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The Lamplight Murder Mysteries #2
Murder on the Lamplight Express
All aboard for mysteries, murders and monsters on the Lamplight Express .
The orders given to Isabeau Agarwal and her partner are ensure the safety of all passengers and crew until point of destination. But on the maiden voyage of this luxury train, nothing is quite what it seems. Isabeau soon discovers why her unique professional skills are needed when the passengers are threatened with a possible monster hiding among them.
But things are never that simple for a Huntress. A passenger is shot dead, and as the train hurtles headlong into desolate moors and a thunderstorm like none other, mayhem breaks loose.
Ten little passengers. The businessman. The attendant. The doctor. The creation. The puppeteer. The tarot reader. The bounty hunter. The actress. The ambassador. The bodyguard. Ten little liars...
...and one murderer.
The orders given to Isabeau Agarwal and her partner are ensure the safety of all passengers and crew until point of destination. But on the maiden voyage of this luxury train, nothing is quite what it seems. Isabeau soon discovers why her unique professional skills are needed when the passengers are threatened with a possible monster hiding among them.
But things are never that simple for a Huntress. A passenger is shot dead, and as the train hurtles headlong into desolate moors and a thunderstorm like none other, mayhem breaks loose.
Ten little passengers. The businessman. The attendant. The doctor. The creation. The puppeteer. The tarot reader. The bounty hunter. The actress. The ambassador. The bodyguard. Ten little liars...
...and one murderer.
269 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2023
116 people are currently reading
802 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
October 3, 2025
Yet another Great Little Whodunnit Type Thingie (GLWTT™) courtesy of Morgan Stang, this time on the Orient Express a train! With more monsters! More murderous shenanigans! More mayhem! More steampunk! And most importantly, more great characters!
Brighten up your life for a few hours this highly entertaining little story will indeed!
Yes, I know, this pineapple is creepy as fish. As are all pineapples, if you ask me.
· Book 1: Murder at Spindle Manor ★★★★
· Book 3: Murder on Hunter's Eve ★★★★★
Brighten up your life for a few hours this highly entertaining little story will indeed!
Yes, I know, this pineapple is creepy as fish. As are all pineapples, if you ask me.
· Book 1: Murder at Spindle Manor ★★★★
· Book 3: Murder on Hunter's Eve ★★★★★
July 10, 2024
Murder at Spindle Manor ★★★★
Murder on the Lamplight Express ★★★★ 1/2
This book was absolutely brilliant. The more I reflect on it, the more I find myself liking it. I'm especially glad that this series won the SPFBO award; otherwise, I might never have discovered it.
The story picks up after the events of the first book, with Isabeau still taking the lead role alongside the rest of her crew from book one. Her mission leads her aboard the Lamplight Express, where a murder occurs, casting suspicion on everyone once again.
The book begins with introductions to each character before the murder unfolds, setting off a cascade of action, drama, and suspense. Despite the complexity of events and twists, the writing is clear and engaging. There's a generous dose of humor—Mr. Homes is particularly hilarious—and the book is relatively short with concise chapters.
Combining steampunk fantasy with murder mystery, Stang pays homage to Christie, a detail I noticed belatedly in the title. The first half focuses more on the mystery than fantasy elements, while the second half accelerates with heightened intrigue. The story unfolds with twist after twist, making it delightfully unpredictable. I found myself fully immersed, shutting off my analytical brain to savor every twist.
The characters are a standout feature, gradually revealing their secrets and complexities. Each character is fascinating in their own right, adding depth to the narrative. I'm eagerly looking forward to where the next installment of the series will take us.
Summary:I thoroughly enjoyed this book—excellent writing, compelling characters, and a clever storyline that showcases Stang's impressive writing skills and intellect. Knowing that a third book is arriving soon has made it one of my most anticipated reads of the year!
Murder on the Lamplight Express ★★★★ 1/2
This book was absolutely brilliant. The more I reflect on it, the more I find myself liking it. I'm especially glad that this series won the SPFBO award; otherwise, I might never have discovered it.
The story picks up after the events of the first book, with Isabeau still taking the lead role alongside the rest of her crew from book one. Her mission leads her aboard the Lamplight Express, where a murder occurs, casting suspicion on everyone once again.
The book begins with introductions to each character before the murder unfolds, setting off a cascade of action, drama, and suspense. Despite the complexity of events and twists, the writing is clear and engaging. There's a generous dose of humor—Mr. Homes is particularly hilarious—and the book is relatively short with concise chapters.
Combining steampunk fantasy with murder mystery, Stang pays homage to Christie, a detail I noticed belatedly in the title. The first half focuses more on the mystery than fantasy elements, while the second half accelerates with heightened intrigue. The story unfolds with twist after twist, making it delightfully unpredictable. I found myself fully immersed, shutting off my analytical brain to savor every twist.
The characters are a standout feature, gradually revealing their secrets and complexities. Each character is fascinating in their own right, adding depth to the narrative. I'm eagerly looking forward to where the next installment of the series will take us.
Summary:I thoroughly enjoyed this book—excellent writing, compelling characters, and a clever storyline that showcases Stang's impressive writing skills and intellect. Knowing that a third book is arriving soon has made it one of my most anticipated reads of the year!
October 29, 2023
4.5/5
I’m thoroughly enjoying this series. It has everything I look for in fiction: relatable and memorable characters, twists that twist previous twists, and an exciting genre mashup. Which subgenre does it fit into? Well, it could fit into quite a few. Think of it as a comedic gaslamp fantasy-horror murder mystery set in a pseudo-Victorian world.
As a fan of Agatha Christie’s books, I appreciated how well Morgan Stang incorporated the best elements of her work and mixed them with the supernatural. “Murder on the Lamplight Express” pays homage to Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” but with a fantastical twist. Like poltergeists, an axe-wielding puppet, a levitating head, and the looming threat of a good old-fashioned train crash. Oh, and did I mention decapitation?
Isabeau Agarval and her team are called to action, tasked with boarding a train to ensure everyone’s survival. The story opens with exciting action and never slows down. Instead of delving into the plot and major reveals, I’ll focus on things that make it a pleasure to read.
Firstly, the characters are all well-rounded, likable, and memorable. Isabeau is a Huntress and her path is a solitary and dark one, but is it really? Her team thinks otherwise and joins her on adventures. Constantly inebriated, Mr. Homes may be of little help, but Penny (living doll) and Evie have their own standout moments.
Secondly, the murder mysteries (yes, plural) in this tale offer no easy answers, and Stang excels at keeping readers guessing, guessing again, and still being wrong. I appreciated how every character had a motive to murder someone and how unclear it was who actually did it.
Stang’s writing is sharp and witty, balancing the horrific with moments of wry humor. A sort of humor that isn’t forced, and that lightens the narrative without softening the underlying existential message. I appreciate that.
“Murder on the Lamplight Express” is a fantastic sequel - it builds on the first book, and finds a perfect balance between humor and horror, fantasy and murder mystery elements. With its well-paced plot and intriguing characters, it’ll keep you guessing. A must-read for anyone who loves a gripping and original story. I eagerly await the next book in the series.
