The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is a mystery novel about a murder on the Orient Express. It seems to me that this book is intentioned to be the "true story" that inspired Agatha Christie to write Murder on the Orient Express. I thought it was an interesting touch to include popular writers Agatha Christie and George Orwell as characters (there may be more but I only recognized their names). The writing style is a little abrupt and there aren't good transitions between POVs. Besides that, the story is very interesting and was a fun read. 3.75/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

When I asked for the privilege of reading an ARC of this book from NetGalley, I did so based solely on the cover! It just looked intriguing. It turned out to be an excellent choice. It is well written with enjoyable characters and just a touch of a true story. I highly recommend it and not just Agatha Christie fans. Be sure to read the appendix AFTER you read the book. This opinion is my own.

Let's get this out of the way - this is an international cosy thriller first and a cosy murder mystery second. If you're expecting an actual murder mystery, it takes second place to the high stakes drama of secret societies, MI5, spies, a femme fatale, and the like.

The plot is entertaining, a fast paced thriller hurtling through countries as we track down a killer, a spy, missing papers that have secrets and so much more.

I was a bit disappointed in the time jump from the previous novel. The first story was left on an intriguing cliff-hanger which was sort of swept aside in this one. This story ends on a cliff-hanger too and the promise of more mystery, but I am hoping that the next one will follow through and actually confront where it left off.

Eliza is as blunt and as determined as ever. I don't understand how she could be trained to be a spy in the war and yet not pick up on any of the very obvious cues that Theo likes her - subtle, that boy is not! It's great to have PoV from both our main characters but Theo maybe thinks about Eliza a tiny bit too much, its starting to border into stalker tendencies, the way his thoughts are always on her and his feelings.

Oh and this George Orwell is a horrible bleh and I really hope he's not in any further ones. He made me want to take a shower every time he was on the page, just to wash his slime away - so well done to the author for crafting such an obnoxious version.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Net Galley for this ARC. I didn't realize this was the second in a series. There were lots of references to the first novel but this can still be read as a standalone. I'd say its more spy then mystery and feel Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers have been shoehorned in to give the book gravitas. I'm going to read the first book, perhaps this is just a second book syndrome blip and the third will be great

It’s 1928 and Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and Eliza Baker, ex- Scotland Yard and Dorothy’s secretary, are aboard the Orient Express on the way to a writer's convention in Istanbul. However, when a murder occurs and Dorothy becomes the prime suspect, Eliza must put all her detecting skills to good use to uncover the real culprit with the aid of her ex, Theo, before even more mayhem ensues.

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is the second book in The Detection Club series by Kelly Oliver. Although the first I’ve read and although there are some references to the first, I didn’t find it interfered with my enjoyment of this book. And I did enjoy it…mostly. My only problem with the story was that Christie and Sayers play only minor roles while Eliza seems, at times, too much, like a one-woman commando team and Theo’s role seems to be mainly just to add a bit of romance. Still, that’s just me and, overall, this is an entertaining cozy mystery with plenty of twists and turns and red herrings enough to keep the reader involved and I look forward to reading more of Eliza’s exploits in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A gathering of mystery writers including Dorothy L. Sayers and her secretary Eliza Baker, ex-Scotland Yard and current secretary to the secretary of the Detection Club, Ms. Sayers started out in England for a conference in Istanbul. Two murders put them to the test and on the suspect list, complete with intrigue, red herrings, and some very surprising plot twists. A very enjoyable trip on a famous ride through history and mystery.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected ebook file from Boldwood Books via NetGalley.
Avail Jul 14, 2025
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3.25 stars

A cozy mystery with one Eliza Baker ex-Scotland Yard and current secretary to the secretary of the Detection Club, a group for mystery writers to come together and share ideas.

Eliza accompanies her boss, Dorothy, and Agatha Christie on a train to Constantinople (yes, on the Orient Express itself!) While on the train, tragedy strikes and someone is found dead. Unfortunately, this person has direct ties to Dorothy, making it imperative that they solve this mystery, and quickly! Fortuitously, the train staff also includes a long time friend of Eliza’s, the handsome and intelligent Theodore, also an aspiring writer, who is taking odd jobs to make ends meet.

