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Actually, I'm a Murderer
'Dark, witty . . . had me racing for the end' JANICE HALLETT
'Funny, and so very, very clever . . . the most fun I've had reading a book in a long time ' M. W. CRAVEN
'Wonderful' IAN MOORE
______________
A hilarious and whip-smart crime novel by the multimillion-copy bestselling author of the Horrible Histories. The perfect mystery for fans of Anthony Horowitz, Richard Osman and Janice Hallett.
Four strangers on a train. An unlikely
'Actually, I'm a murderer.'
It is 1973 and the lives of four people are thrown into turmoil when sharing a carriage with an unremarkable little man with glasses, on the night train back to Newcastle.
By the end of the following day, one of them will be dead, one will turn blackmailer and another forced to commit a crime. And all of them will be under the astute observation of Aline, the local police officer with her own agenda to fulfil.
When the body count begins to rise, the question just how many murderers are out there... and who will be the next victim?
______________
'A delightful joyride of a book' SIMON BRETT
'Gripping, original and hard to put down' KATE ELLIS
'Highly original and deeply engaging' FRANCES BRODY
'Funny, and so very, very clever . . . the most fun I've had reading a book in a long time ' M. W. CRAVEN
'Wonderful' IAN MOORE
______________
A hilarious and whip-smart crime novel by the multimillion-copy bestselling author of the Horrible Histories. The perfect mystery for fans of Anthony Horowitz, Richard Osman and Janice Hallett.
Four strangers on a train. An unlikely
'Actually, I'm a murderer.'
It is 1973 and the lives of four people are thrown into turmoil when sharing a carriage with an unremarkable little man with glasses, on the night train back to Newcastle.
By the end of the following day, one of them will be dead, one will turn blackmailer and another forced to commit a crime. And all of them will be under the astute observation of Aline, the local police officer with her own agenda to fulfil.
When the body count begins to rise, the question just how many murderers are out there... and who will be the next victim?
______________
'A delightful joyride of a book' SIMON BRETT
'Gripping, original and hard to put down' KATE ELLIS
'Highly original and deeply engaging' FRANCES BRODY
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First published June 12, 2025
148 people are currently reading
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About the author
Terry Deary
828 books829 followersA former actor, theatre-director and drama teacher, Deary says he began writing when he was 29. Most famously, he is one of the authors of the Horrible Histories series of books popular among children for their disgusting details, gory information and humorous pictures and among adults for getting children interested in history. Books in the series have been widely translated into other languages and imitated.
A cartoon series has been made of the series of books and was shown on CiTV for a period in 2002.
The first series of a live-action comedy sketch show of the same name was shown on CBBC in 2009 and a second series is due.
Terry is also known widely throughout children and adult reading groups alike for his True Stories series (see below for series list).
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of Sunderland in 2000. His numerous accolades also include the Blue Peter "Best Nonfiction Author of the Century" Award in the U.K.
-Wikipedia
A cartoon series has been made of the series of books and was shown on CiTV for a period in 2002.
The first series of a live-action comedy sketch show of the same name was shown on CBBC in 2009 and a second series is due.
Terry is also known widely throughout children and adult reading groups alike for his True Stories series (see below for series list).
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of Sunderland in 2000. His numerous accolades also include the Blue Peter "Best Nonfiction Author of the Century" Award in the U.K.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
June 16, 2025
3 Stars
One Liner: Great premise, but a mediocre read
1973
Four people are traveling in a railway compartment of the early mail from London to Sunderland. They talk a little about themselves to pass the time.
• Claire works in electronics, hoping a desk-sized computer will make her a fortune.
• Tony is an actor going home after a tour.
• Edward is a top lawyer and adviser to the Heath government.
• John, the fourth man in the compartment, says ‘actually, I’m a murderer’.
They think he’s being funny, but who knows what will happen next?
The story comes in the first-person POVs of Tony, Aline, and John Brown.
My Thoughts:
I didn’t know the author was famous until I finished the book. Turns out, he is the author of the Horrible Histories Series (64 books!) and is quite popular. It did me good coz I didn’t have any expectations about the book.
The premise is intriguing. Being set in the 1970s gives it a sort of old-world vibe, but not much. Still, the setting and the use of the period are the best part of the book.
It’s not easy reading about the casual sexual harassment of women (but sadly, we don’t have to try hard to imagine women police not being safe with their male counterparts, as this happens even today). Still, it is realistic.
The presentation makes the story more engaging in a way, as we get the details from three POVs, one of whom is the killer. However, the foreshadowing sometimes spoils the suspense, and the lack of detail actually works in reverse to make some twists too obvious (yeah, I’m referring to the repeated use of ‘my lover’).
Now, readers don’t have to like the characters to enjoy a mystery. It’s usually the annoying one who gets popped off, so it’s not a loss. However, there’s hardly any likable character in the book. The narrators do have some sort of personality, but nothing you can actually root for!
Also, this brings me to a recurring issue in many books. Why is it that the so-called experts end up making so many mistakes once the story starts? The same happens with Mr. Brown, too. Though we see hints of his talent, he spends a lot of time making mistakes like a novice.
The initial rambling didn’t do the book any favor, TBH. The first quarter is slow when it should have hooked the reader. The pacing gets better later on, thankfully, but this is not a fast book.
I did figure out the twists, which is always a positive sign. It shows the story follows a well-planned arc rather than throwing in twists just to shock the readers.
Of course, a certain development is a bit strange, but it makes sense in a convoluted way, just like the characters. It aligns with their personalities.
To summarize, Actually, I'm A Murderer is a decent cozy mystery that combines dark themes with teeny bits of lighthearted scenes, and unlikeable characters. I’m not sure who to recommend this to.
Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK (Constable), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #ActuallyImAMurderer
One Liner: Great premise, but a mediocre read
1973
Four people are traveling in a railway compartment of the early mail from London to Sunderland. They talk a little about themselves to pass the time.
• Claire works in electronics, hoping a desk-sized computer will make her a fortune.
• Tony is an actor going home after a tour.
• Edward is a top lawyer and adviser to the Heath government.
• John, the fourth man in the compartment, says ‘actually, I’m a murderer’.
They think he’s being funny, but who knows what will happen next?
The story comes in the first-person POVs of Tony, Aline, and John Brown.
My Thoughts:
I didn’t know the author was famous until I finished the book. Turns out, he is the author of the Horrible Histories Series (64 books!) and is quite popular. It did me good coz I didn’t have any expectations about the book.
The premise is intriguing. Being set in the 1970s gives it a sort of old-world vibe, but not much. Still, the setting and the use of the period are the best part of the book.
It’s not easy reading about the casual sexual harassment of women (but sadly, we don’t have to try hard to imagine women police not being safe with their male counterparts, as this happens even today). Still, it is realistic.
The presentation makes the story more engaging in a way, as we get the details from three POVs, one of whom is the killer. However, the foreshadowing sometimes spoils the suspense, and the lack of detail actually works in reverse to make some twists too obvious (yeah, I’m referring to the repeated use of ‘my lover’).
Now, readers don’t have to like the characters to enjoy a mystery. It’s usually the annoying one who gets popped off, so it’s not a loss. However, there’s hardly any likable character in the book. The narrators do have some sort of personality, but nothing you can actually root for!