I’m thoroughly enjoying this series. It has everything I look for in fiction: relatable and memorable characters, twists that twist previous twists, and an exciting genre mashup. Which subgenre does it fit into? Well, it could fit into quite a few. Think of it as a comedic gaslamp fantasy-horror murder mystery set in a pseudo-Victorian world.
As a fan of Agatha Christie’s books, I appreciated how well Morgan Stang incorporated the best elements of her work and mixed them with the supernatural. “Murder on the Lamplight Express” pays homage to Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” but with a fantastical twist. Like poltergeists, an axe-wielding puppet, a levitating head, and the looming threat of a good old-fashioned train crash. Oh, and did I mention decapitation?
Isabeau Agarval and her team are called to action, tasked with boarding a train to ensure everyone’s survival. The story opens with exciting action and never slows down. Instead of delving into the plot and major reveals, I’ll focus on things that make it a pleasure to read.
Firstly, the characters are all well-rounded, likable, and memorable. Isabeau is a Huntress and her path is a solitary and dark one, but is it really? Her team thinks otherwise and joins her on adventures. Constantly inebriated, Mr. Homes may be of little help, but Penny (living doll) and Evie have their own standout moments.
Secondly, the murder mysteries (yes, plural) in this tale offer no easy answers, and Stang excels at keeping readers guessing, guessing again, and still being wrong. I appreciated how every character had a motive to murder someone and how unclear it was who actually did it.
Stang’s writing is sharp and witty, balancing the horrific with moments of wry humor. A sort of humor that isn’t forced, and that lightens the narrative without softening the underlying existential message. I appreciate that.
“Murder on the Lamplight Express” is a fantastic sequel - it builds on the first book, and finds a perfect balance between humor and horror, fantasy and murder mystery elements. With its well-paced plot and intriguing characters, it’ll keep you guessing. A must-read for anyone who loves a gripping and original story. I eagerly await the next book in the series.
January 6, 2024
The sequel to Murder at Spindle Manor, Murder on the Lamplight Express continues the whodunnit mystery set in a victorian-flavoured steampunk setting, with plenty of dark fantastical elements.
We join the story with our famed Huntress, Isa, and her Warwick Yard partner, Evie. Accompanying them are characters from book 1 - Penny and Mr. Holmes.
I am not a bit mystery reader, so I never guess the twists and murders and betrayals, which is great! Because every reveal is always a “wow” moment (along with thoughts on “how on earth did the author plot this all out!”) which is wonderful.
I loved the setting of the train, the thunderstorm on the plains, monsters, and another cast of colourful characters. The twists are great (and clearly foreshadowed if you pay enough attention) along with some very creepy monsters - we have puppets and a… creature I can’t really describe but starts with a floating head and is Bloodborne-levels of terrifying.
Isabeau is almost always on top of everything and a few steps ahead of everyone else, but even she falters from time to time. The relationship between her, Evie, and the other passengers was absolutely sensational, leading to a brilliantly satisfying ending.
This is paced brilliantly from start to finish, ramping up the mysteries and stakes, and even when you think it’s all over, there’s still more to discover.
I love the Gaslamp world and I am looking forward to exploring more of Lamplight in the sequels!
Highly recommend :D
We join the story with our famed Huntress, Isa, and her Warwick Yard partner, Evie. Accompanying them are characters from book 1 - Penny and Mr. Holmes.
I am not a bit mystery reader, so I never guess the twists and murders and betrayals, which is great! Because every reveal is always a “wow” moment (along with thoughts on “how on earth did the author plot this all out!”) which is wonderful.
I loved the setting of the train, the thunderstorm on the plains, monsters, and another cast of colourful characters. The twists are great (and clearly foreshadowed if you pay enough attention) along with some very creepy monsters - we have puppets and a… creature I can’t really describe but starts with a floating head and is Bloodborne-levels of terrifying.
Isabeau is almost always on top of everything and a few steps ahead of everyone else, but even she falters from time to time. The relationship between her, Evie, and the other passengers was absolutely sensational, leading to a brilliantly satisfying ending.
This is paced brilliantly from start to finish, ramping up the mysteries and stakes, and even when you think it’s all over, there’s still more to discover.
I love the Gaslamp world and I am looking forward to exploring more of Lamplight in the sequels!
Highly recommend :D
November 15, 2024
Loved it!
jakie to było dobre! podobnie jak w pierwszym tomie, mamy takie połączenie zagadki jak u Agathy Christie, z epoką a'la wiktoriańską, gdzie w ciemnościach i wśród ludzi kryją się prawdziwe potwory. jest satyra, jest specyficzny humor, jest klimacik.
w momencie, kiedy już dochodzi do zbrodni, macie ostatnią szansę na przerwę w lekturze. potem tempo rusza z kopyta i książka staje się nieodkładalna!
jakie to było dobre! podobnie jak w pierwszym tomie, mamy takie połączenie zagadki jak u Agathy Christie, z epoką a'la wiktoriańską, gdzie w ciemnościach i wśród ludzi kryją się prawdziwe potwory. jest satyra, jest specyficzny humor, jest klimacik.
w momencie, kiedy już dochodzi do zbrodni, macie ostatnią szansę na przerwę w lekturze. potem tempo rusza z kopyta i książka staje się nieodkładalna!
December 9, 2025
Dare I say my favorite unexpected trans rep of the year?
February 10, 2024
3.75 out of 5 stars
Isabeau Agarwal is back on another mission and this time she's not alone. Along with her companions Evie, Penny, and even Mr. Homes, they set off aboard the Lamplight Express on very vague orders: to make sure everyone aboard arrives at their destination.
But, as always, everything is not as it appears and just before their train ride ends, two people end up dead. It's up to Huntress Isabeau and her team to sift through all the deception to uncover the real killer.
+
Another fun fantasy mystery from Morgan Stang. I did enjoy this one, although I didn't find it as fun as Spindle Manor. Mr. Homes is a hoot and is currently my favorite drunkard. The attempt at jealousy/love triangle between specific characters were a bit annoying for my taste but I get what the author was going for. The amount of red herring here, both literal and figurative, was insane, but insane good. Although a lot of my guesses proved correct.
I'm finding stories and settings like these are becoming my go-to for when real life is getting hectic and I need an easy-to-digest escape. Highly recommended to those who like either Cozy mystery or fantasy or both. I'm certainly keeping an eye out for the next books in this series.
Isabeau Agarwal is back on another mission and this time she's not alone. Along with her companions Evie, Penny, and even Mr. Homes, they set off aboard the Lamplight Express on very vague orders: to make sure everyone aboard arrives at their destination.
But, as always, everything is not as it appears and just before their train ride ends, two people end up dead. It's up to Huntress Isabeau and her team to sift through all the deception to uncover the real killer.
+
Another fun fantasy mystery from Morgan Stang. I did enjoy this one, although I didn't find it as fun as Spindle Manor. Mr. Homes is a hoot and is currently my favorite drunkard. The attempt at jealousy/love triangle between specific characters were a bit annoying for my taste but I get what the author was going for. The amount of red herring here, both literal and figurative, was insane, but insane good. Although a lot of my guesses proved correct.
