When Boston librarian Iris Quinn turns 50, the reality of her safe, staid life suddenly becomes unbearable. She's never done anything spontaneous. Throwing all caution to the wind, she decides to make a long-held dream of hers come true. She drains her savings account to purchase a ticket for a luxury train ride from London to Istanbul aboard the famed Orient Express. Although Iris feels too plain and ordinary to be embarking on such a glamorous adventure, she's also utterly entranced. Feeling as if she's stepped inside an Agatha Christie novel, she vows to embrace the experience for all its worth. Just as she's starting to really enjoy herself, however, a passenger is killed—and a shrewd Swiss detective pegs Iris not only as a suspicious outsider but also as the prime suspect in the murder. Desperate to clear her name, she vows to use her keen observation skills to unmask the real killer. Can she solve the case before anyone else dies? Or will she become the murderer's next victim?

No One Sleeps on the Orient Express by Irene Hagan is the first installment in a promising new cozy mystery series. As a 50-year-old book lover myself, I found Iris to be a kindred spirit. She's down-to-earth, relatable, compassionate, and clever. Her habit of sorting everyone she meets into certain stereotypes from various literary genres made me laugh. I especially liked seeing how those people smashed through those tropes, teaching the shelted Iris that real people are much more complex than book characters. As for the other passengers on the Orient Express, there isn't time to get to know any of them very well. I would have liked to delve deeper into their backstories. In fact, No One Sleeps on the Orient Express may be the first cozy mystery I've ever read in which I wanted the book to be longer than it was. (It's only 249 pages.) The murderer's identity is a little too obvious; a more intricate plot with twists and red herrings (á la Ms. Christie) would have served the story well, I think. Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed No One Sleeps on the Orient Express. The novel is atmospheric, funny, entertaining, and clean. I was thrilled to discover that the next installment, It Always Rains at Ashford Castle, comes out in September because I really can't wait to see what Iris gets up to next.

(Readalikes: Reminds me of Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (naturally), Everyone On This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson, and With a Vengeance by Riley Sager)

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Twenty years ago, two frustrated American writers found each other in Italy and fell in love. They married, forming a romantic partnership at the same time they began co-writing what would become a popular, bestselling murder mystery series. Two decades later, Thea and Fred Morgan-Lane are flying back to the place where they met to participate in a writers' conference. They should be anticipating a romantic, nostalgic trip into the past, but the couple has not lived together in six years; they're keeping up the image of a happy marriage only to appease their fans. In fact, Thea is working up the courage to confront Fred about ending not just their long-running book series, but also their sham of a marriage. 

Amid the usual dramas of a writers' conference—intrusive super fans, jealousies between authors, exhausting social engagements, and more—guests are abuzz about the treasure hunt that's been planned in the medieval castle-turned hotel where the conference is being held. Rumors of a real treasure have always circled about the centuries-old edifice, but Thea—a medieval scholar—strongly doubts it ever existed. When a shocking death occurs on the first night of the conference, it commands everyone's attention. The next dead body confirms that there is a killer at the event, and they're using one of Thea and Fred's books as a blueprint for murder. Under suspicion themselves, the warring couple finds themselves reluctantly working together to unmask the true murderer. Can the duo that solves crimes so successfully on the page unmask a real-life killer? Or will they become the next victims?

Carol Goodman is one of my go-to mystery/thriller authors. Her books feature atmospheric settings, complicated relationships, and twisty plots. Our Marriage is Murder, her latest, which comes out today, is no exception. It does differ from her previous novels; between its tongue-in-cheek title and its lighter tone, it has the feel of a cozy, although it's still darker and more violent than most books in that genre. Our Marriage is Murder is actually a mash-up of genres: it's a little bit mystery/thriller, a little bit cozy, a little bit Indiana Jones-style action/adventure, and a little bit second-chance romance. These extra elements give the story more oomph, which is needed because the tale does get slow in places. It's also pretty predictable. The ending, however, is perfect, with some thrilling scenes and a satisfying conclusion. 

The characters are a bit skimpy in the depth and complexity departments. Thea is sympathetic, but she's also rather self-centered and a little cold. Fred is more dynamic, but he's also less likeable. Nevertheless, I was rooting for the couple to work things out, both professionally and personally. Even though I don't read much romance, I always want a nice HEA to look forward to. I prefer a realistic one and, like I said, I enjoyed the way Thea and Fred's story wraps up. 

Our Marriage is Murder isn't my favorite of Goodman's novels, but I enjoyed it overall. It kept me entertained, although it was only in the last 1/3 or so that I found it unputdownable. Still, it's a solid read that shows Goodman's flexibility as a writer. I'm excited to see what she does next.

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The next thing Mallory knows, she's waking up in a world that has tilted completely. She's still in Edinburgh, but, as she soon discovers, she's traveled back in time 150 years to 1869. To further complicate matters, she's no longer Mallory, at least not on the outside. She's now inhabiting the body of Catriona Mitchell, a saucy 19-year-old. A semi-reformed thief rescued from the streets by her employer's sister, Catriona works for a handsome undertaker named Dr. Duncan Gray. The kicker? Catriona is recovering from being strangled and left for dead—in the exact same spot where Mallory was attacked a century and a half later. 

As Mallory struggles to make sense of her new life while also trying to figure out how to escape it and return to her own time, a curious corpse is delivered to Dr. Gray, who moonlights as a medical examiner. The young man has been strangled. Just like Mallory and Catriona. Mallory's detective brain kicks into high gear; even though she knows it's essential for her to act the part of Catriona—an uneducated servant who doesn't know what a germ is, let alone understand forensic science—she can't help but tap into her own expertise. Anything to catch the cold-blooded killer who is stalking prey in two separate timelines. Desperate to return to the side of her beloved nana, Mallory hopes that solving the case will catapult her back where she belongs. Can the detective put the killer behind bars before he strikes again? Or will his next attempt on her life be final, for both Mallory and Catriona?

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, sexual innuendo, depictions of drug abuse (opium), and disturbing subject matter

To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of A Rip Through Time from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!