I actually really liked the mystery. I frequent cozy mysteries, and was pleasantly surprised that I did not see any of the plot ahead of time! Sometimes cozy mysteries can be very predictable- but they’re not meant for intense thrill or convoluted puzzles. They’re cozy for a reason. This one managed to stay cozy while also being tense and compelling.

That said, what brought the story down for me was the characters. Eliza is simply too competent, leaving the rest (especially Theodore) in the dust. She’s an ex detective, a scientist, a chess extraordinaire, who can also beat up men as necessary. She knows her way around crime extensively and is involved even with the British government. She is a one man show so the other characters feel extraneous and personally, this makes her feel boring! Even harder to believe is the authors adamant description of Eliza’s abject poverty as she grew up. It’s strange because had this story been set in a fantasy world, I’d have no problem with a crazy competent heroine. But because it’s based in the “real” 1920s, I just can’t wrap my head around someone who grew up in poverty to have enough resources to be Eliza?

Anyways, still a fun story and I definitely would read the continuing books to see what happens. This one ends on a good cliffhanger so I can’t wait to see what’s next.

I was given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed the audiobook of the first one, so I was super excited to get my hands on the e-book of the second. I think I would have enjoyed this best in audio, but I still really enjoyed the mystery. Eliza, our intrepid sleuth and former Scotland Yard detective, is heading on the Orient Express for a writing convention with her employer Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. Along the way, they encounter spies, mystery, and death.

I think I this book was equally as good as the first one, but would recommend the audio if you can get it. I will say that Theo comes off a little strong in all of his chapter blurbs but I enjoyed the mystery and the historical setting. It gives off golden age of mystery vibes even if the mystery was not as elaborate. Definitely check this out if you’ve been enjoying the recent book rollouts of golden age mystery authors in stories that we’re getting!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early arc! All opinions are my own.

"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 recent dispiriting events in both her work and private life - the finalisation of her divorce from her philanderous husband Archie, and the miserly reception of her latest book.

But before the duo can settle in to enjoy the luxuries of their first-class journey, their journey is derailed when a fellow guest drops dead during the dinner service. And as the last person to speak to the victim, Dorothy finds herself a prime suspect in his murder.

As the train hurtles East, Sayers' resourceful assistant Eliza and her friend Theo must navigate a maze of suspects. But with each passing mile, the stakes rise, and when another body is discovered, their search to find the killer before they reach their destination becomes increasingly complicated.

Can Eliza and Theo stay one step ahead, crack the mystery and clear Dorothy's name? Or will this be one journey too far for the amateur sleuths?"

Eh, do they really have to clear Dorothy's name?

Thanks to Kelly Oliver, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a nice cozy mystery set on the famed Orient Express. What adds to the fun is the inclusion of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, George Orwell, and other famous authors in the story which includes the famous train setting.

The author does a nice job interweaving true events with the mystery which takes place mostly on the train. Added to the true events are spies, a cartel, a romance, and of course, murders. Great choice for those who would like a little history with their cozy.

Despite containing all the elements I would love in a cozy, I found this a bit too try hard. As in trying to do too much. Also I am not a fan of the badly injured heroine rushing headlong/headstrong into danger trope. However I do love cozies. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It was an enjoyable and intriguing mystery. It held my attention, filled with notable characters I rather liked.

Authors Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers along with Eliza, Dorothy's secretary, head to Istanbul, on the Orient Express. Two men from Dorothy's past come aboard the Orient too. One of them, her past lover, dies unexpectedly. Eliza, suspecting he was poisoned, starts to investigate. With the help of Theo, a friend she unexpectedly encounters, she starts gathering clues. Their search becomes even more important, when the second man ends up dead too. A journalist with a dangerous story, whose manuscript is gone. Eliza and Theo find themselves in more danger than they thought, especially when Eliza's sister Jane, a MI5 agent, comes into the picture too. Is there more to this story than they originally thought?

