Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson (2023): A Review

Title: Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect

Author: Benjamin Stevenson

Publication Year: 2023

Pages: 371

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Humor, Metafiction

Source: Audiobook @everand_us

After reading “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone,” I realized that if a book combines mystery, humor, metafiction, and crime, it definitely has my full attention. Plus, I have this particular quirk—once I start a series, I'm all in, come hell or high water! Thankfully, I haven’t begun any series that seem to go on forever, like the 40th book in a never-ending series XXX. So, when I dove into his second book, “Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect,” I was armed with high expectations, and believe me, Stevenson delivered like a well-trained waiter at a five-star restaurant.

Now, let’s get to the juicy stuff—the plot! The title does all the work: everyone on this train is a suspect. Picture this: Ernest, our charmingly neurotic narrator, is aboard a train where famous crime writers gather to discuss their craft. Add in a couple of eccentric fans and a rising body count, and you have a recipe for chaos. Oh, and did I mention that Ernest has a girlfriend? He’s convinced she’s innocent, but then again, who wouldn't defend their partner when murder is afoot? Buckle up, folks, because as Ernest unravels the mystery using his detective golden rules—sometimes bending them himself—we're in for a wild ride.

Here’s the kicker, though: I’m not just here for a simple whodunit. I have no interest (why lying? I am interested a little bit) in who killed whom! Sure, the plot thickens, but let’s be real: I'm all about the narration! I crave Stevenson’s self-referential wit and that delightful intrusive narrator who knows just how to tickle my literary funny bone. As long as Ernest is alive and kicking—because let's face it, if he were to bite the bullet, it would break the golden rule of no supernatural elements in crime fiction—I’m content. It’s the metafictional magic and clever commentary that keep me turning the pages, not the mystery itself. So, I’ll cheerfully stick with my beloved five stars, thank you very much!