Murder on the Cornish Train

by JM Hall

One missing passenger. One dead body. Is it murder on the Cornish train?

It is a dark and stormy night when Jeff boards the Cornish sleeper train at Paddington station.

As the they make their way down the dark British coast, waves crash over the carriages and the wheels rattle in the gale.

Arriving in Cornwall the next morning, Jeff discovers one passenger has vanished into thin air.

The next day, another is found dead on a windswept beach.

Jeff can't accept these are coincidences.

Could he hold the clue to catch the killer who boarded the Cornish train?

A totally gripping and page-turning British cosy mystery set on the misty coastline of Cornwall. Fans of Janice Hallett, Murder on the Orient Express and Tom Hindle will be hooked from the very first page.

Praise for J.M Hall

'Fabulous, cosy, mystery... Wonderful... Absolutely perfect for fans of Richard Osman!' NetGalley Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'What a fantastic read! It gave me all the cosy... Really enjoyable characters that you feel like you've known for years once you finish the book... Love, love, loved this book' NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Warm characters and wonderful writing...I loved it' S.J. Bennett

'Charming... The plot is cosy and tricky, with just the right blend of Miss Marple, interesting and quirky characters, secrets... I loved this book' NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A charming read with a cast of characters you'll really connect with' Faith Martin

'The ingredients for the perfect modern cosy crime: intrigue, characters you care about and a good dollop of humour' Ian Moore

'So brilliant... I loved this so much! Perfect cosy crime - I am a big fan of this author!' NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A gently quirky cosy mystery with plenty of twists and turns, and an intriguing cast of characters - some endearing, some not so much!' Fiona Leitch

'The perfect page turning, guess-who cosy crime' Northern Life Magazine

'This fun crime novel will have you hooked from the very first page' Woman's Own

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Fiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 28, 2026

Reviews

[Rob McMinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

(This is a review of an ARC from Netgalley and publisher Hodder & Stoughton.)

I often have the odd minor quibble concerning misleading titles. My quibble here is major. The title is misleading. It’s surely designed to evoke Agatha Christie, but also provide a cosy mystery vibe.
Then there’s the cover (see above). What do you think that evokes? A 1950s or earlier setting? A group of passengers travelling by steam train down to Cornwall, which apparently (even these days) can take over nine hours. Combine that with the title and the shoutline (Everyone on board has a secret…) and you might be forgiven for knowing what you’re in for.
You’d be wrong.
This wouldn’t necessarily be a dealbreaker (though the party breaking the deal is on the publication side of the equation) if the novel was good and full of surprise and delight.
Here’s the deal. The thing about genre is, the reader goes in with certain expectations. That’s what they’re paying for, if they’re paying. If the poster for a movie features two attractive people in a clinch (or standing back to back with sardonic smiles) and the title is something about love, romance, or whatever, then your punters are going to be pretty pissed off if it turns out to be a slasher horror and the two people on the poster are despatched within ten minutes.
This book disappointed me both because it does not do what it says on the tin, and it’s not very good. It’s repetitive. It’s predictable, which is why the short chapters in which not much happens are annoying. Sketchily drawn characters. An (understandably) fairly wet protagonist whose agonies are unconvincingly rendered. But, get on with it, I kept thinking. I just found the whole thing fairly irritating. Sure, I’m not cut out for cosy crime, if this is what cosy crime is. But… and I have to say this…
SPOILER AHEAD
…there is no murder on the Cornish train.
There is no steam train.
It’s not set in the 1950s or earlier.
Everybody on board does not have a secret.
I bet there’s not even a viaduct as pictured on the cover.

