Murder on the Brighton Express

Cleopatra Fox #9

by C.J. Archer

Gossip, scandal and murder collide on the express train to London. Did the journalist fall from the first-class carriage, or was she pushed?

Cleo’s holiday with her family to the seaside resort town of Brighton is everything she hoped it would be…until she receives a blackmail note. The blackmailer demands Cleo help her or a story revealing Cleo’s investigating will appear in the newspaper. With her uncle warning her to keep her detecting activities private, Cleo agrees to meet the blackmailer when they return to London. But when the woman is seen getting on the train but not off, Cleo grows concerned.

She enlists the help of the hotel staff to search for the body along the railway line. Finding it confirms her suspicions and leads her to discover that her blackmailer was a gossip columnist. What scandal had the victim uncovered that led to her death? And which fellow passenger had a secret worth killing for?

With Harry Armitage’s assistance, Cleo attempts to track down the murderer. Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the hotel staff to host a society wedding that will be featured in the social pages for all the right reasons.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Romance

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 3, 2024

About the author

C.J. Archer is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of historical mystery and historical fantasy novels including the GLASS AND STEELE series, the CLEOPATRA FOX MYSTERIES, the MINISTRY OF CURIOSITIES and THE GLASS LIBRARY series.

She has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two. She has at various times worked as a librarian, IT support person and technical writer but in her heart has always been a fiction writer. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, 2 children and Coco the black and white cat.

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Reviews

[Anna 🌻 · Rating 4 out of 5]

How are we on book 9 still with 0 progress? 😂

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The slow burn is killing me

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I’m going to set aside this series. The characters haven’t really advanced and Cleo and Harry are taking too long to develop. I’m starting to get bored. In fact, I think I’ve had my fill of this author for a while. If the Glass and Steele series is ever resurrected, I’ll pick them back up. But otherwise, I’m retiring CJ Archer. I've had a lot of entertainment along the way - thanks Archer!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love how easy it is to fall back into this easy cozy series. Strangely, the cocaine addiction of Cleo's aunt is progressing faster than the romance with Harry, but it is what it is. Each time I come into the new book thinking that the romance had actually gone farther than I remembered it going in the previous book (or does the author actually regress the romance back each time while gaslighting us?). Personal opinion, I think Harry will sooner put Cleo's name on his detective agency before Cleo accepts any romantic advances, both are things I am rooting for.

[Gabwhy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In place of a review for the previous book, I threatened to commit a crime if Cleo and Harry didn’t end up together (or if Cleo didn’t, at the very least, stop lying to herself) in this one.

Believe me when I say I am this 🤏🏻 close to following through on that threat.

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder on the Brighton Express is the ninth installment in C.J. Archer's captivating Cleopatra Fox Mystery series, and it continues to deliver the winning combination of historical detail, clever sleuthing, and romantic tension that readers have come to expect. Set in the summer of 1900, this novel whisks readers away to the seaside resort of Brighton before racing back to London aboard an express train where murder most foul occurs.

Plot and Narrative Flow

The story opens with our intrepid protagonist Cleopatra (Cleo) Fox enjoying a seaside holiday with her wealthy relatives at the Grand Brighton Hotel. The author masterfully sets up the period atmosphere with vivid descriptions of the Palace Pier's amusements, bathing machines, and the general bustle of Victorian holiday-makers. However, Cleo's relaxation is short-lived when she receives a blackmail note from Ruth Price, assistant to a notorious gossip columnist.

The plot accelerates rapidly after Ruth is found dead beneath the Ouse Valley Viaduct, having apparently fallen - or been pushed - from the express train to London. What follows is an intricate investigation that weaves together multiple threads:

- A theatrical impresario with a hidden past
- A cocaine-addicted railway conductor with criminal connections
- An aristocrat desperate to hide his financial troubles
- A gossip columnist with her own secrets to protect

Archer demonstrates her skill at plotting by gradually revealing how these elements connect while maintaining suspense throughout. The pacing is generally well-handled, though some readers might find the middle section, with its multiple interviews of suspects, slightly repetitive.

Character Development and Relationships

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its character work, particularly regarding the protagonist. Cleo continues to evolve as a character, struggling to balance her passion for detective work with her family's expectations of proper behavior for a young lady. Her relationship with Harry Armitage, the former hotel assistant manager turned private investigator, provides both romantic tension and professional rivalry that enriches the story.

