This is Audiobook Fanatic’s first listen to Alexandra Benedict, author of a trio of trending Christmas thrillers.
Recently retired policewoman Roz Parker boards the Christmas Eve sleeper in London, anxiously heading home to help her daughter, who’s in labour. Aboard the train, Roz meets a small group of travellers, several of whom she finds quite suspicious. When the train is violently derailed during a massive snowstorm and a fellow celebrity passenger is found murdered, Roz immediately takes charge. As the train continues to be stuck and Roz is anxiously conducting interviews, the killer wastes no time and knocks off passengers one by one.
Benedict has created an intriguing storyline with some very appealing characters. Unfortunately, some scenes in the first half had me losing interest as they didn’t advance the plot and were downright boring. The second half was quite entertaining but then faltered with an anticlimactic and unbelievable finish.
Narrator Mhairi Morrison delivered a strong performance as Roz, authentically depicting the inner workings of a woman with a dark past and an uncertain future. There are many themes in this one: a whodunnit murder mystery, a damaged woman’s midlife struggles, a second chance romance, and even a contemporary social media thriller. If these elements intrigue you and you’re looking for an easy listen with no grand expectations, give this a listen!