I really liked Eliza and her determination, even if she lacked some common sense in certain situations. I also enjoyed the fact that we got both hers and Theo's POV. They were so cute together, I hope we get more of them. But, I do think that the amount of time Theo spent thinking about Eliza was a little too much.
I especially liked the fact that Agatha and Dorothy were included in this story, helping find the answers, Agatha is one of my favourite writers and while I know of Dorothy, I never read any of her novels, so this might be my sign to finally read them. And of course, George Orwell was included too, but I didn't like his character at all.

It was a compelling story, filled with murder, secrets, blackmail, a criminal organisation and espionage. We also got to see all of them following hidden clues all over Istanbul. There wasn't anything shocking about the revelations, but I enjoyed it nevertheless.
I didn't realise this was book two when I requested it, so there is probably things I missed or I should've known when I started, but it didn't took away from the story at all. I'll definitely go back and read the first book though.

The ending was left more open, we didn't get a real conclusion to the story, so I'm hoping it will be continued in the next book. I can't wait to read it and hopefully Eliza and Theo will finally admit their feelings to one another.

This was a book that the publisher offered to me - thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity.

I found this booked a little repetitive. Theo kept repeating to himself how much he admired Eliza, and she thinking how much she esteemed Theo. And the story as well, repeating the details of the investigation into the two murders on the Orient Express. I eventually started to skip sections, and read only every other paragraph. I won't be reading any more of this series.

When Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie decide to attend a writers’ conference in Istanbul/Constantinople, it’s a given that Eliza Baker will be traveling with them on the Orient Express.

Dorothy meets a couple men from her past. One is an old friend, Peachy Fitzroy but Eliza isn’t sure how to describe the other one, Ivan Grigor. Ivan gives her the creeps. Once Dorothy sees Ivan, she refuses to leave her cabin.

Eliza thinks she is alone to investigate until she glimpses Theo out of the corner of her eye. Theo had suddenly left her a couple of years ago and she’d been unable to forget him. Eventually they connect on the train, and she discovers that he has been living like a homeless person with some guy named Eric who was a little too touchy feely with her. The two men were also on their way to the writers’ conference. Eric’s pen name was George Orwell. He was the reason the men were working the train so that Eric could experience life as a poor person.

Eliza’s sister Jane, who works as an agent for MI5, left London before Eliza on assignment. When Eliza explained that she couldn’t take her beagle Queenie with her, Jane took her with her.

When a body is discovered, there are numerous suspects and Eliza isn’t sure that Dorothy might not be one of them. Could Dorothy be so upset that she could kill someone for real?

When the victim’s wife disappears and a second body is found, Jane arrives on the train with Queenie. Eliza then realizes she may be in over her head.

This feels like a homage to Murder on the Orient Express. I love the interaction between Agatha and Dorothy.

I am also looking forward to see what happens with the romance between Theo and Eliza. Will they ever accept that they are in love or will they be star crossed lovers?

The book starts in both London with the ladies and Paris with Theo and Eric. Most of the action happens on the Orient Express. It’s an interesting look at how it was to travel back then. The difference between first and second class. There are plenty of interesting characters, some you love and some you don’t. I loved the atmosphere. At times, it felt like I was riding on the rails with them. I could hear and feel the click of the tracks.

Kelly Oliver uses description like an artist. She is subtle, only highlighting what is important and hiding clues like breadcrumbs for the reader to follow.

I love that she used real life characters whose story lines are woven through the story. I have long been an Agatha Christie fan, so I try to read anything about her. I have yet to discover Dorothy L Sayers books. I loved that she included George Orwell and how she created his character.

I also liked the settings. The Café in Bagdad and the cave in the desert.

If you are a fan of the Golden Age mysteries, you would love this series.

This is the second in the Detective Club series that I was lucky enough to get an advance readers copy of. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for gifting me a copy for my honest review. You have introduced me to another favorite author.

Scheduled release: July 14th.

Thanks to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for the chance to read this.

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is an intriguing and delightfully imaginative mystery that blends real historical figures with fictional characters in a clever, if slightly cheesy, way. The use of real-life personalities adds a playful charm, though at times it can feel a bit much. Still, it’s a creative twist that ultimately works in the story’s favour.