The supporting cast is equally well-drawn:

- Harmony, the capable maid-turned-assistant, whose own romantic subplot adds depth to the story
- Floyd and Flossy, Cleo's cousins, who provide both comic relief and family dynamics
- The troubled Aunt Lilian, whose cocaine addiction adds a darker element to the otherwise lighter tone

Historical Detail and Setting

Archer excels at bringing the Victorian era to life without overwhelming readers with historical detail. The author skillfully incorporates period elements like:

- The contrast between first and second-class train travel
- The strict social protocols governing male-female interactions
- The emerging technology of telephones and motor vehicles
- The role of newspapers and gossip columns in Victorian society

Writing Style and Dialogue

The prose is crisp and engaging, with dialogue that feels authentic to the period while remaining accessible to modern readers. Archer has a particular talent for writing scenes of verbal sparring between characters, especially in Cleo and Harry's exchanges.

However, there are occasional instances where the modern sensibilities of the characters feel slightly anachronistic, particularly regarding gender roles and class distinctions. While this makes the protagonists more relatable to contemporary readers, it might trouble historical purists.

Areas for Improvement

While Murder on the Brighton Express is a strong addition to the series, there are a few areas where it could have been strengthened:

1. The resolution of the wedding subplot feels somewhat rushed and could have been better integrated with the main mystery
2. Some of the red herrings, particularly regarding the actor's affairs, take up perhaps too much narrative space
3. The villain's ultimate motivation, while plausible, might have benefited from more psychological depth

Series Context and Accessibility

Though this is the ninth book in the series, new readers can jump in here without feeling lost. Archer provides enough context about recurring characters and previous events without excessive exposition. However, longtime readers will appreciate the continued development of ongoing relationships and storylines.

Final Thoughts

Despite minor flaws, Murder on the Brighton Express is a thoroughly enjoyable addition to the Cleopatra Fox series. It demonstrates C.J. Archer's growing confidence as a writer and her ability to craft engaging mysteries that satisfy both as standalone novels and as part of a larger series.

The blend of mystery, romance, and historical detail creates an engaging reading experience that will leave fans eagerly awaiting the next installment, Murder at Hambledon Hall. For readers new to the series, this might be the perfect entry point to discover the charming world of Cleopatra Fox and the Mayfair Hotel.

[Sheeb ⚔️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say, I was expecting this to be better. A murder on a train felt like it could have been exciting and fresh, but it fell flat. The romance was also a miss for me. It felt like we were building up to something with the last couple of books, just for nothing to happen.

My main issues had to do with the structuring of the story. It should have been fun because the suspects were numbered due to the fact that it had to be someone in that train compartment.

Instead, we wasted a lot of time going back and forth to the same suspects, asking inane questions. I don't know why we needed to have multiple trips to the same guys when it could have all been covered at once. They asked like 1 question at a time??? It could have been wrapped up in half the time.

I also hated the forced distance between Cleo and Harry. She was trying to prevent him from getting hurt by her never wanting to be married? What kind of logic is that. He is well aware of her aversion to marriage, and he never said anything to the contrary. The conflict was completely manufactured and frustrated the hell out of me.

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best comfort series ever. The slow burn though definitely lives up to its name. It is S.L.O.W. I better not be strung along for 5 more books before something actually happens but let's be honest; that is exactly what is going to happen.

[Girl Meets Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars.
This is my favorite of all CJ’s series! It’s also the one I started with. Even though it takes the concept of slow burn romance to a new level (think perfect temp for not burning marshmallows but wondering if they will, in fact, ever be ready for the chocolate and cracker sandwich), I can’t get enough.
I will be devastated if the next book turns out to be the last!
I am wondering when the audiobook will be released! Marian Hussey is also my favorite.

[Matilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

C.J. Archer please, the slow burn is killing me...it's been 9 books

[Jess Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Normally, I love these little cozy mysteries, but this one really just fell short. The back and forth between Harry and Cleo is just to drawn out at this point and has become detrimental to the story.

[Rachael Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story was great as always, I just hope someday I will get satisfaction with this glacial pace romance!

[Chris Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just need Cleo and Harry together ASAP!