[Shree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, this didn't do it for me. I had high expectations from this book as I expected it to be like an Agatha Christie mystery based on the description and advance reviews. As this was my first book by the author, I was quite excited, but the book and the writing fell short of my expectations.
Why it didn't work for me?
1. The title is misleading.
2. The prose was needlessly convoluted and, in some sections, repetitive.
3. The pace was slow.
4. The mood was mostly eerie, heavy, and disturbing. Even the place was creepy. Those who enjoy such dark atmosphere might enjoy it though. It just wasn't to my taste.
5. I expected to feel excited, intrigued, and maybe even charmed like most good cozy mysteries make us feel. But all I felt was mildly creeped out throughout. And disturbed. Because the lead character was quite disturbed and lonely and we spend the whole time in his head. Which isn't really a nice place to be even if he is a decent fellow.
6. The characters were weird as well. Only the Reverend and Grace seemed normal. Mrs. Danny and Jago were terrible and the most unsuitable people to be managing a hospitality business. Mia was annoying and even her aunt (who appears only once) seemed a bit off. Why did everyone have to be weird, shifty, or creepy? Most characters weren't likeable or even particularly interesting.
I think a different (cheerful, less convoluted and repetitive, direct, curious, coherent) narration and writing style (simpler, perhaps) with livelier characters would have elevated the reading experience a great deal because the mystery part was good... It's just that the presentation might not be for everyone.
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the arc shared in exchange for an honest review.

[Kena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder on the Cornish Train by JM Hall is a wonderful read which falls into the category of cosy murder mystery.

Jeff Freeman, a retired teacher, is travelling to the South West taking the overnight sleeper train, the Night Riviera, from Paddington. The journey is eventful. The departure is delayed somewhat owing to Storm Agatha, and in the First Class Lounge at Paddington he meets a couple Vee and Gore. He also encounters a woman in the neighbouring cabin on the Night Riviera who appears not to make it to the final destination.

Jeff finds himself moving away from his plans and trying to discover what happened to the mystery woman on the train. He also finds himself trying to discover whether there was indeed a murder at the headland.

I really loved this book. Jeff is a really sympathetic character. He’s a caring person who is trying to do the right thing by people, but he’s lost his confidence and way. He often gives himself a pep talk to do things and remind himself that Mr Freeman would have done something.

There are also a raft of wonderful characters including Reverend Hoodie, Jago and Mia who also bring warmth to the book.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for making the e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Juli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A storm, a midnight train, passengers who seem to hold secrets...

Murder on the Cornish Train follows newly retired teacher, Jeff, to the rainswept cliffs of Cornwall. Despite having his own agenda for the journey, Jeff quickly becomes swept up with the drama of his fellow passengers and the other guests and staff at the not-so-hospitable Treachery Bay Inn.

This novel had all the Holmesian, Poirot-esque ingredients that would normally be right up my alley, but this one was sadly a miss for me. While I appreciate the narrative technique of the slow reveal, the result was needlessly convoluted prose and sluggish pacing.

The characters were flat, with no real development -- in fact, I almost forgot who some of the key players were, they were so underdeveloped. While the setting was perfect for a murder mystery, it was a little over-described and the title is pretty misleading -- very little actually happens on the train.

While I did figure our "whodunit" (and who-didn't-dunit) early on, I did appreciate the intricacy of the plan, and the transformation of the main character.

I am thankful to NetGalley for the advanced read!

Murder on the Cornish Train: ★★1/2

https://bookchicklit.blogspot.com/202...

[MM Stormbird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our main character is a kind man who has gone through something big and life derailing. He's on the sort of trip that doesn't really spark joy, and on top of that,  every manner of inconvenience seems to be happening. There's a big storm, and a handful of passengers that scratch his natural interest in helping others and solving problems. He tells himself not to get involved, but you know how it is - the more you just want to be left alone, the more trouble seems to find you.

And so we follow him as he kind of drifts from situation to situation. He arrives at his destination - but being the small remote town that it is, many of his fellow passengers are staying at the same hotel. He faces some encounters that are minor but distracting, and some that seem to be pretty serious. All of them keep him from his ultimate goal.

Eventually the story settles into a kind of singular problem - a single mystery to be solved. It's got everything from odd strangers to forbidden romance to locations full of spooky vibes. The characters are unique and the writing is casual. It's easy to speed through this one. And it touches with a light hand on the messages of faith and redemption.

