Its 1928 and Eliza Baker, ex-Scotland Yard, is traveling with her boss author Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie who are traveling to a Writers Conference in Istanbul aboard the Orient Express. Eliza's ex-boyfriend Theo also aboard and still has feelings for her.

During the trip, Dorothy runs into a shady character from her past and he ends up poisoned in the dining car with Dorothy next to him. Dorothy becomes a suspect and Eliza, Agatha, Dorothy and Theo start their own investigation. Can they solve it before the train gets to Istanbul and the killer escapes off the train.

I was sucked in from the beginning and thoroughly enjoyed the story. I could not put it down. The mystery of this story is top notch and its full of intrigue, murder, missing documents and spies. I enjoyed the mixing of real people with our fictional sleuths. It was the most engaging and thrilling cozy mystery I have read so far this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the chance to read this ARC and give my opinion.

This is the second book in the Detection Club cosy mystery series. Set in 1928, we find our main character Eliza boarding the Orient Express with her employer Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie. Although both of these famous authors are involved, as in the first book, they take more of a back seat here. Watch out for another famous author this time too! It was a fun book to read and kept me turning the pages and is a great series so far. It was good to see Eliza and Theo reunited and, of course, Queenie involved. I would highly recommend reading the first book beforehand to get the maximum enjoyment out of this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for letting me read and review this book.

Paris 1928: Agatha Christie and fellow writer Dorothy L Sayers board the Orient Express, bound for Constantinople, Christie in particular is looking forward to a break from disrupting events in both her work and private life - the finalisation of her of her divorce from philanderous husband Archie, and the miserly reception of her latest book. But before the duo can settle to enjoy the luxuries of their first-class journey, their journey is derailed when a fellow guest drops dead during dinner service. And the last person to speak to the victim, Dorothy the prime suspect in his murder.

Along with AAgatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers on the Orient Express is Dorothy's assistant Eliza and her friend Theo. they all try and solve who the murderer was. Then a second man dies. Will they be able to solve murders before the train meets it's destination?

This is a good cosy murder mystery. There were lots of interesting characters, not all of them likeable. We get twists and clues along the way.

Published 14th July 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #KellyOliver for my ARC of TheCaseOfTheBodyOnTheOrientExpress in exchange for an honest review.

I am enjoying this series which features our heroine, Eliza, who is the secretary to Dorothy Sayers. She’s accompanying Dorothy and Agatha Christie to Istanbul for a writer’s conference. But the book isn’t really about Sayers and Christie. They’re just side characters for Eliza and her friend/love interest who are the main characters. If you’ve read the Sayers book that she says in the book that she’s working on, you will figure out one of the murderers. Then it gets rushed at the end and finishes up without as much exposition as I might have liked. But, overall, it’s a fun series and I look forward to the next one.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kelly Oliver for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Case of the Body on the Orient Express coming out July 14, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really love this author’s writing! I love cozy mysteries. Murder on the Orient Express is one of my favorites. So this book definitely had those vibes. I really loved the first book. I really enjoyed the characters. I would definitely keep reading books from this series.

This is the second book in the "Detection Club" mystery series which recounts the adventures of Dorothy Sayers' assistant Eliza Baker,
a young would-be detective with a troubled past. This book takes us on the Orient Express along with Agatha Christie and Eliza's friend
Theo disguised as a worker on the train. Murders of course happen so Eliza and Theo strive to solve them, with some help from Dorothy
and Agatha as well as Eliza's sister Jane, who works for MI5.

The intricate plot kept me guessing while they kept up an action-packed investigation involving codes, poisons, and international syndicates. . The writer nicely balanced the mystery action with a blossoming romance. I appreciated the descriptive train ride as well as the hotel in Constantinople. and Eliza/Jane's beagle.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of "Golden Age Crime" novels involving female protagonists.

All aboard for murder, meta-literary winks, and pitch-perfect Golden Age vibes! I see “Agatha Christie” and “Orient Express” in a title and my expectations go through the roof. So imagine my delight when Kelly Oliver actually delivers with a clever, old-school mystery that’s equal parts tribute and original spin.

Here’s the setup: It’s 1928. Agatha Christie is recovering from a public divorce and a floundering book. Dorothy L. Sayers is her travel companion. They’re boarding the Orient Express to forget their problems—but of course, a fellow passenger promptly keels over during dinner. Classic.

