As a sequel to Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, this book works surprisingly well. Ernest’s narration is exactly what I hoped it would be — witty, self-aware, and just as charmingly meta as before. If anything, Stevenson doubles down on the meta elements this time, making it very clear that Ernest is not just our narrator but actively writing the book we’re reading. I actually enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek commentary about sequels and audience expectations; it’s a clever way of signaling that while this has the same flavor as the first novel, it isn’t trying to duplicate it beat for beat.
The mystery setup is strong, with Ernest once again establishing “rules” for himself as storyteller and detective. For a good chunk of the book I felt a flicker of Murder on the Orient Express vibes (I’ve shamefully never read the novel, but I’ve seen the Branagh adaptation), and eventually Ernest gives a quick little wink to that fact. The ensemble of writers aboard the Australian literary festival train makes for a fun lineup of suspects, and the pacing keeps things moving along nicely.
That said, the reveal at the end left me a bit lukewarm. While everything technically adds up, the solution felt a little “sure, why not?” rather than a satisfying click. I’m not convinced Stevenson laid enough groundwork for the twist to land with impact. To be completely honest, if Ernest had pointed to any other suspect, I think I would have felt roughly the same. Not disappointed — but not impressed either. Just… fine.
The humor, however, remains spot-on. Stevenson (or Cunningham, depending on how committed you are to the bit) has a great instinct for timing. I had several of those involuntary nose-exhale laughs that only come from well-executed dry humor. And while I won’t comment on any specific characters for fear of leading future readers toward or away from suspects, I can say the cast was enjoyable across the board. No standouts, no annoyances — just a solid, entertaining ensemble.
In the end, I landed at 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 of out 5. This is a genuinely fun sequel with plenty of charm, even if the reveal didn’t quite match the cleverness of the journey. If you loved Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, I think you’ll absolutely enjoy this one too. And even if you haven’t read the first book, this mystery is accessible, witty, and full of Stevenson’s trademark meta-humor.
I’m looking forward to diving into the Christmas mystery next — because Ernest on holiday sounds like exactly the kind of chaos I need.