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleo, Flossy and Aunt Lillian are enjoying a seaside vacation in Brighton. They go seabathing, Flossy has her fortune told and makes a new friend. It's quite enjoyable, up until they're ready to return home and Flossy's new friend's family won't patronize the Mayfair Hotel and Cleo receives a blackmail note! When she meets with her blackmailer, she discovers a young woman who threatens to expose Cleo's private investigator status to the whole world which would earn the disapproval of her family. Cleo calls the woman's bluff and isn't too concerned but when the young woman doesn't get OFF the train, Cleo becomes worried but no one in authority believes there is a problem. When she and Victor discover the dead body of the young woman, the police rule suicide but Cleo is certain it was murder. Harry Armitage is welcome back at the Mayfair, temporarily, to discover the identity of the gossip columnist fishing for details of the upcoming Liddicot-Hessing wedding. Cleo soon learns her case intersects with Harry's, as her blackmailer was the gossip columnist who worked for the woman seeking information. They team up to interrogate their suspects who range from a theatrical impresario, his leading lady, his wife, the gossip columnist, the victim's brother, an automobile inventor, Flossy's new friend Odette and her family and her fiancé! Can they discover the identity of the murderer before the news interrupts the wedding? Harmony is hard at work trying to make sure the wedding of the year goes off without a hitch. Floyd is unconcerned thinking it will all come together in the end but Cleo knows better. Can she help convince Mrs. Hessing NOT to find fault and thereby putting the hotel on the hook for the bills?

This mystery was slow to start. I had to go back several times before I caught on to what was happening. There were too many suspects and too many red herrings. I never guessed who the real murderer was or why. Cleo didn't really guess either until nearly the last minute. I like watching her work with Harry and appreciate that she keeps the police involved with her investigation every step of the way. She doesn't try to apprehend the killer herself. The historical details are much better than when the series first started but I still don't really get Victorian England. It could be set in New York but for the lack of gangs and politics! London had those too but they're absent from this series. The class structure and attitudes towards educated women point more at England than America though. There are lots of details about trains and automobiles, the theater and newspapers all woven into the narrative.

Cleo doesn't want a fuss or glory or even really money, although she could use it. She just wants answers. Cleo would love to see justice done for a young career woman not too dissimilar from herself. Unlike other readers, I enjoy the slow burn romance. Cleo is smart and independent. She claims she's never going to marry and Is ay good for her! There's nothing that could induce me to marry at that time- not even love. I don't think readers quite understand the consequences of marriage. Cleo is independent now but the second she is legally bound to a man, she becomes his to obey. She will shortly become the mother of his children. While divorce was legal, it was costly and embarrassing. There was no way to prevent children from coming and how could Cleo continue investigating if she can't afford a nanny? She doesn't have a mother and she can't very well leave a baby at the Mayfair with Aunt Lillian now can she, even if Uncle Ronald approved of Cleo and Harry. Better to remain unwed than shackled and imprisoned. No thank you! At least wait until you're too old to have children, Cleo! Harry isn't really taking no for an answer. He knows Cleo is attracted to him and has feelings for him and takes advantage of that. They share some swoony moments but I have mixed feelings about that. He KNOWS full well they can't marry and he seems to be Ok with waiting but yet he can't stop flirting with Cleo. Cleo can't marry Harry or even be her own independent private investigator officially until Flossy marries. Cleo might not want to accept it but in the back of her mind, she knows her behavior reflects on Flossy and Flossy's prospects are not too great at the moment.

Flossy is sweet and fluffy like her name. She thinks a fortune teller's prediction means a random stranger is her future husband! She seems to be getting desperate but is yet still romantic enough to want true love. Floyd is kind of a jerk. He's lazy and doesn't understand Mrs. Hessing at all. While he's polite to Harmony, the man can't hold a conversation, let alone with a well-read woman. Harmony would like to discuss books and current events but Floyd only talks about racing and automobiles and boring stuff like that. Unlike Cleo, Harmony does have the luxury- if you can call it that- of NOT being connected to Society people. She CAN hold a job as an event planner and do it well without scandal. I'm very proud and happy for her moving up in the world. Victor wants to take their relationship to the next level but Harmony is reluctant to talk about it. Well, yeah! She JUST got this promotion and she's busy planning the wedding of the year for their most difficult and fussy patron! As tough as that is, she wouldn't want to give it all up, not now, not when she's finally overcome race, class and sex prejudices to move up in the world. Cleo understands and explains it to Victor. She needs to explain it to Harry too!

Aunt Lillian has become addicted to her tonic which contains cocaine, which was legal in 1900 Britain to treat melancholia. She's become irritable and mean as she withdraws from the drug and that leads to taking more tonic and a vicious cycle she can't break. She says some mean things about Cleo revealing she seems to harbor some resentment towards Cleo's mother and Cleo too. Aunt Lillian is protective of her son which is understandable but the dude isn't as clever as Cleo so if Ronald praises Cleo over Floyd, heck ANYONE over Floyd, it's understandable. Floyd still has a lot of growing up to do. If he fails at this wedding, it's over for him and Harmony will be the one to take it in the neck. She'll be the one to lose her job. He doesn't see it and is too lazy to do much of anything. He's an idea man but not an action man. He's still going out at night and probably has a new mistress. He drinks too much and places a burden on Cleo to keep his secrets. She plays hardball and gets Floyd to keep her secrets in exchange.