I'm finding stories and settings like these are becoming my go-to for when real life is getting hectic and I need an easy-to-digest escape. Highly recommended to those who like either Cozy mystery or fantasy or both. I'm certainly keeping an eye out for the next books in this series.
May 20, 2024
4.5⭐️
Another wonderful Gas lamp fantasy/murder mystery. This series is so addictive if there was 5 more books I’d probably binge read them all. The first book might be a touch tighter narratively, but I’ve already come to love the characters and the world of Lamplight is full of possibilities. Looking forward to seeing where the author takes this series.
Another wonderful Gas lamp fantasy/murder mystery. This series is so addictive if there was 5 more books I’d probably binge read them all. The first book might be a touch tighter narratively, but I’ve already come to love the characters and the world of Lamplight is full of possibilities. Looking forward to seeing where the author takes this series.
May 8, 2025
English version below
***************
Auch der zweite Band der Lamplight Mysteries-Serie war ein Volltreffer für mich.
Diesmal werden die Jägerin Isabeau und ihre Partnerin Evie beauftragt, die Jungfernfahrt des Luxuszuges Lamplight Express zu begleiten und für den Schutz der Fahrgäste zu sorgen.
Es ist leicht zu erkennen (schon allein im Titel), dass der Roman eine Hommage an Agatha Christies Mord im Orient Express darstellt. Außerdem gibt es Referenzen auf Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, die ich sehr unterhaltsam fand.
Desweiteren finden sich noch etliche weitere Tropes des Phantastik, z.B. die Geisterhaus-Thematik, das klassische Monster, Besessenheit und nicht zu vergessen, die dunkle und stürmische Nacht,
Wie schon der erste Band war das ein toller Lesespaß für mich, dem ich jeden Fan von Fantasy Mysteries nur allerwärmstens ans Herz legen kann.
-----------------
The second volume in the Lamplight Mysteries series was another hit for me.
This time, the huntress Isabeau and her partner Evie are tasked with accompanying the maiden voyage of the luxury Lamplight Express train and protecting the passengers.
It is easy to recognise (from the title alone) that the novel pays homage to Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. There are also references to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which I found very entertaining.
Furthermore, there are several other tropes of fantasy, such as the haunted house theme, the classic monster, possession and not forgetting the dark and stormy night,
Like the first volume, this was a great read for me and I highly recommend it to any fan of fantasy mysteries.
***************
Auch der zweite Band der Lamplight Mysteries-Serie war ein Volltreffer für mich.
Diesmal werden die Jägerin Isabeau und ihre Partnerin Evie beauftragt, die Jungfernfahrt des Luxuszuges Lamplight Express zu begleiten und für den Schutz der Fahrgäste zu sorgen.
Es ist leicht zu erkennen (schon allein im Titel), dass der Roman eine Hommage an Agatha Christies Mord im Orient Express darstellt. Außerdem gibt es Referenzen auf Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, die ich sehr unterhaltsam fand.
Desweiteren finden sich noch etliche weitere Tropes des Phantastik, z.B. die Geisterhaus-Thematik, das klassische Monster, Besessenheit und nicht zu vergessen, die dunkle und stürmische Nacht,
Wie schon der erste Band war das ein toller Lesespaß für mich, dem ich jeden Fan von Fantasy Mysteries nur allerwärmstens ans Herz legen kann.
-----------------
The second volume in the Lamplight Mysteries series was another hit for me.
This time, the huntress Isabeau and her partner Evie are tasked with accompanying the maiden voyage of the luxury Lamplight Express train and protecting the passengers.
It is easy to recognise (from the title alone) that the novel pays homage to Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. There are also references to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which I found very entertaining.
Furthermore, there are several other tropes of fantasy, such as the haunted house theme, the classic monster, possession and not forgetting the dark and stormy night,
Like the first volume, this was a great read for me and I highly recommend it to any fan of fantasy mysteries.
January 30, 2024
Fun and mayhem on a speeding train. Per the series norm, lots of twists and turns and unexpected events. The story doesn't let up until the last few pages. There are also some wider world-building details that will likely become more significant as the series progresses. The protagonist is, as before, delightful, flawed, and innovative. I am not sure the investigation and "murder revelations" gelled together quite as well as the first one and a handful of insufferable characters escaped with no comeuppance, so it wasn't perfect, but still quite enjoyable, and different from the fantasy I usually read. I'll continue the series.
September 30, 2023
Ratings:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
December 26, 2023
Loved this! This one was even better than the first book.
There is so much going on in the plot of this book, in a very good way, that it's amazing that it's only about 300 pages long. We follow our Huntress heroine from book one, Isabeau Agarwal who has amassed quite the crew since the ending of book 1 (detective Evie, living doll Penny, and who could forget the ever drunk Holmes) as they all embark on a last minute journey on the maiden voyage of a train. They have simple mysterious instruction: make sure that everyone arrives alive. But of course, after an initial relaxing start, murders and mayhem with so many supernatural twists take the stage. A gunslinging cowgirl, a murderous ghost, a crazy monster, and a veneer pulled over the reader and characters' eyes alike. What was there not to adore?
Perhaps it was the interactions between the characters that had more depth since friendships had formed since book 1, but I personally felt more invested in these characters than I did in book 1. Now I did feel that this book took a little longer to get into after that initial first chapter as it develops the characters similar to old murder mysteries would, but it was oh so worth it because once the plot begins to unravel, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what the author had in store next. I'm excited for future books in this series!
There is so much going on in the plot of this book, in a very good way, that it's amazing that it's only about 300 pages long. We follow our Huntress heroine from book one, Isabeau Agarwal who has amassed quite the crew since the ending of book 1 (detective Evie, living doll Penny, and who could forget the ever drunk Holmes) as they all embark on a last minute journey on the maiden voyage of a train. They have simple mysterious instruction: make sure that everyone arrives alive. But of course, after an initial relaxing start, murders and mayhem with so many supernatural twists take the stage. A gunslinging cowgirl, a murderous ghost, a crazy monster, and a veneer pulled over the reader and characters' eyes alike. What was there not to adore?
Perhaps it was the interactions between the characters that had more depth since friendships had formed since book 1, but I personally felt more invested in these characters than I did in book 1. Now I did feel that this book took a little longer to get into after that initial first chapter as it develops the characters similar to old murder mysteries would, but it was oh so worth it because once the plot begins to unravel, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what the author had in store next. I'm excited for future books in this series!
May 31, 2025
4.5 🌟
October 21, 2025
Another great book in this series! I am enjoying them so much that I will start the next one right away.
March 5, 2024
This series is driving me crazy! The author hints and teases and I WANT TO KNOW TO READ ABOUT THE NOBLES, dammit! What are they? Where did they come from? What the hell!?
Loved the tongue-in-cheek homage to Murder on the Orient Express.
Dear author... Wonderful author... More please!
Loved the tongue-in-cheek homage to Murder on the Orient Express.
Dear author... Wonderful author... More please!
August 8, 2023
Note: This is a Review Dissection, meaning, it will be very long and detailed, kinda like a grad school lecture.
