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savtank's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect was my first ever “whodunnit” style read and I was pleasantly surprised. At first, I must admit, I considered DNFing it due to what I felt was a very slow start. BUT! I am SO GLAD I stuck it out. The plot grew and morphed into a dizzying web of clues, speculation, and humor. What a wonderful introduction to the murder mystery space. I hadn’t realized until I already started it that this is the sequel to the first Ernest Cunningham story, Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone. Thankfully you did not need to have read the first go thoroughly enjoy the second. Now the first had made its way up my TBR list.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Alcoholism, Murder, and Rape
ivylee's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I came for the train full of writers, and stayed for the snarky narrator and well-layered mystery.
A murder mystery and loving sendup of the publishing industry. A sequel in the style of Sherlock Holmes, where references are made to the previous work but it doesn’t super matter if you haven’t read it. I hadn’t read Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, and I still loved this book. Stevenson succeeded in getting me to add his previous works to my TBR! Also, as a bookseller, the start of this book especially had me cracking up. If you’re at all involved in bookselling or publishing, Stevenson will wink directly at you more than once.
A reliable and snarky narrator accompanies you through a series of crimes, casting you as Watson - making you privy to all the clues and able to piece it together yourself, if you pay close attention. Presented as a true crime retelling of events in the narrator’s life, he will often speak directly to us and discuss the facts of the case. I was able to put together one of the twists, but the plot and motives are sufficiently layered to keep a keen reader guessing and second guessing through till the end.
I listened to the audiobook and was delighted by not one but two moments of direct address to audiobook listeners. I do wonder if those are in the printed version. It would be very fun if they weren’t!
A murder mystery and loving sendup of the publishing industry. A sequel in the style of Sherlock Holmes, where references are made to the previous work but it doesn’t super matter if you haven’t read it. I hadn’t read Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, and I still loved this book. Stevenson succeeded in getting me to add his previous works to my TBR! Also, as a bookseller, the start of this book especially had me cracking up. If you’re at all involved in bookselling or publishing, Stevenson will wink directly at you more than once.
A reliable and snarky narrator accompanies you through a series of crimes, casting you as Watson - making you privy to all the clues and able to piece it together yourself, if you pay close attention. Presented as a true crime retelling of events in the narrator’s life, he will often speak directly to us and discuss the facts of the case. I was able to put together one of the twists, but the plot and motives are sufficiently layered to keep a keen reader guessing and second guessing through till the end.
I listened to the audiobook and was delighted by not one but two moments of direct address to audiobook listeners. I do wonder if those are in the printed version. It would be very fun if they weren’t!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexism
Minor: Rape
The rape happens off-screen and in the past, but a character you spend time with is a perpetrator, and there’s a general vibe that several of the men have toward women. Not the MC, he’s fine, but be warned if you’re sensitive to micro aggressions.thumbeleia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Addiction, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Child death, Grief, Sexism, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Gore, Gun violence, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Rape, Incest, Pregnancy, and Vomit
pookiee's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
i love these books. they poke fun at mystery conventions while containing an interesting murder mystery in themselves, which must be hard with being so meta. and the emotional parts feel sincere as well. i haven’t seen anything else like it and i hope there are more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Murder, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Rape
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