Also, this brings me to a recurring issue in many books. Why is it that the so-called experts end up making so many mistakes once the story starts? The same happens with Mr. Brown, too. Though we see hints of his talent, he spends a lot of time making mistakes like a novice.
The initial rambling didn’t do the book any favor, TBH. The first quarter is slow when it should have hooked the reader. The pacing gets better later on, thankfully, but this is not a fast book.
I did figure out the twists, which is always a positive sign. It shows the story follows a well-planned arc rather than throwing in twists just to shock the readers.
Of course, a certain development is a bit strange, but it makes sense in a convoluted way, just like the characters. It aligns with their personalities.
To summarize, Actually, I'm A Murderer is a decent cozy mystery that combines dark themes with teeny bits of lighthearted scenes, and unlikeable characters. I’m not sure who to recommend this to.
Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK (Constable), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #ActuallyImAMurderer
December 1, 2025
reading vlog: https://youtu.be/bloLkI7t3I0
this was soooo disappointing. i honestly don't understand what the point of this book was/what it was trying to reach for. the premise had such promise but it just petered out with a whisper
this was soooo disappointing. i honestly don't understand what the point of this book was/what it was trying to reach for. the premise had such promise but it just petered out with a whisper
May 3, 2025
Wow what a crime novel - so clever, it makes you go back and check events as you read to see if the references are all what you thought they are. I thoroughly enjoyed this it makes no attempt at hiding the difficulties women had in the police in the 70’s and tells a fascinating story that goes in an unexpected direction, 5* from me
August 9, 2025
Easy read on the plane ✈️
The first half was ok, nothing amazing but just easy. The second half had me gripped!! Really liked how the story was told from the POV of the three characters.
The first half was ok, nothing amazing but just easy. The second half had me gripped!! Really liked how the story was told from the POV of the three characters.
January 10, 2026
Four passengers on an overnight train to Sunderland get to talking, before you know it they're trying to guess each others occupations and one blurts out a cracker: "Actually, I'm a murderer". Unfortunately, this is one of those books with a killer blurb, but that just doesn't deliver on the promise. It's predictable and, considering it's penned by the creator or Horrible Histories, unfunny. Thanks anyway to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK (Constable) and the author for an advance copy.
September 30, 2025
Unfortunately this was somewhat boring.
The book is told in three different POVs:
- Tony
He's a rambling idiot. If this hadn't been a buddy read I'd have DNFd this book after the first chapter from his POV. He rambles, he doesn't get anything, he thinks he's god's gift to women, he's a terrible son, arrogant and very unlikeable. If you read the author's profile in the back of the book, you can see that this is clearly Deary writing somewhat about himself. That considered I can't understand why he made him so dumb...
-Aline
Her POV was by far the best. The problem is that there was so much sexism and misogyny in the 70ies that she's not really able to do much. So while she was really well told, she was also very frustrating to read.
- Mr. Brown
He's the killer. He tells us so right at the beginning. I kind of liked that but he has one major flaw. He's not very good at his job. Despite the fact that he keeps telling us how good he is and how he almost never makes any mistakes, he keeps fucking up everything he touches in this book.
The story itself is quite straightforward. The beginning is a bit slow, and the ending has a much faster pace, although I could see almost everything coming. Maybe it is supposed to be that way, and yes, we do know who the killer is from page 5 on, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't want to be surprised now and then. This is still a crime novel and if I know who did what and got away with it (after alle they lived to tell the tale, which we are also told on page 1), why should I even read it?
Apart from that, personally, I had a hard time getting into the 1970ies setting. I am too young for that so I had no idea what electronics were available back then, or how the world worked. This is my personal problem though, so it didn't affect my rating. I do however think that the way women were treated back then was accurately described and I very much liked that the book was written by a man in regards to that.
I quite liked the little easter egg at the end.
The book is told in three different POVs:
- Tony
He's a rambling idiot. If this hadn't been a buddy read I'd have DNFd this book after the first chapter from his POV. He rambles, he doesn't get anything, he thinks he's god's gift to women, he's a terrible son, arrogant and very unlikeable. If you read the author's profile in the back of the book, you can see that this is clearly Deary writing somewhat about himself. That considered I can't understand why he made him so dumb...
-Aline
Her POV was by far the best. The problem is that there was so much sexism and misogyny in the 70ies that she's not really able to do much. So while she was really well told, she was also very frustrating to read.
- Mr. Brown
He's the killer. He tells us so right at the beginning. I kind of liked that but he has one major flaw. He's not very good at his job. Despite the fact that he keeps telling us how good he is and how he almost never makes any mistakes, he keeps fucking up everything he touches in this book.
The story itself is quite straightforward. The beginning is a bit slow, and the ending has a much faster pace, although I could see almost everything coming. Maybe it is supposed to be that way, and yes, we do know who the killer is from page 5 on, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't want to be surprised now and then. This is still a crime novel and if I know who did what and got away with it (after alle they lived to tell the tale, which we are also told on page 1), why should I even read it?
Apart from that, personally, I had a hard time getting into the 1970ies setting. I am too young for that so I had no idea what electronics were available back then, or how the world worked. This is my personal problem though, so it didn't affect my rating. I do however think that the way women were treated back then was accurately described and I very much liked that the book was written by a man in regards to that.
I quite liked the little easter egg at the end.
June 14, 2025
I might be the only child of the 90s who never read a Horrible Histories book or watched the series (although as an adult fan of Ghosts, I regret the latter). I knew that they were popular, and had friends who enjoyed them, but they just never really appealed to me.
However, I was very much looking forward to Actually I’m a Murderer - the title suggesting cosy crime not dissimilar to The Thursday Murder Club - and, as someone who hadn’t previously read any Terry Deary, I went in with no preconceptions. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.
I found the style of writing to be meandering and disengaging - I tried many times to soldier on with the book but in the end I had to admit defeat and make it a DNF. What made me so sure this book wasn’t for me was that I am from, and have always lived in, Sunderland, which is predominantly where the book is set. Therefore, I could picture many of the locations Deary was writing about, and understood immediately where we were heading in a book set in the Sunderland of 1973. Yet, I still found my mind wandering and ended up confused with who was narrating and, frankly, what they were on about.
I have heard from others who have enjoyed this and hope that many others do too - it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Constable for the ARC
However, I was very much looking forward to Actually I’m a Murderer - the title suggesting cosy crime not dissimilar to The Thursday Murder Club - and, as someone who hadn’t previously read any Terry Deary, I went in with no preconceptions. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.
I found the style of writing to be meandering and disengaging - I tried many times to soldier on with the book but in the end I had to admit defeat and make it a DNF. What made me so sure this book wasn’t for me was that I am from, and have always lived in, Sunderland, which is predominantly where the book is set. Therefore, I could picture many of the locations Deary was writing about, and understood immediately where we were heading in a book set in the Sunderland of 1973. Yet, I still found my mind wandering and ended up confused with who was narrating and, frankly, what they were on about.
I have heard from others who have enjoyed this and hope that many others do too - it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Constable for the ARC
November 9, 2025
Audibook. Nothing special, cute ending.