[Carolanne Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC.
Murder on a Cornish Train by J.M. Hall is such an enjoyable read, especially if you love a good whodunit. I absolutely loved the characters, Jeff, Jago, and Rev Hoodie were definite standouts, each bringing their own personalities to the story.
The scene setting was exceptional. The descriptions were so vivid and atmospheric that I felt completely immersed. The author captured that classic, slightly eerie Cornish backdrop perfectly, and it really added to the storyline.
The plot itself was strong and kept me engaged throughout. That said, I did manage to guess whodunit before the big reveal, which took a little of the suspense away for me (sadly). Still, the journey getting there was thoroughly entertaining.
Overall, a really fun and atmospheric mystery with a fantastic cast of characters, which is definitely worth picking up, even if you’re good at spotting the clues!

[Heather Howarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a series set in Cornwall by J M Hall. I have enjoyed his previous cosy crime novels hence being eager to start this one!

I did not find the character of Jeff as entertaining as his previous investigators. He has his own tragedies which have prompted his journey on the Cornish sleeper train. Before setting off he finds himself embroiled in a drama with two other passengers. During the journey he is convinced a passenger disappears.

When reaching his destination he meets the same passengers again - Vee, an actress now suffering from dementia and her younger partner who have come to Cornwall to allow her to visit the Minack theatre where she performed.

During their stay Vee disappears and the police are involved. Eventually her body is found and the decision is made that no foul play was involved. However Jeff is not convinced and as the anomalies increase he investigates the case.

An interesting cosy crime novel - I became more invested in the characters as the story progressed and would be happy to read more about Jeff in future.

[Mrs Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was attracted to this book because of the title and was lucky ti receive an ARC. I live in Cornwall and I was amazed at the realistic details that reminded me of my own journeys on the London to Penzance sleeper. The main character, Jeff, is escaping from London after the death of a loved one by heading down to Cornwall on the overnight train. On the way, he sees a woman running for the train and has a conversation with her in her cabin. Later there is no trace of the mystery woman and Jeff begins to suspect foul play. Add in a cast of suspicious characters and another mysterious disappearance at Jeff's hotel and the mystery deepens. I really enjoyed the plot but enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the characters and the setting including the Minack Theatre even more. I would highly recommend this book for anyone that enjoys an atmospheric slightly cosy crime novel.

[Liz]

I was impressed by the opening chapters of this book. Jeff, a retired teacher, is waiting at Paddington Station for the overnight sleeper train to Penzance, delayed by stormy weather. Jeff wants to be alone with his own thoughts, but is dragged in to help Gore, whose wife Vee suffers from dementia.
Eventually all board the train, and as it's about to leave, a late and very flustered passenger arrives. The train scenes and those when they arrive in Cornwall are interesting and authentic. Unfortunately the pace then slows down. Jeff, who clearly has suffered a loss, has recurring dreams which don't really add to the story. The hotel staff believe that he is a podcaster and keep making reference to that, which becomes tedious.
The plot hangs together but takes a while to reach a conclusion, and there are few red herrings.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff Freeman is off on an overnight adventure on the Night Riviera from Paddington to Penzance for a short break nearby. The setting was very vivid and descriptive. The range of characters written were believable especially Jeff. As Jeff boards the train, a fierce storm is raging over the country. Jeff discovers one of the passengers has gone missing - why have they disappeared? How? Once Jeff has arrived at his destination, one of his fellow passengers is missing then found dead in mysterious circumstances. Jeff cannot help himself but to try to solve the puzzle from the clues he finds. It was atmospheric, chilling, disturbing, entertaining, full of plot twists and turns with a few red herrings thrown in, gripping, highly charged, intriguing and mysterious. I found the conclusion to be highly satisfying and I didn't see how it would end.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the book’s cover, you could be excused from expecting something from classic crime or perhaps the 1950s, but no, it is up to date. The title is also very misleading, there is no murder on the train, yes there is a disappearance and a murder…….but not on the train. Jeff has decided to take the night sleeper to Cornwall, although there is doubt it will actually travel due to Storm Agatha, but depart it does. Jeff spends a lot of time staring at his fellow passengers in the lounge prior to boarding, and then gets himself involved with Vee and her husband Gore and even more so when they reach Penzance.
The pace was slow and I’m afraid Jeff annoyed me, but I stuck with it hoping it would turn into a nice cosy crime book. The end of the book was much better than the beginning.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc

