"Everyone on This Train is a Suspect"

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

Book Club Pick

Pages: 312 Genre: mystery

Rating: 5 Stars

Ernest Cunningham is back again after his first book, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, has become a bestseller. He's even being invited to festivals, including this one on the Ghan (an Australian train going from Darwin to Adelaide). He's ready for a getaway with his girlfriend, Juliette, that has significantly less murder than his last.

No such luck.

So when someone is murdered, Ernest finds himself stuck on a train with five other crime writers who should, theoretically, know how to solve a murder. Of course, they should also know how to commit one.

"Everyone on This Train is a Suspect" is the perfect return to Ernest Cunningham. I was nervous about this book, because how do you write a sequel to such an autobiographical and stylized first book? However, Stevenson delivers in every way. Truthfully, I just love this book. From Ernest's sarcastic attitude, the hindsight-filled clues about what's coming up, and the commitment to the in-universe reality that Ernest would be facing, this book is just fun.

Instead of shying away from the concept of "Ernest is once again facing a series of murders, which should be statistically unlikely," Stevenson leans into it fully. Ernest is aware of his reality, and it's part of his character arc. Admittedly it takes more of a backseat than I'd like: if we're trying to make Ernest a staple character in a long series of tragedies, I think it would be good to bring his own personal story closer to the forefront. However, I did still appreciate the awareness.

Despite not having as much of a hook as the first book, the mystery itself was well done. I'd almost go as far as to say it was a little bit better done, but I'm willing to admit that might just be because of my own reading style. I was a very active reader and was working really hard (too hard?) to figure it out before Ernest gave it all away. Therefore, I think I have some authority in saying the clues were there to piece together without being too obvious or too obscure. The book plays off of your assumptions and misunderstandings in a truly brilliant way.

Ultimately, I just really love these books. They won't be for everyone, but I think it's engaging and clever in a remarkably unique way.

Also, this might be a tad bit of a spoiler, but I laughed out loud when I found out the review was real. I admire Stevenson's commitment to the bit.