If you just want to know my general thoughts, head to “Closing Thoughts” or if you just want to know if this book is for you or not, jump to “So, who should read this book?”
Also it's more readable on the blog post: https://cannedbreadblog.wordpress.com...
Table of Contents: ctrl + f:
Introduction: &
Twitter Feed (Alpha): #
Dissection: =
Closing Thoughts: ^
So, who should read this book: ()
Spoiler-free Blurb: A Huntress, her police officer partner, and a living doll maid receive a letter to board a train that may or may not have a deadly monster on board. 10 eccentric passengers are on board. Can they make it through the night, or will they drink themselves under the train bar and get murdered? And where the fuck is that jar of jam?
Introduction: &
Do you see this shit, dear reader?
That is a textbook picture of an existential crisis. (Ignore the fact it’s a Paperwhite, I’m too broke for the physical copy. I pleb my way to an eBook)
This wasn’t because of what was in the book (which frankly, only therapy will get me through it). This was because of Stang herself. Why?
I had the realization after finishing this book that you don’t need a world-class publishing house to come up with a killer book. Sometimes, and bear with me, you need an original thought that’s a little different from everyone else.
We have seen “Baking Bad” with their mix of cozy mystery and dragons, but this was a twist upon a twist of different genres mashed into one. Satire, humor, Soulsbourne, and cozy mystery combined to make me yeet “Gideon the Ninth” ¼ of the way and consume this book in 2 days.
You don’t get an author like this often that will consume your attention span the way Stang does. She’s here to stay in this genre no matter how long she writes for this crossover genre.
Twitter Feed (Alpha): #
· Magnifico is dressed too stereotypically like Shadi from “Yugioh”: This also applies to “Miss Peacock”, er, Peafowl. For as much creativity as Stang shows, she doesn’t play around with the murder suspects’ designs all that much. If you asked me to name anyone in a multiverse AU, I would only name our 3 MCs and Lady Constellation. And fucking Katherine Sharpe who still haunts my nightmares, by Shu-Dereth. And Anna Barrow.
· Where are the periods for the titles? Were they yeeted like “Gideon”? Not a complaint but one that genuinely confused me. I had to look up why Stang didn’t put periods in front of titles like Mr. and Mrs.
I think this is an American thing because dailywritingtips.com says: According to British usage, if the abbreviation ends with the same letter as the word entire, no period is necessary: Mr (Mister) Mrs (Mistress) Dr (Doctor)
So, there.
· Thunder: THUNDER!
· I feel like any of the Lamplight Mysteries can be a play script: I’ll go into depth in Prose. Stang’s style with this series is one I feel anyone can get into and descriptions and exposition, while they exist, aren’t all that much.
Dissection: =
True Tags: I’m not sure if this is normal for newly released books, but there are no tags as of publishing this Dissection. So, I’m going to copy-paste “Spindle Manor’s” as the style hasn’t changed too much:
Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Crime, Magic Supernatural, Detective, Horror
If this was an Ao3 fic: Murder on the Orient Express AU, Satire, Humor, Light Angst, LGBT, Thriller, Light Satire, Body Gore, Side effects include: a dash of Dead Dove, jam jars, and copious amounts of bullets, Eldritch Horrors, A werewolf that may or may not be Jacob, Puppets, Horror depending on if you ask your best friend or your grandma
Pacing: Pacing is extremely fast. There’s rarely a moment where it feels like there’s a lull in the story at all. She uses this to her advantage in both “Spindle” and “Lamplight”. The only place where there may be a slow pause is in the beginning of the book where Stang has to set the stage, introduce characters, and the purpose of the train ride. But do be prepared, once the pace picks up, it’s very hard to find a place to stop. What differs between Kingfisher and Stang: Kingfisher likes to put her hooks almost only at the chapter end. Whereas Stang somehow puts a hook in every other sentence, which is good when done right.
And she has done it right where it’s really hard to find a place to put the book down because someone lost their jam jar or a revelation happens with a guest.
Another example I can think of is Sanderson utilizing his pace pretty well. He is similar to Kingfisher in the way he usually has a hook at the end of each chapter, but sometimes he leaves nuggets of hooks that make you want to keep going in a long chapter.
So Stang, take it as a compliment, you and Sanderson give a run for their money in terms of pacing.
Vibe: We’re on a train a la “Murder on the Orient Express” except there are a lot of fantasy and exaggerated elements as well, like a living doll maid and the female version of “Frankenstein”. Expect to feel like you need to be a rich Victorian widow on her way to feign shock over her Russian husband's untimely death just to even sit with any of these people.
Worldbuilding: Here is where most of my deduction comes from and why this book isn’t 5 stars for me. I deduct other things from other elements and they weren’t egregious for me to plummet this lower than 4.5 stars (and honestly, this book doesn’t deserve anything under 4)
Stang has a world where it’s comfy with Penny serving you tea and martinis (if only it was sake), but also dark as shit with different monsters that will leave you having nightmares if you’re not prepared. Nobles that do not see themselves as gods and have mysterious origins and feelings about their place in the world. Magic in the form of different schools of thought (like mesmering from “Spindle”). The Guild of Hunters makes you wish that you could see what their academy is like. How monsters affect society as a whole.
I could go on, but Stang, if you’re reading this, I’m begging you. I need more.
Though that said, sometimes readers don’t exactly know what they want when the author isn’t sure how to implement a certain critique effectively. It’s like, if you’re at a café asking the coffee barista to make you sushi. It becomes harder when they don’t have the knowledge or the equipment to make said sushi. I mean, they can if they learn and understand how to do it, though it takes time and resources to do so.
I want more worldbuilding (sushi), but if the barista (Stang) doesn’t know how to make more of it while also keeping her style and pacing, I’m not going to nag at her to do more because there could be any number of reasons why she doesn’t want to add more. This could be anything such as not having the resources to learn how to do it effectively, it’s how the author wants it, their long lost uncle got teleported to a magical girl AU, etc.
All I’m just listing is my personal feelings of wanting more worldbuilding, not that it’s necessary if that makes sense.
Ah, I forgot to mention, when Stang does do worldbuilding, it’s in the Orderly Method which means it’s chunks of exposition or text that expands on the world that can be seen as a separate document if placed back-to-back. Usually has uniform-sized chunks of text.
Plot: The plot didn’t differ too much from “Spindle Manor” as we had the usual, murder, suspects, solving… the same stuff in a murder mystery. The difference in Lamplight Murder Mysteries is they take place in a dark Gaslamp fantasy with humor and satire, eldritch horrors, and dark elements. And somehow, Stang weaves it all beautifully. I can’t tell if she was the girl that found comfort on Halloween and watches murder documentaries in her spare time that is somehow cathartic for her, or if she just found that loving dark things is comfy. I only have a B.S. in Psych and I'm not getting paid nearly enough to explain why we love dark shit. Google it or go to my Kofi, I need to feed my cats, Barbara, pl-
Anyway, the plot structure doesn’t differ too much from “Spindle” so if you like having novels that have similar structure, then take comfort.
Prose: My mind is a bit foggy from “Spindle Manor” and what the prose was like, so I’m not going to try and compare it with each other.