[Cass loves books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Murder on the Cornish Train had an intriguing premise and a classic mystery feel, with an atmospheric setting that suited the story well. I enjoyed the concept and there were moments that kept me engaged, however overall it didn’t quite deliver the level of tension and pacing I personally look for in a book.

For me, the story felt slower than expected and at times slightly confusing, which made it harder to stay fully immersed. I also found myself wanting more twists, suspense and high stakes moments throughout.

While this one wasn’t quite the right fit for my reading tastes, readers who enjoy slower paced, classic-style murder mysteries may enjoy the journey.

[Daniel Myatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an advanced copy from the publishers and Net Gallery, and I am so glad I got it.

Is cosy crime, ever that cosy? Well, not really is the right answer. Here we meet Jeff, retired and on an adventure to Cornwall. What he doesn't expect is to make friends with fellow passengers Vee and Gore and that his trip to the South will take a dark and dangerous turn.

Well written, with lots of characters, but their distinct characteristics mean there's no confusion on who they are and what they all bring to the story.

It was a little repetitive in parts, but the pace had you moving on swiftly enough not to get board.

In all a really good cosy crime!

[Elizabeth Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn’t what I expected. I guess it could qualify as a cozy mystery. However, the setting and even the mystery aren’t what you’d expect based on the title/blurb. I wish the mystery itself had picked up a bit earlier in the book. I think this would have helped with a lot of the “tell” vs. show we had near the end of the book. All that being said, I did enjoy it. Jeff was a well-done character and was easy to empathize with. I do wish I had realized going into it how depressed he would be . That element requires a certain kind of headspace while reading the book.
Thank you to the publisher for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jess Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery à la the Golden Age of mysteries. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this, but I loved how the author wove this tale together.

A mysterious train passenger, an ailing actress, the dramatic and haunting Cornwall setting, and a middle-aged man trying to find his place in the changing world.

I loved that the main character himself was a mystery throughout the book, with bits and pieces being revealed over time. The storyline was cleverly executed and made for a fun and somewhat spooky read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Hodder&Stoughton for an ARC

[Helen Arrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder on the Cornish Train by J.M. Hall
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A slightly darker cosy crime book than others by JM Hall with a steady start but I was soon drawn in and read the last 3/4 in one afternoon!

Where did the lady on the train go? Why is Jeff visiting Cornwall?

A good dose of intrigue and mystery, made it a good read.

I received a gifted Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Thank you Hodder and Stoughton, and NetGalley.
This is my honest review.

[Michelle Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely a dark, cozy mystery, and it surprised me at how heartfelt it was at times. I really liked Jeff, the main character, as well as Reverend Hoodie. I wanted to know how it ended, but it didn't hold my interest as much as I thought it would. It also seemed repetitive sometimes - similar scenes as well as Jeff saying " Get A Grip over and over again.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a strange book. I wanted to keep reading but wasn’t sure what was actually going on. It was almost a cliffhanger inside a cliffhanger. And yet it was very readable, smoothly done and I found all my questions answered by the last page, even though no one was who they seemed. I will definitely read more of this author.

[Tina Fulcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, full of suspense and drama. Great conclusions, with some fabulous twists. I was gripped throughout and highly recommend this book. I was lucky enough to read an advance copy and leave this review voluntarily.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.75

[Beautifulday4makeup The-book-and-Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good old mystery novel as we all crave sometimes. It was set up good, same I was able to connect the dots before the ending, but that just happens sometimes. Some of the theming in the book also made me think of ´the wedding people´. In the end it was a fun and quick read which I enjoyed a lot.
I would like to thank the author and Netgalley for sharing a digital version of the book.