December 28, 2025
Enjoyed this book as Terry Deary has a good sense of humour and found myself chuckling regularly as I read. Four people meet on a train and one says, "Actually I'm a Murderer." The result is more murders and a good plot but the humour is what gets this up to four stars for me.
June 4, 2025
Four strangers meet on a train in the year of 1973 and to pass time they share details about themselves, including their jobs. When one man declares he is a murderer no one believes him but in the following days one of his fellow passengers will become his latest victim.
As the author of the Horrible Histories series, I was excited to see that he had decided to delve into the adult crime genre. This was an interesting concept with a clever plot and a unique writing style. The story is told by multiple narrators and takes on a chatty, humorous tone. I found I wasn’t prepared at first for this style so it took a while for me to warm to it, however once I finally did, I soon found myself starting to tire from it again and at times found my focus waning.
Even though the multiple characters were interesting, I found I was at times confused as to whose narration I was reading and it ended up quite predictable. I definitely appreciate what the author was trying to do here and it has great promise. I especially enjoyed how different and quirky the story was and can see current fans and new readers of this author, especially those who like cosy crime, really enjoying this. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
As the author of the Horrible Histories series, I was excited to see that he had decided to delve into the adult crime genre. This was an interesting concept with a clever plot and a unique writing style. The story is told by multiple narrators and takes on a chatty, humorous tone. I found I wasn’t prepared at first for this style so it took a while for me to warm to it, however once I finally did, I soon found myself starting to tire from it again and at times found my focus waning.
Even though the multiple characters were interesting, I found I was at times confused as to whose narration I was reading and it ended up quite predictable. I definitely appreciate what the author was trying to do here and it has great promise. I especially enjoyed how different and quirky the story was and can see current fans and new readers of this author, especially those who like cosy crime, really enjoying this. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
May 13, 2025
What a treat this book is, a very Hitchcock like tale that is funny and mysterious. It’s 1973 and 4 strangers meet on a train. To fill in time on the journey they ask each other what their occupations are. One is a lawyer, one a writer
another soon to be a successful entrepreneur but the fourth person? The small unremarkable man with the glasses and tiny moustache well actually, he says, I am a murderer.
By the end of the next day one of them will be dead, and one will be blackmailed into committing a crime.
So begins this funny, smart tale of murder and mayhem. Narrated from different points of view including the young police officer who is on to the murderer. The dialogue is snappy, the plot funny and unpredictable. A real treat to read.
#ActuallyIAmAMurderer. #NetGalley
another soon to be a successful entrepreneur but the fourth person? The small unremarkable man with the glasses and tiny moustache well actually, he says, I am a murderer.
By the end of the next day one of them will be dead, and one will be blackmailed into committing a crime.
So begins this funny, smart tale of murder and mayhem. Narrated from different points of view including the young police officer who is on to the murderer. The dialogue is snappy, the plot funny and unpredictable. A real treat to read.
#ActuallyIAmAMurderer. #NetGalley
July 8, 2025
A late night train ride and the four passengers discover a murderer is amongst them, well that was his job he said. One encounter will change all their lives and leave them wondering how many murderers are out there.
The concept sounded really good, but within the first two paragraphs of the first chapter I suspected this wasn’t going to go the way I was anticipating. It starts in 2023 and then goes back 50 years to tell the main story. I felt it was very slow paced, it didn’t grip me and whilst there were one or two twists, the start of the book means you know where you’re going to end up. Sadly, this story didn’t work for me.
The concept sounded really good, but within the first two paragraphs of the first chapter I suspected this wasn’t going to go the way I was anticipating. It starts in 2023 and then goes back 50 years to tell the main story. I felt it was very slow paced, it didn’t grip me and whilst there were one or two twists, the start of the book means you know where you’re going to end up. Sadly, this story didn’t work for me.
June 19, 2025
The rambling narrators damaged the pacing and one character’s continual incompetence ruined the stakes. The tone was baffling - the quirkiness of Deary’s writing often felt at odds with the misogyny and sexual violence in the plot, conveying indifference more than dark humour - and the twists were painfully obvious. I fear this needed a more thorough edit to get the most out of what’s here.
May 8, 2025
2.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Constable for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I had such high hopes for this book, it sounded so good, but I wasn't convinced.
It's very rambly. It's all a sort of, stream of consciousness which is fine in small doses, but when its the case of 300+ pages and all the characters, it becomes a bit of a struggle.
I introduced lots of characters with their own stream of consciousness which meant I got so confused as to who was who and what they were as they all just merged into one and I found it didn't flow well.
I did like how different it was. I read a lot of thrillers and murder mysteries and whatnot, and as much as I love the majority of them, they do get quite samey. So I appreciate what Terry has done with the genre. Its not about the whodunnit, it's instead about the person who is killed and why.
I wasn't really into the Horrible History books as a kid and so the fact he's the same writer didn't really mean much to me.
I have been so excited about this book and I was saving it to when I needed a great read, and whilst there were elements I liked, on the whole I was disappointed. I loved the uniqueness and quirkiness and it was an interesting premise, but I found the characters unlovable. I'm fine with unlovable characters to a point. It's not fun to have 100% happy, fun, good characters, you need a villain or two. But with these, I didn't like any of them and I didn't dislike any of them, they were just there on the page, which meant I didn't really care for any of them.
It did get better as it went along but I'd say at least the first 1/4 was a big slog and I could have DNF at several points.
I believe this is his first foray into adult crime, but I'm unsure if it's first adult novel full stop. Either way, I think there's definitely promise but from this book only, I don't think his talent lies in serious adult murder mysteries. It's an acceptable read, but confusing and a bit flat.
Thanks to NetGalley and Constable for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I had such high hopes for this book, it sounded so good, but I wasn't convinced.
It's very rambly. It's all a sort of, stream of consciousness which is fine in small doses, but when its the case of 300+ pages and all the characters, it becomes a bit of a struggle.
I introduced lots of characters with their own stream of consciousness which meant I got so confused as to who was who and what they were as they all just merged into one and I found it didn't flow well.
I did like how different it was. I read a lot of thrillers and murder mysteries and whatnot, and as much as I love the majority of them, they do get quite samey. So I appreciate what Terry has done with the genre. Its not about the whodunnit, it's instead about the person who is killed and why.
I wasn't really into the Horrible History books as a kid and so the fact he's the same writer didn't really mean much to me.
I have been so excited about this book and I was saving it to when I needed a great read, and whilst there were elements I liked, on the whole I was disappointed. I loved the uniqueness and quirkiness and it was an interesting premise, but I found the characters unlovable. I'm fine with unlovable characters to a point. It's not fun to have 100% happy, fun, good characters, you need a villain or two. But with these, I didn't like any of them and I didn't dislike any of them, they were just there on the page, which meant I didn't really care for any of them.
It did get better as it went along but I'd say at least the first 1/4 was a big slog and I could have DNF at several points.
I believe this is his first foray into adult crime, but I'm unsure if it's first adult novel full stop. Either way, I think there's definitely promise but from this book only, I don't think his talent lies in serious adult murder mysteries. It's an acceptable read, but confusing and a bit flat.
April 3, 2025
Actually, I was a huge fan of this book.