Plot twist? Dorothy is immediately the top suspect. Drama!

What follows is pure Golden Age catnip: a confined setting, an eccentric passenger list brimming with secrets, and a ticking clock as the train barrels east toward Constantinople. Enter Eliza (Sayers’ unflappable assistant) and Theo (her partner in sleuthing). They’re the real MVPs here—navigating social snobbery, red herrings, and escalating stakes with delightful wit.

What I loved:
✅ The setting. The train atmosphere? Impeccably drawn. You can practically smell the polished wood and cigarette smoke.
✅ The real-life author cameos. Christie and Sayers bantering, reflecting on writing and reputation? Absolutely here for it.
✅ Eliza and Theo’s chemistry. They’re smart, observant, and have that playful, respectful vibe I live for in a detective duo.
✅ The layered mystery. Plenty of suspects. A second body. And genuinely clever clues without being annoyingly opaque.

Minor quibbles:

The pace can get a bit leisurely in the middle. Like, the Express is moving but the plot occasionally feels like it’s stuck at a station.

Christie and Sayers are fun cameos but aren’t the stars. It’s really Eliza and Theo’s book—which I liked, but some might want more of the famous authors.

The dialogue occasionally leans heavy on exposition, but that’s classic Christie-pastiche for you.


Overall? The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is the cozy, bookish, murder-on-a-train romp you want it to be. Oliver clearly gets the genre—she plays fair with the clues, loves the setting, and sprinkles in literary in-jokes for fellow mystery nerds.

Perfect for fans of:
🚂 Classic Agatha Christie (obvs)
🕵️‍♀️ Historical cozy mysteries
📚 Meta-literary cameos (Sayers! Christie! Train gossip!)
🎩 Rhys Bowen, Carola Dunn, or Nicola Upson vibes

Bottom line: If you want to sink into a velvet-upholstered armchair, sip something scandalously strong, and watch a clever murder unfold in perfect 1920s style—book this ticket immediately.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This sequel takes Eliza to Istanbul on the Orient Express, joined once again by Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie. Beginning two years after 'The Case of the Christie Conspiracy', this installment features an fresh setting and engaging mystery.

Having a foundation from book one—the Detection Club, Eliza’s backstory, and her personal connections—makes it easier to jump in this time around. Plus, some intriguing new supporting characters are introduced along the journey. I am a fan of Eliza's sister, Jane, and am glad to see more of her and her work in this story. Eliza’s bravery still stands out, though her impulsive decisions can feel a bit immature. Theo returns and brings some romance into the mix, but his dramatic pining—after two years of avoiding her—feels a little excessive. That said, I do enjoy seeing the pair investigate together.

I am unsure about the portrayal of George Orwell in this book. His behavior—detached and disrespectful toward women—is surprising. After doing some research, elements of this depiction appear to be grounded in historical context, yet he's portrayed in a distinctly negative light. Kelly Oliver takes creative liberties with various real-life figures, which is a key part of the series. Still, it’s a delicate balance, and I think this interpretation risks crossing into misrepresentation.

Overall, this is an entertaining story with strong amateur sleuth vibes. If you liked book one or enjoy historical mysteries with a nod to classic detective fiction, this one’s worth checking out.

Special thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Kelly Oliver, The Case of the Body on the Orient Express, Boldwood Books, July 2025.


Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this uncorrected proof for review.

What an absorbing and enjoyable read Kelly Oliver has served up, along with the food that Dorothy L. Sayers consumes throughout the hunt for a murderer. Agatha Christie, only slightly more circumspect with her cups of cream that she enjoys at almost every turn of the plot, joins her, Eliza, and Theo on the Orient Express on its journey to Constantinople, as they knew Istanbul. Jane, Eliza Baker’s sister, also features, as a MI5 agent, introducing a spy theme to the ‘cosy mystery’ as this series is described. This is the first of the Detection Club series that I have read, and I look forward to more as I found it more enticing than the usual cosy mystery.

