and I enjoyed this throughly too. “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone”.
I loved how things were broken down at the end and he exposed the motives and secrets of the other authors. I did not see the twists coming at all. I didn’t want to put the book(s) down.

These books will not disappoint you - they are written differently but in a way that will hook you in, keep you engaged and will make you want to read MORE! Keep them coming Benjamin please!


Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishing company for allowing me to have a pre release copy of this book to review - it’s been an absolute pleasure. :)

The other reviews have pretty much said it all: this is even better than the first book. And, within the first few pages, it had answered all my concerns about a sequel - Ernest Cunningham (and presumably Benjamin Stevenson) shared these concerns and smashed it out of the park. Fans of the first book (and others) should definitely read this.

I was a strong advocate of Benjamin’s first novel, the highly acclaimed ‘Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone’ which was written in the first person and littered with guidance and clues to help the reader solve the mystery. ‘Everyone on this Train is a Suspect’ is written in the same style and although I did enjoy reading it, it just couldn’t elicit the same excitement as the first novel as the originality was no longer there.

Another fun read featuring the delightful Ernest Cunningham. Set on a train, it reads as a classic golden age locked room mystery but it is so much more. Wonderfully self-referential and not afraid to make fun of itself. This is a cleverly written book and very amusing. Highly recommended.

Another clever book from Benjamin Stevenson. I loved Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone and this is more of the same.

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect has the same narrator, Ernest Cunningham, simultaneously self-deprecating and sure of his skills at tracking a killer. The tone is light and quirky but there are darker elements in the background. There is more of the hinting at things to come that was a feature of EIMFHKS - telling the reader what's going to happen without quite giving the game away, and plenty of clues to pick up on if you're that way inclined. I just like to read it for the fun of it and find out at the end.

Great fun - and it's set on the Ghan - a train I have travelled on. Perfection.

I absolutely loved reading Benjamin Stevenson’s book, Everyone On This Train is a Suspect. I hadn’t heard of Benjamin Stevenson before, but after reading this book I have bought copies of his earlier books.

I travelled on The Ghan train twenty years ago and loved the idea that the setting of this book was the same train journey through central Australia.

In this case, the train is hosting the the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society crime-writing festival and they are travelling through one of the most sparsely areas in the world. One of the writers invited to take part in the event is the true crime writer, Ernest Cunningham, who is suffering from writers block and just can’t get going on his second book. He is also suffering imposter syndrome with all the other authors on the panel. I loved the way in which he’s chronicling the event in the first person, keeping track of who said what and when on the journey.

As the title suggests everyone on the train is literally a suspect. There’s a lot of tension between the writers and no love is lost between them.

The story unfolds at a good pace. I loved the way in which Ern starts to chronicle and investigate - could it become the basis of his second book?! Ern has an interesting and fun take on things and it makes for an exciting read.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was very lucky to get this book as an ARC and can’t express how excited I was when I got the approval! I loved Everybody in my Family has Killed Someone and so had high hopes about Everyone on this Train is a Suspect and it did not let me down!

This story follows Ernest Cunningham after the events of the first book and his struggles to write a second. The story is set on a train (in case that wasn’t obvious from the title!) and as the journey progresses and a body is discovered Ernest has the struggle that all of his suspects are crime writers and know how to get away with murder!

I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loved the first book or loves a funny murder mystery! I always enjoy these kinds of books and it didn’t disappoint. Ernest is a very likable narrator to the story and the book had a good pace that kept me wanting more. I am really hoping that there will be more books coming in this series 💕

Loved this book. It reminded me of an Agatha Christie mystery with it being set on a train abd you don't find out the perpetrator until the closing chapters. Very well written and a brilliant read.

Another entertaining book from Benjamin Stevenson, this time set on a train. I loved the first book: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone so I had to read this one. Highly recommended! Now I can't wait to read the next one.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

I read the first book just before starting this one and, of the two, I actually preferred this. It still has the 'meta' elements the first one used (someone who writes books about writing books writes a book about their experience...if you see what I mean), but doesn't labour on them quite so much as the first did which I found grew slightly laborious over the course of the debut story.
Here the mystery takes places on a train with a group of writers of varying genres/ literary 'value' appearing at a movable festival.
There's some nice jokes which anyone who has been involved in literary festivals at any level will appreciate, and some 'inside jokes' on the whole publishing industry.
The story moves along nicely and there are some good twists and turns along the way.
If you liked the first book you'll enjoy this and if you didn't read the first - well, you'll do just fine jumping straight into this one.

I am a fan of Benjamin Stevenson's previous books and I feel just as excited by this one, they always grip me and keep me hooked.

I loved the first one I ready by this author and was eagerly looking forward to this one. I wasn't disappointed!
I love how this is written in the first person, and the slightly humorous aspect to the writer's thoughts.
I won't give away the plot, but you will be in for twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end. I didn't have a clue whodunnit!
I will certainly look out for more by Benjamin Stevenson because he spins a great tale!