Newly published author, Ernest Cunningham, has been invited to the Australian Mystery Writer's Society crime-writing festival as they travel via the Ghan, a famous train, from Darwin to Adelaide. While he travels the vast desert, his agent is pressing him to write a fictional book (a departure from his typical genre). Will this train ride with its individuals maintaining secrets provide inspiration for his next book? When the most famous writer dies, Ern steps in to uncover the abundant deceptions and solve the murder. Then another person dies. They are trapped on a train with a determined murderer. Plot sound familiar? Mr. Stevenson alludes to classical mysteries but creates his own entertaining and clever storyline.
The first-person narration was interesting. Ern talks directly to the reader throughout the novel.
Somewhat Spoiler Alert-A nice twist at the end that I did not anticipate--I thought I had figured out the twist and was sorely disappointed in Ern-felt like he was an unreliable narrator when he promised he could be trusted! But then at the last minute he proves to be trustworthy!
I loved the allusions to classical mysteries. Although Mr. Stevenson incorporates descriptions of the Australian landscape and also historical and general information, the novel is not didactic. The amount of description is apt. I ended the book with a deeper appreciation for Australia.
Warning: one man likes younger women and had raped one of the characters when she was young, this same man makes advances (not descriptive in the novel-a one-liner that hints at what he wants from her) toward a young woman. Unbeknownst to him, she is his daughter., one character is gay-his partner was killed by a train years ago, a series of books is discussed that is soft porn (no graphic description-just that they are that), Ern & his girlfriend share a cabin although they are not married (not intimacy takes place), some swearing-very limited
Other books in this series-Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone & Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret
-Borrowed from the library.
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