The Case of the Body on the Orient Express by Kelly Oliver
Series: The Detection Club #2
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery
I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Review
After enjoying the first book in Kelly Oliver’s The Detection Club series, I had high expectations going into The Case of the Body on the Orient Express—and I wasn’t disappointed. This clever and captivating mystery perfectly blends historical fiction with cozy sleuthing, bringing to life some of the most iconic literary figures of the era while weaving in an original and engaging story of murder, espionage, and blackmail.
The story follows Eliza—Dorothy L. Sayers’s spirited secretary—as she travels with Dorothy and Agatha Christie aboard the famed Orient Express en route to Istanbul. Their glamorous journey quickly turns sinister when two men connected to Dorothy’s past end up dead. One of them, a former lover, dies suddenly, and Eliza suspects poison. With help from Theo—an old friend she unexpectedly encounters onboard—Eliza begins piecing together the clues, unraveling a plot that stretches far beyond a single murder. As their search leads them into the heart of Istanbul and deeper into danger, Eliza’s MI5-agent sister Jane makes a surprise appearance, revealing even higher stakes.
Eliza continues to shine as a heroine: determined, curious, and imperfect in a charming way. I especially appreciated that we got to see the story from both her and Theo’s points of view. Their chemistry is undeniable and I loved watching their dynamic develop, though at times Theo’s inner monologue about Eliza did lean a bit heavily into romantic territory. Still, I’m fully invested in seeing where their relationship goes next.
Including Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers as characters was a brilliant touch. Their presence felt authentic and added a rich layer of literary history to the story. George Orwell also makes an appearance, though I can’t say I enjoyed his character nearly as much—his role felt more grating than insightful, but it added interesting tension nonetheless.
From secret manuscripts to criminal organizations, hidden messages to twisting alleyways in Istanbul, this book has everything I love in a historical mystery. It’s full of atmosphere, layered characters, and enough danger to keep the pages turning. While the revelations weren’t jaw-dropping, the execution was so well done that it didn’t matter—I was hooked the entire time.
The ending leaves a few threads open, which I actually appreciated—it builds anticipation for the next book without feeling unsatisfying. I’m definitely eager to see what’s next for Eliza and Theo, and how this cast of literary sleuths will tangle with whatever mystery comes their way next.
Meet the Author
About Kelly Oliver
Kelly Oliver is the award-winning, bestselling author of three mysteries series: The Jessica James Mysteries, The Pet Detective Mysteries, and the historical cozies The Fiona Figg Mysteries, set in WW1. She is also the Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University and lives in Nashville, Tennessee. She is bringing new titles in the Fiona Figg series to Boldwood, the first of which, Chaos in Carnegie Hall, will be published in November 2022.
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