About the Book

"After a brutal year battling what should have been a terminal cancer diagnosis, mystery author Joe Penvale and his twin sister Meredith decide to celebrate this new beginning with a holiday on the famed Orient Express. Joining them in Carriage 16 are a medically retired French police detective, a female British detective inspector, a travel blogger and her husband, two true crime podcasters who are seeking an interview with Joe, a widowed duchess, two little old ladies from Lower Slaughter in pursuit of a thief they know is aboard, and an obnoxious man in a green plaid suit. Joe and Meredith's elusive neighbor in 16G keeps to his cabin the first night after an early dinner--and the next morning his cabin is found soaked in blood, with no sign of his body anywhere"--

Book Synopsis

"It's a daring writer who wants to add their own spin to one of the most recognized mysteries of all time. Sulari Gentill succeeds brilliantly." Joshua Moehling, USA Today bestselling author of A Long Times Gone

"Rich with quirky characters and clever misdirection." Booklist

On a train, there are only so many places to hide...

Crime fiction author Joe Penvale has won the most brutal battle of his life. Now that he has finished his intense medical treatment, he and his twin sister, Meredith, are boarding the glorious Orient Express in Paris, hoping for some much-needed rest and rejuvenation. Meredith also hopes that the literary ghosts on the train will nudge Joe's muse awake, and he'll be inspired to write again. And he is; after their first evening spent getting to know some of their fellow travelers, Joe pulls out his laptop and opens a new document. Seems like this trip is just what the doctor ordered...

And then some. The next morning, Joe and Meredith are shocked to witness that the cabin next door has become a crime scene, bathed in blood but with no body in sight. The pair soon find themselves caught up in an Agatha Christie-esque murder investigation. Without any help from the authorities, and with the victim still not found, Joe and Meredith are asked to join a group of fellow passengers with law enforcement backgrounds to look into the mysterious disappearance of the man in Cabin16G. But when the steward guarding the crime scene is murdered, it marks the beginning of a killing spree which leaves five found dead--and one still missing. Now Joe and Meredith must fight once again to preserve their newfound future and to catch a cunning killer before they reach the end of the line.

USA Today bestselling author Sulari Gentill brings readers on a heart-pounding ride filled with intrigue, suspense, and literary charm in Five Found Dead, perfect for fans of twisty mysteries and books about books.

Review Quotes

LibraryReads Selection, August

A KOBO Best Mystery of the Month selection in the US and Canada

BookBub Best Books of August

CrimeReads Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of Summer 2025

Goodreads Hottest Mysteries and Thrillers of Summer 2025

AOL Most Anticipated Books Releasing in August

"A heart-pounding ride filled with intrigue, suspense, and literary charm." -- Book Reporter

"Rich with quirky characters and clever misdirection, Gentill's latest will please fans of locked-room mysteries, especially those Golden Age tales evoked by the setting." -- Booklist

"Gentill's latest is a fun, modern mystery/thriller with classic charm. The author's own recent battle with cancer adds authenticity to the narrative and the portrayal of Joe." -- Library Journal

"If you can't travel on the actual Orient Express, Sulari Gentill's Five Found Dead is the next best thing. It captures the glamour and beauty of the legendary train, and takes you on a ride that's as twisty as a Swiss mountain pass. It's a daring writer who wants to add their own spin on one of the most recognized mysteries of all time. Sulari Gentill succeeds brilliantly." -- Joshua Moehling, USA Today bestselling author of A Long Time Gone and And There He Kept Her

"Signature Sulari Gentill... Sharp, funny and fresh." -- Dervla McTiernan, International #1 Bestselling Author of The Murder Rule