Stang’s prose is fitting for the type of story she is trying to do. Naturally, this is not set in stone to match the prose style to the story, as we know from Sanderson that it can work if you know how to utilize it well. Her prose style can almost be seen as an artistic play script, but with adding the elements of a novel in between.
Her prose for “Lamplight” is concise, never dallies too long in one place, exposition is sprinkled in very sparingly, and while we do see the same literary device of using “but” as a transition to the next part of the sentence, it’s not as noticeable as with Williams and Casey where they use the same device too frequently that the reader notices it.
This brings me to the realization that if you do use the same literary device over and over (and I’m not saying you fucking should) at least make the plot so interesting and not delaying in one poetic exposition after another that we start seeing the faults of the train. And that’s what Stang does here, whether she realized she saved herself or not.
Characters: Like “Spindle Manor”, Stang’s characters are surface level with a hint of depth. Kind of like a scratch-off lottery card only instead of disappointment and depression, there’s a level of darkness or mystery. Every character plays a part in the plot in one way or another. No character will stay on the sidelines like in Fire Emblem (fucking Ferdinand is worthless and as loud as a squeaky door)
It's hard to expect an epic level of character depth like a Sanderson novel as this is technically a cozy mystery in structure, so expectations for this need to be reined in a little.
Personally, I wish Isabeau had a bit more depth than what was revealed in “Spindle Manor”, but we do get a lot more background for Evie in this book that blindsided me, so look forward to that!
We got a lot more lore about the nature of this world and the Nobles stuck on to the end of the story which had me screaming and reeling that there wasn’t more of it. And partly why I was lying on the floor.
Fix It AU (Beta): As I’ve mentioned in Worldbuilding, I would personally have wanted more of it, characters to be a bit more fleshed out, Nobles more in the forefront (even though I know it defeats the purpose of their mysticism) and vary slightly more with literary devices in the prose. Stang is so close to Pratchett territory that it’s not even a joke. (That’s a compliment)
My other personal grievance is that this book isn’t long, but I understand if she made it longer it might overstay its welcome. I also had a personal grievance with who the murder suspect was, but that’s just me.
Closing Thoughts: ^
As you might tell with this Review Dissection, I loved the shit out of “Lamplight”. I can’t recommend this book as a standalone as it does reveal some spoilers of “Spindle” so I would advise reading that first before coming to “Lamplight”. Which, anyway, it’s also a really good read, even if I did have slightly rose-tinted glasses (I rated that shit 5 stars because it deserved it, bitch).
The rating, 4.5/5 for “Lamplight” is a little biased because I like this book, but that doesn’t mean everyone will agree (as seemingly everyone either loves or hates an author’s work. No author is universally loved). Stang also had very minor editing errors (because really, if you’re self-publishing on Kindle Unlimited and made sure it didn’t have glaring errors and only the minor comma displacement, you’re winning at life).
But Lady, you had problems with multiple things with this book! The book should be lower based on your rating system!
Guess what? This book is so good to me that it bypasses a lot of its problems with grace.
Fix It AU brought to light some things that could have been improved on, but by no means is this a bad book. Quite frankly it’s the opposite.
Think about it. You don’t want a book too perfect otherwise it’s just a group of people being like, “Herp, I like this book” or “Yeah I also like this book” or "Did you read about those perfect muscles on that goblin?!" without any meaningful commentary.
It’s a good problem to have when you have tiny problems that are shadowed by the book being really good. If the book is so good that the cheese holes are just an afterthought, that means you have a strong storyteller on your hands. The worldbuilding drug Stang dangles in front of me is a good problem to have as that shows that people care about your world and story. And really, a lot of authors have a problem getting their readers to care about their work.
All that said, it’s still a fucking good book. If you loved “Spindle Manor” and/or if you’re the type that likes to mix dark elements with humor and cozy mysteries, this series is a really good time.
I know Stang wants to write more of this series, and I’ll be here yeeting “Gideon” away from me every time she publishes, but if she ever decides to stop (girl, please don’t), we can be graced that The Lamplight Murder Mysteries exists and binge the rest of her books.
So, who should read this? ()
Read if you are the type of person that loves Halloween or Soulsbourne mixed with cozy murder mysteries and satire, cause man, we have a strong writer in the works in this new mashup genre. I can’t rec this as a standalone book, so it would be advisable to read “Spindle Manor” first before reading “Lamplight”. This series is on Kindle Unlimited, and you will double-take that this is a self-published work and not traditionally published and you will find yourself on the floor next to your favorite fantasy blogger having an existential crisis.
4.5/5
If you just want to know my general thoughts, head to “Closing Thoughts” or if you just want to know if this book is for you or not, jump to “So, who should read this book?”
Also it's more readable on the blog post: https://cannedbreadblog.wordpress.com...
Table of Contents: ctrl + f:
Introduction: &
Twitter Feed (Alpha): #
Dissection: =
Closing Thoughts: ^
So, who should read this book: ()
Spoiler-free Blurb: A Huntress, her police officer partner, and a living doll maid receive a letter to board a train that may or may not have a deadly monster on board. 10 eccentric passengers are on board. Can they make it through the night, or will they drink themselves under the train bar and get murdered? And where the fuck is that jar of jam?
Introduction: &
Do you see this shit, dear reader?
That is a textbook picture of an existential crisis. (Ignore the fact it’s a Paperwhite, I’m too broke for the physical copy. I pleb my way to an eBook)
This wasn’t because of what was in the book (which frankly, only therapy will get me through it). This was because of Stang herself. Why?
I had the realization after finishing this book that you don’t need a world-class publishing house to come up with a killer book. Sometimes, and bear with me, you need an original thought that’s a little different from everyone else.
We have seen “Baking Bad” with their mix of cozy mystery and dragons, but this was a twist upon a twist of different genres mashed into one. Satire, humor, Soulsbourne, and cozy mystery combined to make me yeet “Gideon the Ninth” ¼ of the way and consume this book in 2 days.
You don’t get an author like this often that will consume your attention span the way Stang does. She’s here to stay in this genre no matter how long she writes for this crossover genre.
Twitter Feed (Alpha): #
· Magnifico is dressed too stereotypically like Shadi from “Yugioh”: This also applies to “Miss Peacock”, er, Peafowl. For as much creativity as Stang shows, she doesn’t play around with the murder suspects’ designs all that much. If you asked me to name anyone in a multiverse AU, I would only name our 3 MCs and Lady Constellation. And fucking Katherine Sharpe who still haunts my nightmares, by Shu-Dereth. And Anna Barrow.
· Where are the periods for the titles? Were they yeeted like “Gideon”? Not a complaint but one that genuinely confused me. I had to look up why Stang didn’t put periods in front of titles like Mr. and Mrs.
I think this is an American thing because dailywritingtips.com says: According to British usage, if the abbreviation ends with the same letter as the word entire, no period is necessary: Mr (Mister) Mrs (Mistress) Dr (Doctor)
So, there.
· Thunder: THUNDER!