Right from the beginning, it caught me and flung me into a compelling mystery, with twists and turns that’ll have you rapidly turning pages (or buttons if you’re reading this on the kindle!).
I have loved pretty much all of Terry Deary’s books as a child and now as he ventures into adult mysteries and stories, I too shall follow. Picking up this book honestly wasn’t hard and I couldn’t wait to get stick in.
It was a really great plot and I love suspense filled mysteries so this was a sure fire hit. Great writing, easy characters to follow and dramas you can’t wait to see unfold. Enjoyed from beginning to end!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
Right from the beginning, it caught me and flung me into a compelling mystery, with twists and turns that’ll have you rapidly turning pages (or buttons if you’re reading this on the kindle!).
I have loved pretty much all of Terry Deary’s books as a child and now as he ventures into adult mysteries and stories, I too shall follow. Picking up this book honestly wasn’t hard and I couldn’t wait to get stick in.
It was a really great plot and I love suspense filled mysteries so this was a sure fire hit. Great writing, easy characters to follow and dramas you can’t wait to see unfold. Enjoyed from beginning to end!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
December 16, 2025
I like that this book was set in the 70’s with most of the activity towards the end of the book taking place on what would have been my mums 2nd birthday 😂 Very clever storyline, I really enjoyed this, I did not expect a few things to go down as they did, kept things interesting for sure! Can’t wait for the next one ‘Actually, I’m a corpse’ to be released next year, will definitely be giving that a read too!
Read
July 24, 2025DNF at page 110
April 12, 2025
***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
An entertaining and quite different murder mystery - wherein the mystery is not so much who is the murderer, but rather who is the person being murdered. Deary takes on a wide genre and gives it his own unique spin, I’m certain he will gain new fans with this diversion from his previous endeavours - I’m certainly one of them.
An entertaining and quite different murder mystery - wherein the mystery is not so much who is the murderer, but rather who is the person being murdered. Deary takes on a wide genre and gives it his own unique spin, I’m certain he will gain new fans with this diversion from his previous endeavours - I’m certainly one of them.
November 27, 2025
Audiobook: 3.5*
It wasn’t what I expected but still enjoyed it. 70’s Sunderland is not an area I know of, but the book paints quite the picture. A dark but humorous police story which made me laugh out loud a few times. Not quite a cozy murder mystery but almost.
It wasn’t what I expected but still enjoyed it. 70’s Sunderland is not an area I know of, but the book paints quite the picture. A dark but humorous police story which made me laugh out loud a few times. Not quite a cozy murder mystery but almost.
December 6, 2025
Enjoyed this a lot, found it funny and liked the characters, found myself more emotionally invested in some than I'd realise and found the plot was exciting with some unexpected surprises even if some parts were a little cliche and predictable - but it is a murder mystery, what do you expect?
August 30, 2025
3.5 stars
May 16, 2025
Buckle up, because I have a LOT to say about this book.
I went into this with high expectations because I used to love the Horrible Histories series, and I enjoy a cozy/light crime novel. Unfortunately, this book was a miss.
January 1973, Sunderland. Our three narrators are thrown together quite by chance and their lives become inextricably entangled over the course of a single week. There's struggling actor Tony Davies, female police officer Aline James, and professional hitman (sorry, assassin ; he hates the word hitman) John Brown. Tony meets John on their train into Sunderland and John utters the titular phrase, "Actually, I'm a murderer". Doubtful at first, Tony nonetheless accompanies fellow passenger Claire as she reports the claim to the officers on duty at the station, one of whom is Aline. When the fourth passenger on their train dies under mysterious circumstances, suddenly John's claim seems a lot more believable.
It's an enticing albeit very unbelievable premise, but the story is a disappointment.
My biggest issue with this novel is that the author keeps trying to hint at twists and consequently completely ruins them. For example, Aline refers to her partner way too many times as 'my lover' and never by pronoun, so it's obvious her partner is a woman. There are more egregious examples but I don't want to spoil the book the way these "hints" spoiled it for me.
Then there's Tony Davies, who is clearly a thinly veiled self-insert of Terry Deary (who was also an actor from Sunderland who went on to write children's books). The veil was so thin he really needn't have bothered changing his name to be honest. I would have had a lot easier time accepting the self-insert if he'd just pulled an Anthony Horowitz and made a fictionalized version of himself the main character. But then he'd probably have had to put more effort into making Tony likeable, which he isn't. He's a terrible son and a total pushover when it counts. He makes awful decisions and expects the women in his life to clean up after him.
And speaking of women, yikes . One of the women in the novel makes a false claim of sexual assault to the police in order to blackmail Tony. The fact that the police in the 70s even follow that up is more unrealistic than an assassin casually mentioning his profession to three strangers on a train. I'm honestly appalled.
Character-wise, John is a very poor representation of a sociopath. The sociopath as a remorseless killer is such an overdone trope it's embarrassing. He's such a boring character and for someone who claims to be an expert and a professional, he makes a lot of silly blunders.
Finally, the whole intrigue of the beginning of the book is that Tony knows he is about to be killed. This is explained towards the end of the book when *spoiler alert* John is hired to kill Tony, but Aline convinces him to do it in exactly fifty years because John never specified a time frame. Just... why fifty years? Aline's logic is that in fifty years Tony will , probably already be dead. If Tony dying of natural causes is acceptable to John, then why not wait eighty years or a hundred just to be sure? It's such a random, made-up problem just to add drama.
I've given this book two stars rather than one because it was funny at times but that's basically all it had going for it.
I went into this with high expectations because I used to love the Horrible Histories series, and I enjoy a cozy/light crime novel. Unfortunately, this book was a miss.
January 1973, Sunderland. Our three narrators are thrown together quite by chance and their lives become inextricably entangled over the course of a single week. There's struggling actor Tony Davies, female police officer Aline James, and professional hitman (sorry, assassin ; he hates the word hitman) John Brown. Tony meets John on their train into Sunderland and John utters the titular phrase, "Actually, I'm a murderer". Doubtful at first, Tony nonetheless accompanies fellow passenger Claire as she reports the claim to the officers on duty at the station, one of whom is Aline. When the fourth passenger on their train dies under mysterious circumstances, suddenly John's claim seems a lot more believable.
It's an enticing albeit very unbelievable premise, but the story is a disappointment.
My biggest issue with this novel is that the author keeps trying to hint at twists and consequently completely ruins them. For example, Aline refers to her partner way too many times as 'my lover' and never by pronoun, so it's obvious her partner is a woman. There are more egregious examples but I don't want to spoil the book the way these "hints" spoiled it for me.
Then there's Tony Davies, who is clearly a thinly veiled self-insert of Terry Deary (who was also an actor from Sunderland who went on to write children's books). The veil was so thin he really needn't have bothered changing his name to be honest. I would have had a lot easier time accepting the self-insert if he'd just pulled an Anthony Horowitz and made a fictionalized version of himself the main character. But then he'd probably have had to put more effort into making Tony likeable, which he isn't. He's a terrible son and a total pushover when it counts. He makes awful decisions and expects the women in his life to clean up after him.