R.P. (Ruth Pritchard) Cleo's blackmailer is just a young woman trying to get ahead and live life on her own terms. I feel so sad for her she was killed. Her brother is a religious zealot who thinks his sister is as devout as he is. I think she's probably NOT and I wonder if he found out something about her that would ruin his reputation and had her killed? She seemed on edge and worried about something when she met with Cleo. She asked Cleo for help and Cleo assumed it was for gossip about her family and the hotel, which Cleo refused to provide. However, I think the young woman turned to Cleo for help, recognizing a kindred spirit in the other young career woman. Although Ruth worked for a gossip columnist, not an occupation that is ideal, she seemed to want to be a real journalist. All women were allowed to do was write for the Society pages so she does and waits and hopes for a big story to get a real byline. What did she discover that got her killed?

Flossy's new friend Odette is the daughter of Lord and Lady Pridhurst. Like Flossy, she's a spoiled young lady dreaming of true love. Odette thinks her father's associate, Mr. Holland, is surely in love with her and they plan to marry. Cleo isn't so certain Mr. Holland feels the same way as Odette, especially after discovering Lord Pridhurst has a big secret. The Pridhurts are kind of snobby and rude. Odette is thoughtless and a little cruel at times. Lord P is openly rude and snubs the Mayfair even though the location is better than his first choice. I know from experience that location is everything. No view = less expensive, not in the best part of town = less expensive. Could the Pridhurts be having financial problems? Do the women know about this? Will Odette's beau come through for her even if she has no fortune? Did one of them kill to protect this secret?

Clement Beecroft, theater impresario, is a well-known ladies' man. He is known for his affairs with his leading ladies and possibly there are others too. He's married and his wife is either naive or doesn't care. Geraldine, his current leading lady (and bed partner) is flirtatious and lively until she fears she's being accused of murder. She was nowhere near the train. No... but she IS involved with Clement Beecroft who WAS on the train. What does she know? I get the impression she's a good enough actress to lie, lie, lie and get away with it. She has to know SOMETHING about her lover that makes him a suspect?

Other suspects include the man with the flat nose, who turns out to have a surprising motive NOT to want R.P. dead! Or so he claims but Cleo isn't fully convinced he's not lying. Who is the woman with the very large hat who brushed past Cleo? What about the gossip columnist Ruth worked for? What did Ruth tell her and why is she refusing to report on Clement Beecroft being a suspect in a murder investigation? The conductor saw nothing, heard nothing, knows nothing.

This was another great mystery and I can't wait for the next one this summer!

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Very little involvement from the hotel crew, bar a minor outing with Victor.

The slow burn is too slow.

At this point, I’d ideally like to see Cleo officially join Harry’s agency. Move into her own lodgings. Explore the new relationship between her and the Bainbridges now she is an independent woman. Eventually become an “on call” detective for the Mayfair. Marry Harry. Happy ending.

There’s still plenty of potential material whilst moving FORWARD.

The series has been moving at a glacial pace for a while now.

I don’t like Cleo’s insistence on not getting married - realistically, historical marriages suck and a woman loses her autonomy and independence etc etc. But we are reading this through a 2025 lens when a marriage isn’t all doom and gloom. We just want lightness and happiness in our cosy mysteries, dang it.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this mystery.
I always love the growing story lines of the staff crew but I still wish they would get a bigger role.
The slow burn of Harry and Cleo is getting a bit tiring.
I am over the Aunt tonic storyline, it needs to lead to real repercussions or just not being mentioned over and over again but nothing happening.

[Ombline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a slow burn and I trust this author completely with creating and establishing characters’ lives in the full term so it feels real and long lasting— but I’m getting impatient ! And that could totally be just me l, I understand needing time but can we please speed things up !

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do I want more character development after 9 books? YES. Am I still going to read the next one where it's exactly the same as the previous 9? Yes.

[alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it and they were so cute but come on not even a little smooch how long re you gonna make him wait cleo 😿

[Annsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I eagerly await the rest of this series, but I really wish Cleo would stop being hypocritical or just plain dense when it comes to Harry. He hasn't made marriage or her giving up her work a focus yet, despite her own obsession with avoiding it, and she is being narrow-minded in thinking that ALL marriages would be unequal or troublesome like her parents'. I understand her trepidation but Harry is literally the best person she's ever met, and there is clearly a romantic tie between them and he is clearly on her side with women's abilities and rights. She's beginning to sound a little toxic, wanting something from him but not willing to give anything in return. At this point he is just trying to get her give him the time of day, and she's putting up more walls at every turn without even giving him a chance.

I really love Archer's books and am reading two of her series at the moment, but I really hope Cleo becomes a little more like her Sylvia Ash and realizes 1) that not all men are terrible and 2) a perfect match for her is standing right in front of her.

[E C · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s getting old. If the next book starts out with Cleo mumbling about needing to stay away from Harry, it will be the last book I read in this series. This would have been a delightful cozy mystery, but the fact that it’s the ninth in the series and nothing has progressed in the relationship, makes it as fun as watching paint dry. Been there, done that.

[JoDee Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
The “love” interest in this series is getting old because nothing advances and Cleo is quite obnoxious when it comes to that.

[Astrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

What I liked: that C.J. Archer tried to do something different and had the murder on the train instead of in London. The variety of murder settings in appreciated, and makes me think that Archer is trying to not tell the exact same story every time, which is why I still gave this northward of 3 stars.

Now the bad. Everything I said for the last Cleo book stands here. The slow burn is now too ridiculous and insulting to readers. I am losing respect for Cleo as a character and Archer as an author. Cleo used to be my favourite of Archer's heroines because she was strong-willed and kept doing things she wanted to despite people (her family) telling her that she couldn't. My favourite scene from this whole series is when Cleo is the one to kiss Harry in book 4, and I thought we were just waiting for Harry to catch up to her feelings. But now Cleo's the problem and she doesn't feel like the same character in the first couple books. She honestly just straight up dumb throughout the book, even with the mystery, and I'm getting fed up.

These books used to be five or four star reads, but every book that doesn't continue the romance plotline will lose at least half a star moving forward. I just can't stand it and I know I'm not the only one, so I really don't understand how Archer can keep doing this. She will be losing many readers at this point.

[Honi :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed all the books so far. It’s a super lighthearted series with a new case every book and with, in my opinion, quite likeable characters. It’s great for when you want a somewhat relaxing read.

While the main characters have their faults (which they of course should) they also have a definite charm. Cleo can be a tad frustrating at times, but I love her drive, her temper (which she sometimes is great at controlling, while other times it’s burning hot and quick) and her attitude. But while Cleo and Harry and their families are great, the returning characters like Harmony, Frank, Victor, Mr. Hobart, etc. make the books even greater!

I will say though, I (like most other people reading this, it seems) really hope Cleo and Harry figure something out soon, or I at least hope that talk more openly and communicate about what they want. While I enjoy slow burn it’s becoming to feel more harrowing than anything else at this point. I didn’t necessarily mind their relationship too much in this book, as they’re more open about their intentions and interests in each other (at least Harry is), but I really hope they will not go back to the strained relationship they’ve had in the last few previous books. I’m really interested in seeing how it would unfold, especially in terms of Cleo’s family not seeing Harry as suitable, as well as if Harry would accept Cleo not wanting to become the “normal” wife.

[LaRae☕️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as the previous ones because of the structure. The murder happens on a train, so the suspect list is quite limited, but despite this the mystery felt like nothing more than juggling each one’s opportunity - it was a little dull.

Also, I missed Cleo’s friend, Harmony, who wasn’t as involved as usual. I still love this cozy series, but this particular entry wasn’t among my favorites.

[Stephanie Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Cleo and Harry

CJ Archer is one of my very favorite authors, but CJ we gotta get some Cleo/Harry loving going on!!!! This is seriously the slowest burning romance of my life! We all know Cleo isn't interested in getting married, we also know Harry is a gentleman but even a gentleman can slip up and have a little fun. At least give them a secret love affair, they're both savvy enough to get away with it. Be together until Cleo can move out and do her own thing.

[Alison Claire Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thoroughly Enjoyable Read

A Thoroughly Enjoyable Read. Loved, it was relaxing and the plot intriguing. The characters are well thought out and solid. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Marjorie89 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Significantly better than the prior volume. Harry and Cleo need to move the plot forward though fr. Also the entire premise relied on everyone remembering everyone else’s precise movements on a train.

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner!

Great characters, lots of plot twists, and action to keep me turning pages. I have so much fun with these books, and now I'm excited about the one coming this summer!

[Ciara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this series is just getting better! It’s all a bit unbelievable but a fun ride.