Devi Nair
đ§ Listened in audio đ˘ Narrated by Mhairi Morrison âą Duration: 9 hours đˇď¸ Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio / Poisoned Pen Press
Iâve been absolutely binging locked-room (or locked-train, locked-island, locked-mansion) murder mysteries this holiday season without realizing, and Murder on the Christmas Express slid onto my playlist at the perfect snowy moment. Alexandra Benedict takes the classic âsnowed-in with a killerâ trope, slathers it in Christmas lights and hits you with a raw, unflinching exploration of sexual violence that I genuinely wasnât expecting from a festive cover.
Roz Parker is the kind of character you can instantly see: sharp, observant, deeply human, and carrying that quiet heaviness trauma leaves behind. Benedict gives her enough cracks to let the light in, but keeps her competent and compelling. Mhairi Morrisonâs narration is chefâs-kiss with Scottish accent thick enough to feel authentic without losing a single word in the blizzard. She gives Roz the perfect world-weary growl and makes the quieter, devastating moments land like a gut punch.
And yes, the trigger warning needs to be said loudly: the book includes conversations with rape survivors and heavy references to sexual assault. No gratuitous scenes, but itâs emotionally intense and might catch unsuspecting readers off guard. I appreciated the depth, but I wish the front cover had warned me.
Overall, this is a full-bodied, snowy, tension-soaked thriller perfect for the season, especially if you need healthy escapism from holiday chaos.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. This oneâs a winter must for mystery lovers who crave a twisty plot wrapped in snow and secrets. A full-bodied, high-stakes ride that doesnât let up till the final stop. Just be very mindful of the trauma triggers. Absolutely NO NO for trigger folks.
Snowed-In with a Killer! Whoâs Your Favourite Locked-Room Sleuth? Drop your best blizzard-bound mysteries below. I think I'm on a roll and don't want to stop this particular train.
Originally posted at www.viewsshewrites.com.
đ§ Listened in audio đ˘ Narrated by Mhairi Morrison âą Duration: 9 hours đˇď¸ Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio / Poisoned Pen Press
Iâve been absolutely binging locked-room (or locked-train, locked-island, locked-mansion) murder mysteries this holiday season without realizing, and Murder on the Christmas Express slid onto my playlist at the perfect snowy moment. Alexandra Benedict takes the classic âsnowed-in with a killerâ trope, slathers it in Christmas lights and hits you with a raw, unflinching exploration of sexual violence that I genuinely wasnât expecting from a festive cover.
Roz Parker is the kind of character you can instantly see: sharp, observant, deeply human, and carrying that quiet heaviness trauma leaves behind. Benedict gives her enough cracks to let the light in, but keeps her competent and compelling. Mhairi Morrisonâs narration is chefâs-kiss with Scottish accent thick enough to feel authentic without losing a single word in the blizzard. She gives Roz the perfect world-weary growl and makes the quieter, devastating moments land like a gut punch.
And yes, the trigger warning needs to be said loudly: the book includes conversations with rape survivors and heavy references to sexual assault. No gratuitous scenes, but itâs emotionally intense and might catch unsuspecting readers off guard. I appreciated the depth, but I wish the front cover had warned me.
Overall, this is a full-bodied, snowy, tension-soaked thriller perfect for the season, especially if you need healthy escapism from holiday chaos.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. This oneâs a winter must for mystery lovers who crave a twisty plot wrapped in snow and secrets. A full-bodied, high-stakes ride that doesnât let up till the final stop. Just be very mindful of the trauma triggers. Absolutely NO NO for trigger folks.
Snowed-In with a Killer! Whoâs Your Favourite Locked-Room Sleuth? Drop your best blizzard-bound mysteries below. I think I'm on a roll and don't want to stop this particular train.
Originally posted at www.viewsshewrites.com.