· I feel like any of the Lamplight Mysteries can be a play script: I’ll go into depth in Prose. Stang’s style with this series is one I feel anyone can get into and descriptions and exposition, while they exist, aren’t all that much.
Dissection: =
True Tags: I’m not sure if this is normal for newly released books, but there are no tags as of publishing this Dissection. So, I’m going to copy-paste “Spindle Manor’s” as the style hasn’t changed too much:
Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Crime, Magic Supernatural, Detective, Horror
If this was an Ao3 fic: Murder on the Orient Express AU, Satire, Humor, Light Angst, LGBT, Thriller, Light Satire, Body Gore, Side effects include: a dash of Dead Dove, jam jars, and copious amounts of bullets, Eldritch Horrors, A werewolf that may or may not be Jacob, Puppets, Horror depending on if you ask your best friend or your grandma
Pacing: Pacing is extremely fast. There’s rarely a moment where it feels like there’s a lull in the story at all. She uses this to her advantage in both “Spindle” and “Lamplight”. The only place where there may be a slow pause is in the beginning of the book where Stang has to set the stage, introduce characters, and the purpose of the train ride. But do be prepared, once the pace picks up, it’s very hard to find a place to stop. What differs between Kingfisher and Stang: Kingfisher likes to put her hooks almost only at the chapter end. Whereas Stang somehow puts a hook in every other sentence, which is good when done right.
And she has done it right where it’s really hard to find a place to put the book down because someone lost their jam jar or a revelation happens with a guest.
Another example I can think of is Sanderson utilizing his pace pretty well. He is similar to Kingfisher in the way he usually has a hook at the end of each chapter, but sometimes he leaves nuggets of hooks that make you want to keep going in a long chapter.
So Stang, take it as a compliment, you and Sanderson give a run for their money in terms of pacing.
Vibe: We’re on a train a la “Murder on the Orient Express” except there are a lot of fantasy and exaggerated elements as well, like a living doll maid and the female version of “Frankenstein”. Expect to feel like you need to be a rich Victorian widow on her way to feign shock over her Russian husband's untimely death just to even sit with any of these people.
Worldbuilding: Here is where most of my deduction comes from and why this book isn’t 5 stars for me. I deduct other things from other elements and they weren’t egregious for me to plummet this lower than 4.5 stars (and honestly, this book doesn’t deserve anything under 4)
Stang has a world where it’s comfy with Penny serving you tea and martinis (if only it was sake), but also dark as shit with different monsters that will leave you having nightmares if you’re not prepared. Nobles that do not see themselves as gods and have mysterious origins and feelings about their place in the world. Magic in the form of different schools of thought (like mesmering from “Spindle”). The Guild of Hunters makes you wish that you could see what their academy is like. How monsters affect society as a whole.
I could go on, but Stang, if you’re reading this, I’m begging you. I need more.
Though that said, sometimes readers don’t exactly know what they want when the author isn’t sure how to implement a certain critique effectively. It’s like, if you’re at a café asking the coffee barista to make you sushi. It becomes harder when they don’t have the knowledge or the equipment to make said sushi. I mean, they can if they learn and understand how to do it, though it takes time and resources to do so.
I want more worldbuilding (sushi), but if the barista (Stang) doesn’t know how to make more of it while also keeping her style and pacing, I’m not going to nag at her to do more because there could be any number of reasons why she doesn’t want to add more. This could be anything such as not having the resources to learn how to do it effectively, it’s how the author wants it, their long lost uncle got teleported to a magical girl AU, etc.
All I’m just listing is my personal feelings of wanting more worldbuilding, not that it’s necessary if that makes sense.
Ah, I forgot to mention, when Stang does do worldbuilding, it’s in the Orderly Method which means it’s chunks of exposition or text that expands on the world that can be seen as a separate document if placed back-to-back. Usually has uniform-sized chunks of text.
Plot: The plot didn’t differ too much from “Spindle Manor” as we had the usual, murder, suspects, solving… the same stuff in a murder mystery. The difference in Lamplight Murder Mysteries is they take place in a dark Gaslamp fantasy with humor and satire, eldritch horrors, and dark elements. And somehow, Stang weaves it all beautifully. I can’t tell if she was the girl that found comfort on Halloween and watches murder documentaries in her spare time that is somehow cathartic for her, or if she just found that loving dark things is comfy. I only have a B.S. in Psych and I'm not getting paid nearly enough to explain why we love dark shit. Google it or go to my Kofi, I need to feed my cats, Barbara, pl-
Anyway, the plot structure doesn’t differ too much from “Spindle” so if you like having novels that have similar structure, then take comfort.
Prose: My mind is a bit foggy from “Spindle Manor” and what the prose was like, so I’m not going to try and compare it with each other.
Stang’s prose is fitting for the type of story she is trying to do. Naturally, this is not set in stone to match the prose style to the story, as we know from Sanderson that it can work if you know how to utilize it well. Her prose style can almost be seen as an artistic play script, but with adding the elements of a novel in between.
Her prose for “Lamplight” is concise, never dallies too long in one place, exposition is sprinkled in very sparingly, and while we do see the same literary device of using “but” as a transition to the next part of the sentence, it’s not as noticeable as with Williams and Casey where they use the same device too frequently that the reader notices it.
This brings me to the realization that if you do use the same literary device over and over (and I’m not saying you fucking should) at least make the plot so interesting and not delaying in one poetic exposition after another that we start seeing the faults of the train. And that’s what Stang does here, whether she realized she saved herself or not.
Characters: Like “Spindle Manor”, Stang’s characters are surface level with a hint of depth. Kind of like a scratch-off lottery card only instead of disappointment and depression, there’s a level of darkness or mystery. Every character plays a part in the plot in one way or another. No character will stay on the sidelines like in Fire Emblem (fucking Ferdinand is worthless and as loud as a squeaky door)
It's hard to expect an epic level of character depth like a Sanderson novel as this is technically a cozy mystery in structure, so expectations for this need to be reined in a little.
Personally, I wish Isabeau had a bit more depth than what was revealed in “Spindle Manor”, but we do get a lot more background for Evie in this book that blindsided me, so look forward to that!
We got a lot more lore about the nature of this world and the Nobles stuck on to the end of the story which had me screaming and reeling that there wasn’t more of it. And partly why I was lying on the floor.
Fix It AU (Beta): As I’ve mentioned in Worldbuilding, I would personally have wanted more of it, characters to be a bit more fleshed out, Nobles more in the forefront (even though I know it defeats the purpose of their mysticism) and vary slightly more with literary devices in the prose. Stang is so close to Pratchett territory that it’s not even a joke. (That’s a compliment)
My other personal grievance is that this book isn’t long, but I understand if she made it longer it might overstay its welcome. I also had a personal grievance with who the murder suspect was, but that’s just me.
Closing Thoughts: ^
As you might tell with this Review Dissection, I loved the shit out of “Lamplight”. I can’t recommend this book as a standalone as it does reveal some spoilers of “Spindle” so I would advise reading that first before coming to “Lamplight”. Which, anyway, it’s also a really good read, even if I did have slightly rose-tinted glasses (I rated that shit 5 stars because it deserved it, bitch).