The combination of real and fictional characters is smart. Agatha’s trip has been arranged to help her recover from her husband, Archie’s, deception. However, personal despair is secondary to her enthusiasm for life – a possible trip to an archaeological dig, and closer to events on the Orient Express, a murder to solve. Her friendship with Dorothy provides plenty of discussion about writing, plotting a murder, and solutions. The introduction of the obnoxious Eric Blair adds to the deft weaving of fact and fiction, not at the Tom Stoppard level in his Rosencranz and Guildenstern Are Dead, but nevertheless, genuine fun. Eliza, Sayers’ companion, and secretary to the secretary of the London Detective Club (and formerly of Scotland Yard) is an engaging character, with her distaste for the humorous way the Club treats death, her commitment to her sister and beloved Queenie, her beagle. Theo Sharp, erstwhile chess companion who disappeared abruptly in the middle of a game, rejoins Eliza and the detective novelists on the Orient Express – in a steward’s uniform.

Death is an almost immediate companion as the Orient Express travels towards Istanbul. But it is accompanied by comic interludes, descriptions of Eliza’s and Jane’s shady past, sharp asides about Eric, who has renamed himself George Orwell, and the red herrings associated with any Agatha Christie plot. Kelly Oliver’s Death on the Orient Express owes something to the latter but has its own daring characters and plotting to make it very much her own. This is a comfortable but nicely harrowing read for a wintry night.

I like this series. like the characters and the setting. Mystery did keep me guessing, I hope for many more in this series.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

The second case involving members of the Detection Club, Eliza is informed at a meeting of the club that she will be travelling with her employer, secretary to the club Dorothy L Sayers to attend a Crime Writers’ Conference in Constantinople. The next day they board the Orient Express, along with another member of the club Agatha Christie, who is heading to an archaeological dig at Ur.
Also on the train, albeit as stewards are Theo and his friend Eric Blair, both aspiring authors recently living in Paris. All seems well until one of the first class passengers collapses and dies and his wife disappears.
It is up to Eliza and Theo to solve this, ably abetted by Dorothy and Agatha and of course Eliza’s sister Jane.
A really good read and my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

The writing was engaging and kept my interest from the beginning right through to the end. I really enjoyed the extra little details of the sights and smells surrounding the characters every so often. They added a well rounded feel to the story. I also enjoyed the romance that was added to the mix. It was a nice little side story to the mystery that I enjoyed reading about. It helped to give more emotion and tension to the overall story.

The chapters were long and sometimes split (indicated by a row of stars) so you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. I didn't really feel their length though as I was engrossed in the story.

There was a good pace to the story despite the long chapters. There was a lot of detail, but it added to the story rather than took your attention away. You were constantly moving forward and making progress with the story which was good.

There was a good flow between the chapters and I was happy to read it for long periods of time.

The characters were excellent. You do need to have read the first book to fully appreciate them and their relationship to each other. Quite a lot went on in the first book to build their personalities. I also enjoyed the blend of fact and fiction with regards to the characters (at the end of the story is a nice bit about what was fact and what was fiction). It gave the story a bit more life.

Lastly the settings. As I have mentioned they were well described with lots of little details such as specific sights and smells. I particularly enjoy it when food is described as I feel that it grounds the story well and gives it some realism.

Overall an excellent read. I would quite happily read more about all of these characters and follow them on their adventures.

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is the first Kelly Oliver novel I have read. I assumed that given the title and descriptions that said Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie were on board, they would have a larger role, but on the train, itself, They did little. Eliza, who is Dorothy's secretary, and Theo, who is in love with Eliza, were left to carry the action and narrate the novel. The plot was complex and even convoluted, more so than a typical Christie novel. would have been, since there are even a few chases. There are lots of secrets and secret codes in this cozy mystery.

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is the second novel Detection Club series. For a novel set on the Orient Express, readers would not know the setting if not in the title. There is no description of the Orient Express. Readers don't learn anything about the train, the rail cars, or the food and drink. This is a disappointingly missed opportunity. Don't waste that terrific setting. Very little research will provide terrific descriptions of the setting and how the train feels. What is first class like? Second class? Describe the cabin and the food.!

I did enjoy this fast-paced mystery. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC. I do recommend this mystery.

3.5 = 4stars

This was my first book by Kelly Oliver, and it was a simply delicious cozy mystery. Fast-paced easy read with wonderful relatable characters.