And speaking of women, yikes . One of the women in the novel makes a false claim of sexual assault to the police in order to blackmail Tony. The fact that the police in the 70s even follow that up is more unrealistic than an assassin casually mentioning his profession to three strangers on a train. I'm honestly appalled.
Character-wise, John is a very poor representation of a sociopath. The sociopath as a remorseless killer is such an overdone trope it's embarrassing. He's such a boring character and for someone who claims to be an expert and a professional, he makes a lot of silly blunders.
Finally, the whole intrigue of the beginning of the book is that Tony knows he is about to be killed. This is explained towards the end of the book when *spoiler alert* John is hired to kill Tony, but Aline convinces him to do it in exactly fifty years because John never specified a time frame. Just... why fifty years? Aline's logic is that in fifty years Tony will , probably already be dead. If Tony dying of natural causes is acceptable to John, then why not wait eighty years or a hundred just to be sure? It's such a random, made-up problem just to add drama.
I've given this book two stars rather than one because it was funny at times but that's basically all it had going for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2025
All my reviews can be found at damppebbles.com
On a late-night train journey to Newcastle, four strangers start idly chatting to pass the time. The conversation moves to work, and what each of them does to earn a living. The last thing the group expects is for the most insignificant among them to say “Actually, I’m a murderer”. Surely it’s a joke. Something controversial said off the cuff to shock them all awake. Not really believing Mr Brown, Tony and Clair mention what was said to the two police officers on duty outside the station. Their concern is brushed aside. However, by the end of the following day, one of the travellers will be dead and one will be blackmailed into committing a crime. That singular comment, that one moment in time changes everything…
Actually, I’m a Murderer is a fun, entertaining historical murder mystery. Not really surprising but you do know who the murderer is pretty much from the outset of the book. The mystery aspect is more about who the next victim is and how they will meet their grisly end. I loved how one moment in time, one seemingly inconsequential comment, changes the lives of all those present. The story is told from three perspectives: Tony Davies, Constable Aline James and John Brown. These three individual, believable voices lead the reader through the chaos that rains down upon all of them following Mr Brown’s fateful declaration. But how does Aline end up mixed up in all of this? Aline is one of the two police officers Tony confides in when he disembarks the Newcastle train. Whilst her male colleague brushes Tony’s concerns away, Aline’s interest is piqued. She’s hoping for a promotion (a rare thing for a woman in the police force in 1973) so makes it her business to keep a cautious eye on the passengers.
Would I recommend this book? I would recommend Actually, I’m a Murderer to fans of well-written cosy crime (particularly those who read Deary’s books as a child, or those who have children who read this author now). It is a light-hearted, humorous, murder mystery where the identity of the murderer isn’t really any part of the mystery! It’s a clever tale, expertly delivered by an accomplished, skilled writer. I loved the premise. I thought the characters were all interesting and played their parts well. I liked how the many strands of the book all come together in a wonderful, slightly nerve-wracking finale. I liked the historical aspects of the story. Again, we see how differently female police officers were treated compared to their male counterparts. This seems to have become a bit of a theme in my reading this year. That and trains! I absolutely despised Aline’s beat partner, Constable Greatorex. He made my blood boil. I did enjoy Aline’s determination though. Her drive to get that promotion and the lengths she went to to get it. I can see this book being adapted for the screen in the future, and I can see Deary’s fan base increasing exponentially. All in all, I enjoyed Actually, I’m a Murderer. A fun, light-hearted, easy-to-read novel with a gentle, engaging pace and a cast of wonderful characters. Recommended.
On a late-night train journey to Newcastle, four strangers start idly chatting to pass the time. The conversation moves to work, and what each of them does to earn a living. The last thing the group expects is for the most insignificant among them to say “Actually, I’m a murderer”. Surely it’s a joke. Something controversial said off the cuff to shock them all awake. Not really believing Mr Brown, Tony and Clair mention what was said to the two police officers on duty outside the station. Their concern is brushed aside. However, by the end of the following day, one of the travellers will be dead and one will be blackmailed into committing a crime. That singular comment, that one moment in time changes everything…
Actually, I’m a Murderer is a fun, entertaining historical murder mystery. Not really surprising but you do know who the murderer is pretty much from the outset of the book. The mystery aspect is more about who the next victim is and how they will meet their grisly end. I loved how one moment in time, one seemingly inconsequential comment, changes the lives of all those present. The story is told from three perspectives: Tony Davies, Constable Aline James and John Brown. These three individual, believable voices lead the reader through the chaos that rains down upon all of them following Mr Brown’s fateful declaration. But how does Aline end up mixed up in all of this? Aline is one of the two police officers Tony confides in when he disembarks the Newcastle train. Whilst her male colleague brushes Tony’s concerns away, Aline’s interest is piqued. She’s hoping for a promotion (a rare thing for a woman in the police force in 1973) so makes it her business to keep a cautious eye on the passengers.
Would I recommend this book? I would recommend Actually, I’m a Murderer to fans of well-written cosy crime (particularly those who read Deary’s books as a child, or those who have children who read this author now). It is a light-hearted, humorous, murder mystery where the identity of the murderer isn’t really any part of the mystery! It’s a clever tale, expertly delivered by an accomplished, skilled writer. I loved the premise. I thought the characters were all interesting and played their parts well. I liked how the many strands of the book all come together in a wonderful, slightly nerve-wracking finale. I liked the historical aspects of the story. Again, we see how differently female police officers were treated compared to their male counterparts. This seems to have become a bit of a theme in my reading this year. That and trains! I absolutely despised Aline’s beat partner, Constable Greatorex. He made my blood boil. I did enjoy Aline’s determination though. Her drive to get that promotion and the lengths she went to to get it. I can see this book being adapted for the screen in the future, and I can see Deary’s fan base increasing exponentially. All in all, I enjoyed Actually, I’m a Murderer. A fun, light-hearted, easy-to-read novel with a gentle, engaging pace and a cast of wonderful characters. Recommended.
January 5, 2026
4.25 Stars!
I started reading this story on a whim as a fun murder mystery between big fantasy novels. And I was a good number of chapters in before I even realised who the author actually was!! Only Mr Horrible Histories, who's books I spent my childhood going through!! It felt like such a nostalgic throwback and it made all the more sense that I was enjoying the quirky humour and entertaining narratives winding through the larger murder plot.
So a unique outset from the start, you know who the murderer is from the get-go, because the title is actually a line from the beginning of the story. It starts out with 4 strangers on a late night train in 1973, each of which get chatting about their work life, and out comes the titular statement from one of their mouths. This story is never about WHO dunnit, we know straightaway. It's the snowball effect of everything that happens the moment those words are said aloud, and how the lives of these strangers end up more entwined than you'd expect.
The entire story is told in 3 different perspectives - Failing Actor Tony Davies, Police Constable Aline James, and Murderer John Brown. Each chapter you come at the story with each of their differing perspectives, and it's done so well that you can see all the interconnecting points and related clues as the story comes together from 3 strangers. The entire read is surprising light-hearted for a book on murder. The culprit himself is a pragmatic gentleman with his own code of conduct, Tony is a well-meaning rake adrift in life and always making ridiculous decisions, and Aline is a woman with ambition dealing with misogyny, buffoons and being smarter than most men in the room resulting in often droll, sarcastic but well-quipped humour to keep her calm and carrying on.