The rating, 4.5/5 for “Lamplight” is a little biased because I like this book, but that doesn’t mean everyone will agree (as seemingly everyone either loves or hates an author’s work. No author is universally loved). Stang also had very minor editing errors (because really, if you’re self-publishing on Kindle Unlimited and made sure it didn’t have glaring errors and only the minor comma displacement, you’re winning at life).
But Lady, you had problems with multiple things with this book! The book should be lower based on your rating system!
Guess what? This book is so good to me that it bypasses a lot of its problems with grace.
Fix It AU brought to light some things that could have been improved on, but by no means is this a bad book. Quite frankly it’s the opposite.
Think about it. You don’t want a book too perfect otherwise it’s just a group of people being like, “Herp, I like this book” or “Yeah I also like this book” or "Did you read about those perfect muscles on that goblin?!" without any meaningful commentary.
It’s a good problem to have when you have tiny problems that are shadowed by the book being really good. If the book is so good that the cheese holes are just an afterthought, that means you have a strong storyteller on your hands. The worldbuilding drug Stang dangles in front of me is a good problem to have as that shows that people care about your world and story. And really, a lot of authors have a problem getting their readers to care about their work.
All that said, it’s still a fucking good book. If you loved “Spindle Manor” and/or if you’re the type that likes to mix dark elements with humor and cozy mysteries, this series is a really good time.
I know Stang wants to write more of this series, and I’ll be here yeeting “Gideon” away from me every time she publishes, but if she ever decides to stop (girl, please don’t), we can be graced that The Lamplight Murder Mysteries exists and binge the rest of her books.
So, who should read this? ()
Read if you are the type of person that loves Halloween or Soulsbourne mixed with cozy murder mysteries and satire, cause man, we have a strong writer in the works in this new mashup genre. I can’t rec this as a standalone book, so it would be advisable to read “Spindle Manor” first before reading “Lamplight”. This series is on Kindle Unlimited, and you will double-take that this is a self-published work and not traditionally published and you will find yourself on the floor next to your favorite fantasy blogger having an existential crisis.
4.5/5
January 19, 2025
8 / 10
Murder on the Lamplight Express is the 2nd book following the adventures of Isabeau Agarwal. Izzy is a detective monster huntress, a strange but lovely combination of a fantasy steampunk Hercule Poirot and Van Helsing. This time she's on a train where murder happens, monsters appear and lies and deception abound. The plot was really enjoyable. It was like watching a steampunk fantasy murder mystery with both comedic and horror elements. Actually, the previous 2 sentences are all you need to know about this book. The characters are again extremely varied, unique and very interesting. The pace was breakneck, action and dialogue were perfectly balanced, there were mini cliffhangers at the end of each short chapter and the plot twists and reveals kept on coming non-stop. This is a book that it's a bit silly and over the top sometimes, for all of plot, action, characters and dialogue but that's just perfect for what it is. Adjusting expectations is key here so don't come reading this expecting epic heroic, tear-jerking or profound philosophically introspective moments.
In summary, this was a very enjoyable, fun and easy to read book. If you liked the 1st one, this one is maybe even better and comes highly recommended! In case you haven't read any books of this series, then if you accept this book for what it is and approach it thus, you will love it. I will certainly continue with the rest of the series as/when they are published.
8 / 10
Murder on the Lamplight Express is the 2nd book following the adventures of Isabeau Agarwal. Izzy is a detective monster huntress, a strange but lovely combination of a fantasy steampunk Hercule Poirot and Van Helsing. This time she's on a train where murder happens, monsters appear and lies and deception abound. The plot was really enjoyable. It was like watching a steampunk fantasy murder mystery with both comedic and horror elements. Actually, the previous 2 sentences are all you need to know about this book. The characters are again extremely varied, unique and very interesting. The pace was breakneck, action and dialogue were perfectly balanced, there were mini cliffhangers at the end of each short chapter and the plot twists and reveals kept on coming non-stop. This is a book that it's a bit silly and over the top sometimes, for all of plot, action, characters and dialogue but that's just perfect for what it is. Adjusting expectations is key here so don't come reading this expecting epic heroic, tear-jerking or profound philosophically introspective moments.
In summary, this was a very enjoyable, fun and easy to read book. If you liked the 1st one, this one is maybe even better and comes highly recommended! In case you haven't read any books of this series, then if you accept this book for what it is and approach it thus, you will love it. I will certainly continue with the rest of the series as/when they are published.
8 / 10
July 16, 2025
Another great book of the trilogy, full of suspense, mystery, ghosts, funny moments and great twists! More people should read the trilogy.
September 20, 2025
Seriously love this series! This would have been 5 stars, but there was 1 element in the book that it's an actual fear of mine so I had to take a star off for personal preference.
November 20, 2023
This series is gaslamp fantasy that blends monster-hunting with more mundane murder mysteries — which makes for quite eventful adventures for protagonist Huntress Isabeau Agarwal — while also sprinkling in the right amount of intriguing world building. Despite its large cast of characters, the story remains easy to follow as each of the various denizens of this world are distinctive and memorable. It also manages to have quite a sense of humor, and lampshades genre tropes without undercutting the compelling narrative. Murder at Spindle Manor and its sequel, Murder on the Lamplight Express, were my favorite reads of the year, and I truly hope the author continues the series.
November 30, 2025
4.5 stars
Supernatural twist on Murder on the Orient Express? Sign me right up! 😎✨
I also felt like the author must have glanced at Baccano!! because the spirit of the Rail Tracer lingered menacingly over everything. I very much approved of this, whether it was intentional or not. 😆
The only think I didn't really like with this book was that it felt like Ivie had a completely different personality for most of the book, compared to the first one. It was done in a way that felt weird, for some reason, rather than something done for a reason.
The way she suddenly flipped into gear towards the very end sort of pointed towards the whole haplesness being an act, but it was still something that jerked me out of the story somewhat. I felt like was a move that would have worked better a few books in, with her personality more settled into a clear shape. This only being book two made me instead wonder if the author had changed her mind about Ivie's character build, or something.
Anyway, I blazed through this book - liking Izzy more in this one than the first - and just growing very fond of th author's whole idea for this world and all the spins on familiar tropes that inhabit it.
Supernatural twist on Murder on the Orient Express? Sign me right up! 😎✨
I also felt like the author must have glanced at Baccano!! because the spirit of the Rail Tracer lingered menacingly over everything. I very much approved of this, whether it was intentional or not. 😆
The only think I didn't really like with this book was that it felt like Ivie had a completely different personality for most of the book, compared to the first one. It was done in a way that felt weird, for some reason, rather than something done for a reason.
The way she suddenly flipped into gear towards the very end sort of pointed towards the whole haplesness being an act, but it was still something that jerked me out of the story somewhat. I felt like was a move that would have worked better a few books in, with her personality more settled into a clear shape. This only being book two made me instead wonder if the author had changed her mind about Ivie's character build, or something.
Anyway, I blazed through this book - liking Izzy more in this one than the first - and just growing very fond of th author's whole idea for this world and all the spins on familiar tropes that inhabit it.
