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The Basics
- Title: Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect
- Author: Benjamin Stevenson
- Series: Ernest Cunningham Mysteries (Book 2)
- Format I Used: Audiobook
- My Rating: ââââ (4 stars)
My Expectations Going In
Iâll be honestâI usually need a break between books in the same series. Even if I like the first book, I donât always rush into the second. And a lot of second books⌠just donât live up to the first.
That said, I did enjoy Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, so I was cautiously optimistic. I had also just DNFâd another audiobook in a different series after barely 20 minutes, so my expectations were pretty simple:
- I hoped it would be easy to listen to
- I wanted it to feel fun, not like homework
- And I hoped it wouldnât lose what made the first book work
Nothing groundbreakingâjust solid.
The Reality (And Why It Worked for Me)
This book ended up exceeding my expectations.
First of all: it was such an easy listen. The pacing moves quickly, the stakes feel low in a good way, and the story never drags. I like trying to figure out who the murderer is, but I donât always want something dark or emotionally heavyâand this hit that balance perfectly.
The biggest standout for me, though, was the audiobook narration.
Thereâs a self-aware element where the narrator directly acknowledges that youâre listening to an audiobook. Thatâs not something Iâve experienced before, and it genuinely made me smile. It felt conversational, playful, and surprisingly personalâlike the book was in on the joke with you.
That tone made it really easy to stay engaged, even during moments where I might normally zone out in an audiobook.
Comparing It to Book One
What surprised me most is how quickly I picked this up after the first bookâwithin a couple of months, which is not typical for me with series.
This one held its own.
- It didnât feel like a weaker sequel
- It didnât rely too heavily on the first book
- And it kept the same fast-moving, clever energy
If anything, it made me more confident continuing the series instead of burning out on it.
Who Iâd Recommend This To
Iâve already recommended this book to several family members, which is usually my personal litmus test. I think youâd enjoy this if:
- You like mysteries without high emotional stakes
- You enjoy trying to guess the killer without feeling overwhelmed
- You listen to a lot of audiobooks and want something that feels fresh
- You liked the first Ernest Cunningham book and werenât sure about continuing
Iâve also heard rumors that this series may be adapted into an HBO Max show, which honestly feels like a perfect fit given the tone.
Final Thoughts
This was a rare case where the second book didnât disappointâit actually made me more excited about the series as a whole. It was clever, quick, and genuinely enjoyable, especially in audio format.
If youâre looking for a mystery that keeps you engaged without feeling heavy or stressful, this one is worth checking out.
đ You can find Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect here if you want to take a look.