A lot of the references to how Aline is treated working on the police force in the 70s, with men constantly patronising, dismissing or sexually harassing her is hard to read, but I like that the author went realistic with it. I have to say, having gone through the audiobook version of this story, I think it made the whole book much more interesting. Hearing the inflections and nuances with how Aline handles the men she's surrounded by, how she crafts her comments and plays them without them realising is so much more entertaining when hearing it in the character's voice. It made it a little easier to get through some of the frustrating situations, because I knew she was always playing the long game to show these men what's what one day. And it showed that her quips and barbs weren't to make light of the situation, but a coping mechanism in themselves to keep her focused on what she wanted to solve, and where she wanted to go, instead of getting mixed up in sexist politics.
In general, the differing narratives allowed for different elements of entertaining situations as each character is constantly being thrown together, and murder becomes more of a casual job title and actual profession than a heinous act (odd I know, but somehow it works). I really enjoyed the story! The audio version really kept me hooked and constantly immersed in what was going to happen. Some parts entirely predictable, others threw me for a loop- overall an impressively quirky and quippy murder plot story, with a ragtag set of protagonists that keep things interesting.
I started reading this story on a whim as a fun murder mystery between big fantasy novels. And I was a good number of chapters in before I even realised who the author actually was!! Only Mr Horrible Histories, who's books I spent my childhood going through!! It felt like such a nostalgic throwback and it made all the more sense that I was enjoying the quirky humour and entertaining narratives winding through the larger murder plot.
So a unique outset from the start, you know who the murderer is from the get-go, because the title is actually a line from the beginning of the story. It starts out with 4 strangers on a late night train in 1973, each of which get chatting about their work life, and out comes the titular statement from one of their mouths. This story is never about WHO dunnit, we know straightaway. It's the snowball effect of everything that happens the moment those words are said aloud, and how the lives of these strangers end up more entwined than you'd expect.
The entire story is told in 3 different perspectives - Failing Actor Tony Davies, Police Constable Aline James, and Murderer John Brown. Each chapter you come at the story with each of their differing perspectives, and it's done so well that you can see all the interconnecting points and related clues as the story comes together from 3 strangers. The entire read is surprising light-hearted for a book on murder. The culprit himself is a pragmatic gentleman with his own code of conduct, Tony is a well-meaning rake adrift in life and always making ridiculous decisions, and Aline is a woman with ambition dealing with misogyny, buffoons and being smarter than most men in the room resulting in often droll, sarcastic but well-quipped humour to keep her calm and carrying on.
A lot of the references to how Aline is treated working on the police force in the 70s, with men constantly patronising, dismissing or sexually harassing her is hard to read, but I like that the author went realistic with it. I have to say, having gone through the audiobook version of this story, I think it made the whole book much more interesting. Hearing the inflections and nuances with how Aline handles the men she's surrounded by, how she crafts her comments and plays them without them realising is so much more entertaining when hearing it in the character's voice. It made it a little easier to get through some of the frustrating situations, because I knew she was always playing the long game to show these men what's what one day. And it showed that her quips and barbs weren't to make light of the situation, but a coping mechanism in themselves to keep her focused on what she wanted to solve, and where she wanted to go, instead of getting mixed up in sexist politics.
In general, the differing narratives allowed for different elements of entertaining situations as each character is constantly being thrown together, and murder becomes more of a casual job title and actual profession than a heinous act (odd I know, but somehow it works). I really enjoyed the story! The audio version really kept me hooked and constantly immersed in what was going to happen. Some parts entirely predictable, others threw me for a loop- overall an impressively quirky and quippy murder plot story, with a ragtag set of protagonists that keep things interesting.
June 1, 2025
I’m aware of Terry Deary as the author of the Horrible History series for children. Actually, I'm A Murderer is emphatically not a children’s book. It starts with a 1973 journey by four strangers who occupy a train compartment and pass the time by guessing each other’s occupations. As you’ll have guessed from the book’s title, one of them claims to be a murderer and yes, there is a subsequent murder.
I really enjoyed this book. Each chapter is narrated by Tony Davies (a mediocre actor), John Brown (the self-confessed murderer) or Aline James (a policewoman who gets involved when the four leave the train at Sunderland). Deary’s plotting is meticulous, although I do wonder if anyone could really be as naïve / stupid as Tony!
The characters are beautifully depicted. Although Aline is clever and highly ambitious, Deary shows the huge challenges that women had to face in the workplace in 1973 and I’m afraid that it’s quite plausible that the police force was more misogynist than most other organisations. Aline’s fellow policeman, Greatorex, is an unpleasant bully and sex pest, driven by his lust for Aline. Tony wants to be an actor but isn’t a very good one and is – as Aline says in her first chapter – a buffoon. He subsequently discovers that his talent is for writing, not acting; and the book starts with him reflecting upon the events, fifty years later, when he is a rich and successful popular author. He is 77 years old when the book opens in 2023 – just as Deary was at that time – and was born in Sunderland, just like Deary. John Brown (probably not his real name, but “a name as good as any”) is a precise careful person. He describes himself as a sociopath, not a psychopath – someone who is not mentally ill but simply has no empathy at all with other people, so he can kill without any qualms or regrets.
Brown’s plans always include an escape plan, even if he cannot anticipate why he might have to invoke it but Deary shows how precise, carefully thought-out, plans can be derailed by people acting in unexpected ways. I enjoyed the way that Deary throws in unexpected twists. For example, Tony meets another policewoman who turns out to be Aline’s house-mate in a house whose landlord is the local villain. The ending is unexpected but also very clever. This is Deary’s first crime novel but it’s very good indeed and I shall definitely look out for any subsequent adult books he may care to write.
#ActuallyImAMurderer #NetGalley
I really enjoyed this book. Each chapter is narrated by Tony Davies (a mediocre actor), John Brown (the self-confessed murderer) or Aline James (a policewoman who gets involved when the four leave the train at Sunderland). Deary’s plotting is meticulous, although I do wonder if anyone could really be as naïve / stupid as Tony!
The characters are beautifully depicted. Although Aline is clever and highly ambitious, Deary shows the huge challenges that women had to face in the workplace in 1973 and I’m afraid that it’s quite plausible that the police force was more misogynist than most other organisations. Aline’s fellow policeman, Greatorex, is an unpleasant bully and sex pest, driven by his lust for Aline. Tony wants to be an actor but isn’t a very good one and is – as Aline says in her first chapter – a buffoon. He subsequently discovers that his talent is for writing, not acting; and the book starts with him reflecting upon the events, fifty years later, when he is a rich and successful popular author. He is 77 years old when the book opens in 2023 – just as Deary was at that time – and was born in Sunderland, just like Deary. John Brown (probably not his real name, but “a name as good as any”) is a precise careful person. He describes himself as a sociopath, not a psychopath – someone who is not mentally ill but simply has no empathy at all with other people, so he can kill without any qualms or regrets.