September 10, 2025
Murder on the Lamplight Express, is the second book in this series, continues to take the characters I loved in the first story and puts them on a journey aboard the Lamplight Express. What starts out as an exciting adventure soon turns into another gripping murder mystery read set against the backdrop of a train filled with secrets and suspicion.
I really enjoyed how the main characters continue to grow and reveal new sides of themselves as the tension builds. The mystery kept me guessing throughout and the ending once again left me eager to reach for the next book straight away. Morgan Stang has a great writing style that is engaging and has a lovely flow to it, making them really easy books to pick and read on the go.
Murder mystery’s aren’t my normal go to books, but I thoroughly enjoyed picking these up!
I really enjoyed how the main characters continue to grow and reveal new sides of themselves as the tension builds. The mystery kept me guessing throughout and the ending once again left me eager to reach for the next book straight away. Morgan Stang has a great writing style that is engaging and has a lovely flow to it, making them really easy books to pick and read on the go.
Murder mystery’s aren’t my normal go to books, but I thoroughly enjoyed picking these up!
June 27, 2024
I am just loving this series! Isabeau is on the hunt again, although this time she's not sure what she's hunting for. No worries, because there are plenty of monsters on this train, both human and inhuman. Once again, we have a colorful cast of characters, and everyone is a suspect. I loved the homage to Murder on the Orient Express! Especially when one character makes a hilarious reference to it! Morgan Stang does a fantastic job of balancing horror with humor. This book was perfectly paced and there are twists upon twists. I adore Penny, and Mr. Homes is a hoot, so I was thrilled to see them return! July 11th can't get here soon enough because I can't wait to see what the team gets up to next!
November 23, 2023
I am a very hesitant reader of independently published books. There are a lot of them out there and while I understand the benefits to the author to self-publish, the potential lack of quality control is a concern.
Murder at Spindle Manor, the first series in the book somehow came to my attention earlier this year and I really enjoyed it so I jumped on the sequel, which I equally enjoyed.
The book has all the trappings for a classic murder mystery - the dectective, their sidekick, the cast of suspects all with a motive, red herrings and twists aplenty but it set in a Victorian style gas lamp fantasy setting.
Murder on the Lamplight Express gives us more of a glimpse into the world that Morgan Stang has created for this series and maybe hints at a wider arc, but the core of this book is a murder and the investigation. Just with monsters, ghosts and god-like beings in the mix.
Murder at Spindle Manor, the first series in the book somehow came to my attention earlier this year and I really enjoyed it so I jumped on the sequel, which I equally enjoyed.
The book has all the trappings for a classic murder mystery - the dectective, their sidekick, the cast of suspects all with a motive, red herrings and twists aplenty but it set in a Victorian style gas lamp fantasy setting.
Murder on the Lamplight Express gives us more of a glimpse into the world that Morgan Stang has created for this series and maybe hints at a wider arc, but the core of this book is a murder and the investigation. Just with monsters, ghosts and god-like beings in the mix.
August 9, 2025
Enjoyable!
It was a really quick read, and I found it to be the perfect light book for my travel days. Obviously it's a murder mystery, but the reading experience overall feels borderline cozy.
The world building with the Nobles and the country politics was a bit too simplistic for my tastes and delivered a little clunky, but with the right expectations towards this book (understanding that it's a whimsical murder mystery with fun over the top elements and not super deep), it's a lot of fun. I'll continue to read all of these written because they're great palette cleanser books!! But I do hope the next book doesn't dive into the societal stuff set up at the end of this one because I thought that was the weakest part of the book.
Also I read this on a train which made me like it more.
It was a really quick read, and I found it to be the perfect light book for my travel days. Obviously it's a murder mystery, but the reading experience overall feels borderline cozy.
The world building with the Nobles and the country politics was a bit too simplistic for my tastes and delivered a little clunky, but with the right expectations towards this book (understanding that it's a whimsical murder mystery with fun over the top elements and not super deep), it's a lot of fun. I'll continue to read all of these written because they're great palette cleanser books!! But I do hope the next book doesn't dive into the societal stuff set up at the end of this one because I thought that was the weakest part of the book.
Also I read this on a train which made me like it more.
September 12, 2025
4.5 ⭐
This was my first time picking up a book from this series, and well, I had a blast.
It’s not your typical detective mystery, and it’s not your average monster-hunting adventure either. The whole setup was definitely a refreshing surprise.
The writing style took me a little while to get used to, but it quickly grew on me. It’s dark, but it has this sharp witty humor running through it that kept the story intriguing and memorable.
The beginning also started off on the slower side, but once the second half kicked in, things moved at just the right pace and kept me fully invested till the end.
Super glad I gave this a try and I’ll definitely be continuing with the sequel. 🙌
This was my first time picking up a book from this series, and well, I had a blast.
It’s not your typical detective mystery, and it’s not your average monster-hunting adventure either. The whole setup was definitely a refreshing surprise.
The writing style took me a little while to get used to, but it quickly grew on me. It’s dark, but it has this sharp witty humor running through it that kept the story intriguing and memorable.
The beginning also started off on the slower side, but once the second half kicked in, things moved at just the right pace and kept me fully invested till the end.
Super glad I gave this a try and I’ll definitely be continuing with the sequel. 🙌
January 4, 2024
This is a fun read. A lot of fun even, but nothing more. It tries to touch on some deeper topics (police violence/corruption), but it really only mentions them and a few sentences later, they're already forgotten, because the comic relief alcoholic has appeared. I do wish that would be handled better, but it's still a delightful mystery with MCs who have great chemistry.
May 22, 2024
I love this series. Well, both books so far. Agatha Christie with monsters, Celestials, and lots and lots of guns. And Penny. And CHAOS, glorious chaos. When one of those on board of the Lamplight Express burst into the most probable explanation being, um, the ending of The Murder on the Orient Express I laughed out loud from sheer happiness. This came out when? *checks* August 2023. That’s more than enough time to publish the next book in the series, Madam Stang! Am I ready for it? Probably not. Definitely yes.
I received a free copy of this book, which did not influence my review.
8.5/10 rounded down to 4/5 for Goodreads
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I probably DNFed it, so I don't give 2* ratings
1* = actively hostile towards the reader*
I received a free copy of this book, which did not influence my review.
8.5/10 rounded down to 4/5 for Goodreads
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I probably DNFed it, so I don't give 2* ratings
1* = actively hostile towards the reader*
August 12, 2024
As with the first book, the humor was spot on. I really enjoy murder mysteries that aren’t just blood and musings. I heavily enjoyed the supernatural elements too. I feel like they aren’t too overused for the horror elements. My largest problem was in the last part where the author simply doesn’t tell the reader the last hint. I enjoy knowing or being able to figure out the answer behind the murder. I really don’t enjoy when the author doesn’t even give a chance. Still I really enjoyed the second book and I’m looking forward to the third.
June 23, 2025
3.75⭐️ Just as good, if not a tiny bit better than the first! The wild chase continues in book 2 and I loved it from beginning to end. Love a good murder mystery and the Huntress makes it so enjoyable. Also actually a bit scary at times with the creepy monster characters!! Can’t wait to move to the 3rd one.
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