I look forward to reading more of Kelly's books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

How can we make sure the reader really understands that we're in the early 1900's? Oh I know, say knickerbocker 5 times on one page! This did have me looking us some things, like when did the term "True Crime" actually start popping up, I thought more recently but I guess it was 1700's and even earlier, and when did they start carrying around bottled water (but I think the term 'bottle' is used loosely here).

Romance was unneeded, but with most cozy mysteries, it will be there, just part of the formula. It didn't overtake the plot so it's ok.

My only feedback is if/when this gets an audiobook, please get them to do British accents for the British characters! I use the read aloud function and hearing it just plain American accent say "blimey" really takes you out of the story.

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is book 2 in the Detection Club mystery series by Kelly Oliver,.

The series features real life authors Agatha Christie, and Dorothy L. Sayers as characters, but although they play significant roles, they are not the main characters in the novels which makes the series a little different from other mystery series' I have read which feature these authors.

I have not read the first book in the series, and although I was curious about the back story, specifically between the two narrators, this book is easily read as a standalone novel.

Speaking of narrators, the story is mainly told in third person from the points of view of Eliza, Dorothy L. Sayers' assistant, and Theo, an aspiring writer who has a bit of a history with Eliza.

I half expected the mystery in this book to reflect the mystery from the famous Agatha Christie novel, but other than being set on the Orient Express and having numerous characters who serve as suspects, there didn't seem to be much similarity between the two stories. In fact, I found this to be less of a traditional mystery, and more a story of espionage. Personally I'm not a huge fan of stories involving spies, so I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped, but it was still an okay read.

If you like murder mysteries where the location limits the suspects, and don't mind the espionage aspect thrown in, then you may enjoy this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read the first in this series in February and really enjoyed it, so was really happy to join the crew again, this time on the Orient Express. Seemed fitting for Agatha to be involved 😊

On their way to a writers conference in Istanbul, Dorothy bumps into an old friend who is not her first choice for a travelling companion. Within no time at all, he drops dead and she is a prime suspect. Eliza doesn’t believe this and sets her sights on finding the real killer.

Before long, more old friends have turned up and everyone gets involved. This is the perfect cosy mystery series by an author who is one of my favourite cosy mystery writers, I can’t wait for another in this series.

When traveling with Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers on the Orient Express, one can certainly expect dangerous possibilities to occur. Sayers is accompanied by her intrepid secretary, Eliza, who is the story’s POV. Traveling across Europe to a Crime Writer’s Convention in Constantinople/Istanbul. Set as Christie has just ended her marriage to her first husband and not great reviews for her latest book, Sayers is also dealing with her own ghosts from her past. When someone from Sayers’ past dies on the train, Sayers is a suspect. Eliza and her friend, Theo, work together to solve the mystery before Sayers is arrested. Sometimes, the POV switches to Theo’s and that can be a challenging transition. While the writing is well done, Theo’s unrequited love thoughts for Eliza can get a bit tiresome.
This is the second book in this series and the premise is such a good one. I look forward to the next book in this series.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author (and the second in The Detection Club series) and I’m officially so invested. I loved the first one, and this follow-up was just as delightful!

This time, Eliza is traveling alongside Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers aboard the legendary Orient Express, and the setting could not be more perfect. Vintage glamour, hidden secrets, and a murder that hits a little too close to home. When a man with ties to both authors ends up dead, Eliza once again in the wrong place at the wrong time starts pulling at threads, and what she uncovers is anything but simple.

I was completely hooked from the moment they boarded the train. The pacing felt just right, the mystery was layered and clever, and the historical cameos (yes, even that one!) were such a treat. But what really kept me invested were the emotional undercurrents: Eliza’s past, her complicated feelings toward Theo, and that quiet sense of not quite knowing where she belongs. Her dynamic with Dorothy and Agatha is also fascinating, professional, a little messy, and very human. The historical setting, the cameos from classic mystery icons, the sharp dialogue, I was hooked. This series is the perfect mix of cozy, smart and stylish and I can’t wait for the next instalment.

A huge thank-you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’m already counting down to the next one! This series is fast becoming a favorite.

Oh what a joy this was to read.

Set in 1928: Agatha Christie and fellow writer Dorothy L Sayers board the Orient Express, along with Eliza Dorothys assisant.

There is murder, mystery and a touch of romance and fans of this genre along with the real life main characters will just find this cozy read just a delight.

I loved the setting, the story and I want more of the same