Brown’s plans always include an escape plan, even if he cannot anticipate why he might have to invoke it but Deary shows how precise, carefully thought-out, plans can be derailed by people acting in unexpected ways. I enjoyed the way that Deary throws in unexpected twists. For example, Tony meets another policewoman who turns out to be Aline’s house-mate in a house whose landlord is the local villain. The ending is unexpected but also very clever. This is Deary’s first crime novel but it’s very good indeed and I shall definitely look out for any subsequent adult books he may care to write.
#ActuallyImAMurderer #NetGalley
July 2, 2025
My son loved the Horrible Histories books when he was younger (he’s now 30) and I’m sure they contributed to his enjoyment of history lessons and his high grades. So when I saw Terry Deary had written ‘a book for grown-ups’ I was keen to read it.
Actually, I'm a Murderer spans 50 years from 1973 to 2023. The story revolves around four strangers who meet in a railway compartment on a mail train from London to Sunderland. Each character has a different background: Claire is a technician, and we later discover is very manipulative; Tony, an actor who makes some really foolish decisions; Edward, an arrogant top lawyer; and John, who casually reveals ‘Actually, I'm a Murderer’. Initially, no one believes him, but before long there’s a murder in the town where they all disembarked.
The story unfolds from the perspective of three different characters: Tony Davies, the actor, John Brown the self-confessed murderer, and Aline James. Aline is a local policewoman who is alerted to the fact that there may be a murderer in town. She is soon heavily embroiled in murder, deception, and blackmail. Not to mention the sexism inherent within the police force (and in society in general) in the 1970s. I enjoyed Aline’s attempts to thwart her colleague, the very dislikeable Greatorex. He is a horrible bully and sex pest, driven by his lust for Aline and his belief that promotion is his right because he is male. He, along with the rest of the local force, is completely dismissive of Aline purely because she is a woman despite her being much smarter than Greatorex and just as ambitious. I experienced this behaviour when I started work in the early 1980s. It was clearly depicted well in the book as it brought back some long-forgotten memories.
I enjoyed Terry Deary’s adult debut and read it in no time as it was so easy to become engrossed in how the plot was developing. The novel blends humour with suspense and draws clear inspiration from Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith. The plot is filled with twists and turns, making it an engaging read for fans of crime fiction. However, enjoyable as it is, some of the characters are rather two dimensional and I guessed who the (other) killer was almost as soon as the murder happened. I did like the twist at the end though.
Overall, if you’re after an entertaining crime caper, then this is a good read. I’ll look forward to reading any further novels Terry Deary writes.
Actually, I'm a Murderer spans 50 years from 1973 to 2023. The story revolves around four strangers who meet in a railway compartment on a mail train from London to Sunderland. Each character has a different background: Claire is a technician, and we later discover is very manipulative; Tony, an actor who makes some really foolish decisions; Edward, an arrogant top lawyer; and John, who casually reveals ‘Actually, I'm a Murderer’. Initially, no one believes him, but before long there’s a murder in the town where they all disembarked.
The story unfolds from the perspective of three different characters: Tony Davies, the actor, John Brown the self-confessed murderer, and Aline James. Aline is a local policewoman who is alerted to the fact that there may be a murderer in town. She is soon heavily embroiled in murder, deception, and blackmail. Not to mention the sexism inherent within the police force (and in society in general) in the 1970s. I enjoyed Aline’s attempts to thwart her colleague, the very dislikeable Greatorex. He is a horrible bully and sex pest, driven by his lust for Aline and his belief that promotion is his right because he is male. He, along with the rest of the local force, is completely dismissive of Aline purely because she is a woman despite her being much smarter than Greatorex and just as ambitious. I experienced this behaviour when I started work in the early 1980s. It was clearly depicted well in the book as it brought back some long-forgotten memories.
I enjoyed Terry Deary’s adult debut and read it in no time as it was so easy to become engrossed in how the plot was developing. The novel blends humour with suspense and draws clear inspiration from Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith. The plot is filled with twists and turns, making it an engaging read for fans of crime fiction. However, enjoyable as it is, some of the characters are rather two dimensional and I guessed who the (other) killer was almost as soon as the murder happened. I did like the twist at the end though.
Overall, if you’re after an entertaining crime caper, then this is a good read. I’ll look forward to reading any further novels Terry Deary writes.
September 18, 2025
On January 12, 1973, four different people share a train compartment and conversation during the long journey from London north to Newcastle, then on to Sunderland. Tony, one of our three narrators, is an actor who has once again got himself fired and is now on his way to the only job he’s been able to get, a pantomime. Claire is a young woman who tells of the fortunes to be made in the coming personal computer age, and her determination to be one of those making her fortune. The man in the expensive-looking coat with the astrakhan collar pompously informs the others that he is an important advisor to Prime Minister Edward Heath. The man calling himself John Brown (also a narrator), inexplicably says “Actually, I’m a murderer” when it’s his turn to introduce himself.
Tony and Claire tell a pair of Sunderland constables on the beat, PCs Aline James and Jack Greatorex, about the startling confession of John Brown. Jack blows them off, and while Aileen is dubious too, her intelligence and ambition make her take note of incident and at least consider the possibility that Mr. Brown was telling the truth on himself. And Aileen feels a strong suspicion that he was, a day later when the government advisor is found dead in the river.
The three-party narration gives us entertainingly different perspectives as the plot plays out. Aline’s private life illuminates the daily humiliations of a woman trying to get ahead in her job, and liver her own life, in the 1970s. Her ambition leads her to doggedly investigate the murder and her suspicions about Mr. Brown, but without telling her police colleagues, who are too dense to see all the clues Aline does. Tony gets himself entangled in an industrial espionage plan while, in his spare time, he carries on his own, less-than-professional, investigation. Mr. Brown has seemingly never-ending problems mucking up his usual quick and clean business trips.
The narrative switching voices is easy to follow and keeps the story fresh. While I figured out a key part of the plot fairly early, there were other black-humored twist to come. This is a more clever crime novel than I was expecting.
Tony and Claire tell a pair of Sunderland constables on the beat, PCs Aline James and Jack Greatorex, about the startling confession of John Brown. Jack blows them off, and while Aileen is dubious too, her intelligence and ambition make her take note of incident and at least consider the possibility that Mr. Brown was telling the truth on himself. And Aileen feels a strong suspicion that he was, a day later when the government advisor is found dead in the river.
The three-party narration gives us entertainingly different perspectives as the plot plays out. Aline’s private life illuminates the daily humiliations of a woman trying to get ahead in her job, and liver her own life, in the 1970s. Her ambition leads her to doggedly investigate the murder and her suspicions about Mr. Brown, but without telling her police colleagues, who are too dense to see all the clues Aline does. Tony gets himself entangled in an industrial espionage plan while, in his spare time, he carries on his own, less-than-professional, investigation. Mr. Brown has seemingly never-ending problems mucking up his usual quick and clean business trips.
The narrative switching voices is easy to follow and keeps the story fresh. While I figured out a key part of the plot fairly early, there were other black-humored twist to come. This is a more clever crime novel than I was expecting.
June 26, 2025
Murder in the world of Ashes to Ashes.
Brought to us by the creator of Horrible Histories, you may not realise that from the style of writing, but there was something different in the style, pace and some text/characters.
In present-day Britain an old man tells us he knows he's going to be murdered today. We rewind with him to 1973, where wannabee-actor Tony is on a train with three other people, ambitious computer-phile Claire, a lawyer with high-up political connections, and a bland man who comes out with a very startling pronouncement when each of the people in the carriage share details to while away the journey. "Actually I'm a murderer."
Not sure whether to take him seriously or not, it turns out the forgettable man might just have been telling the truth when the four reach Sunderland and someone… even one of them… is killed very soon after.
It gets a little more involved after this, with actor Tony, murderer Mr Brown and a young policewoman all sharing the narrative.
Mr Brown seems inept from the first moment we meet him - why exactly would you tell people - including a future victim. - that you’re a murderer? And he then goes on to make error after error. Was this on purpose? Didn’t like Tony at all, only Aline the ambitious and much-abused police officer had my sympathy.
Shows the treatment of women officers in the 70s, as well as some other not-much-spoken-of issues (you spot the hints early on).
This was entertaining enough but I did feel twists were quite obvious. There are some frankly ridiculous and unrealistic moments and a silly ending.
Premise is fun, execution wobbly but entertaining.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
Brought to us by the creator of Horrible Histories, you may not realise that from the style of writing, but there was something different in the style, pace and some text/characters.
In present-day Britain an old man tells us he knows he's going to be murdered today. We rewind with him to 1973, where wannabee-actor Tony is on a train with three other people, ambitious computer-phile Claire, a lawyer with high-up political connections, and a bland man who comes out with a very startling pronouncement when each of the people in the carriage share details to while away the journey. "Actually I'm a murderer."
Not sure whether to take him seriously or not, it turns out the forgettable man might just have been telling the truth when the four reach Sunderland and someone… even one of them… is killed very soon after.
It gets a little more involved after this, with actor Tony, murderer Mr Brown and a young policewoman all sharing the narrative.
Mr Brown seems inept from the first moment we meet him - why exactly would you tell people - including a future victim. - that you’re a murderer? And he then goes on to make error after error. Was this on purpose? Didn’t like Tony at all, only Aline the ambitious and much-abused police officer had my sympathy.
Shows the treatment of women officers in the 70s, as well as some other not-much-spoken-of issues (you spot the hints early on).
This was entertaining enough but I did feel twists were quite obvious. There are some frankly ridiculous and unrealistic moments and a silly ending.
Premise is fun, execution wobbly but entertaining.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
November 26, 2025
This book does get one thing right: it depressingly accurately captures one of the gloomiest eras of modern history. I haven't finished it yet, and am not sure I will, but there is 100% no fun in this book.
The plot so far is one dimensional, told via three viewpoint characters whose voices are all the same, with a penchant for quoting poetry, Shakespeare or nuggets of stuff learned at school to themselves.
We only know the police officer is a woman because of the relentless sexism and sexual assault she endures from fellow officers for fear of ruining her potential career. Can't she have some agency, Terry ( or Tony, as I suspect)? This is 2025 and readers expect more of their female characters, even if your shrinking one is more historically accurate.
The bit about the woman who fakes her own rape is pretty off, too, especially in light of your admissions about your date night tactics. Saying that it's what every man did then might be accurate, but it doesn't make it all right. Couldn't you have thought of another way for her to blackmail you? Honestly?
And another thing about your female lead: don't make her talk about her stockings all the time. They are TIGHTS, Terry. Do your research, ask your wife or your sister. And her referring to a 'lover' rather than to that person by name is a ludicrous red flag that something's up. I suspect I guessed this at the first flimsy attempt at a cover up. Why not give the person a neutral name and carry on writing, Terry/Tony?
Ashes to Ashes it most definitely ain't. That had humour as well as sexism, and the humour won.
Anyhow one good thing about this book is, it's an excellent cure for insomnia.
The plot so far is one dimensional, told via three viewpoint characters whose voices are all the same, with a penchant for quoting poetry, Shakespeare or nuggets of stuff learned at school to themselves.
We only know the police officer is a woman because of the relentless sexism and sexual assault she endures from fellow officers for fear of ruining her potential career. Can't she have some agency, Terry ( or Tony, as I suspect)? This is 2025 and readers expect more of their female characters, even if your shrinking one is more historically accurate.
The bit about the woman who fakes her own rape is pretty off, too, especially in light of your admissions about your date night tactics. Saying that it's what every man did then might be accurate, but it doesn't make it all right. Couldn't you have thought of another way for her to blackmail you? Honestly?
And another thing about your female lead: don't make her talk about her stockings all the time. They are TIGHTS, Terry. Do your research, ask your wife or your sister. And her referring to a 'lover' rather than to that person by name is a ludicrous red flag that something's up. I suspect I guessed this at the first flimsy attempt at a cover up. Why not give the person a neutral name and carry on writing, Terry/Tony?
Ashes to Ashes it most definitely ain't. That had humour as well as sexism, and the humour won.
Anyhow one good thing about this book is, it's an excellent cure for insomnia.
July 6, 2025
This was such a fun and twisty read; it kept me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't put it down.
We are in two different time periods - 1973 and 2023, and the story is told from the viewpoints of three people - Aline is a police constable, trying to move up in her career with the police, but having to deal with chauvenistic colleagues who keep putting her down. Tony is an actor who speaks before he thinks and constantly gets himself into trouble. Mr Brown is easily overlooked, and that's just the way he likes it. In 2023 they are telling the story of how they all became intertwined in 1973 from their points of view.
Tony and Mr Brown met on a train when they were sharing a carriage with Claire and Edward. Bored and looking to be distracted for a while they start chatting about what they do for a living. Claire works in electronics. and has big plans for her career, Edward works as a lawyer and adviser in the Heath government, and Tony is an actor. Mr Brown announces that 'actually, I'm a murderer'.
From there, everything changes for the four people who met in the carriage, as well as for Aline. One of the people in the carriage will become Mr Brown's next victim. Who? And Why?
This is a fantastically interesting book. I love that often the same situation is told from the viewpoints of at least two of the characters. There are twists and turns that I never could have predicted.
If you love a murder mystery that is a little bit different, with fantastic characters and chin on the floor plot twists then this is the book for you.
We are in two different time periods - 1973 and 2023, and the story is told from the viewpoints of three people - Aline is a police constable, trying to move up in her career with the police, but having to deal with chauvenistic colleagues who keep putting her down. Tony is an actor who speaks before he thinks and constantly gets himself into trouble. Mr Brown is easily overlooked, and that's just the way he likes it. In 2023 they are telling the story of how they all became intertwined in 1973 from their points of view.
Tony and Mr Brown met on a train when they were sharing a carriage with Claire and Edward. Bored and looking to be distracted for a while they start chatting about what they do for a living. Claire works in electronics. and has big plans for her career, Edward works as a lawyer and adviser in the Heath government, and Tony is an actor. Mr Brown announces that 'actually, I'm a murderer'.
From there, everything changes for the four people who met in the carriage, as well as for Aline. One of the people in the carriage will become Mr Brown's next victim. Who? And Why?
This is a fantastically interesting book. I love that often the same situation is told from the viewpoints of at least two of the characters. There are twists and turns that I never could have predicted.
If you love a murder mystery that is a little bit different, with fantastic characters and chin on the floor plot twists then this is the book for you.
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