The cast is truly lovely—engaging, varied, and well-developed—which makes the journey all the more enjoyable. While I found the romantic subplot somewhat distracting and not entirely necessary, it didn’t take too much away from the overall narrative.

The final section of the book is particularly compelling, full of twists and momentum that kept me hooked right through to the end. It definitely left me eager to continue with the series.

Although I hadn’t read the first book prior to this, I didn’t feel lost—and I’m now planning to go back and catch up!

I love the idea of creating a cozy mystery with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers as characters! That said, they were not filled out very well as characters and played quite a minor role in this story. I thought the author created the feel of the time and place well. The mystery itself was a bit all over the place. It was hard to follow the whodunit aspect of the plot. It was more of an espionage suspense story which made it less appealing for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This is a charming concept for a historical mystery! It’s the 1920s and esteemed novelists Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers are on the Orient Express, on their way to Constantinople for the International Writers' Convention. Someone is discovered murdered, Dorothy is implicated and her assistant Eliza tries to figure out who the culprit is. It’s a fun, though not deep, mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I am typically not a Historical Fiction reader, but I love a good cozy mystery. With that being said, this was a bit difficult for me to get into the story. I didn't read the first book, and I don't think I missed much because the important bits were brought up in this book. Not to say I won't go back and read the first book at some point.

I liked Eliza's character and her background in law enforcement and her martial arts training. I wanted to like Theo but I felt like his whole personality revolved around his attraction/love for Eliza. I don't feel like I really know much about him even though he was prominent in the book.

I enjoyed the dual POV of Eliza and Theo. Once I really got into the story, I was also trying to figure out who the killer was or of it was more than one. I do wish there had been more of a complete ending with what happens after Jane goes on her mission. Hopefully that storyline will pick up in the next book.

Overall this was a pretty good story and intriguing murder mystery.

I want to say thank you to the author the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book.

I didn't realize when I read this book at first that it was a second in a new series. You can read this book on it own, however you would benefit from reading the previous book, as some of the events are alluded too. I kind of actually wish the author had done a couple quick recap paragraphs where appropriate to catch you up, it would have helped the story a little more, and not taken away from it. But it's okay as is. Aside from that, the book despite being smaller seems a lot longer than it truly is, and I don't know what it is about it that does that. It might be because of the many allusions to the previous book, without prior background knowledge for me that makes it seem that way. I'm honestly not sure.

Apart from that the book does flow well, it is a dual-pov, and Theo's pov has such beautiful internal prose, that works amazing with his writer persona. Eliza's is a bit different, she is rather brash, and comes across as a lot more Sherlock Holmes like than what has been captured on paper. There's some recall issues where it's ends up taking a bit to register that an important fact has already been mentioned for her, that are very obviously notable to the reader, and it draws a little from the story. But she works, she reminds me a lot of an adult Enola Holmes more than a Sherlock. The authors descriptions in this book are where she really shines. They are perfect! They're not too much, they're perfect and they're perfectly immersive. I felt the whole time like I was along for the ride.

What stole my heart the most were the historical mentions to other real life individuals! Well the time line is changed a tiny bit from reality, I loved the real historical references to the real life Detectors club and George Orwell. The author really brought to life some real life historical moments (some characters with slight name and fate changes that don't impact it that much) for Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and a nod to G. K. Chesterton the author of the Father Brown mysteries which I loved reading! My love for real history was brought out so much because of this book and I can't thank the author enough for it!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to read and love this book! I really appreciate it!

Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers,. accompaonied by assistant/secretary Eliza, are on the Orient Ezxpress
on their way to the International Writers' Convention in Constantinople. When an old acquaintance of Dorothy's
drops dead, Dorothy is a suspect due to their past relationship. As Eliza looks into the backgrounds of fellow
passengers helped by her friend. When a fellow writer is murdered is murdered, the two search for the manuscript
he left behind. The investigation will involve a crime syndicate as well as Eliza's sister Jane who works for M15,
British Intelligence. Lives are at stake as it becomes a race against time.
#TheCaseoftheBodyontheOrientExpress #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley