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The Midnight Taxi
When the last fare of the night turns up dead in her backseat, a Sri Lankan American taxi driver works off the clock to clear her name in this mystery novel by debut author Yosha Gunasekera.
Siriwathi Perera doesn’t quite know where she’s going in life. She never expected to be a taxicab driver in New York City, struggling to make ends meet and still living with her parents at twenty-eight. The true-crime podcasts that keep Siri company as she drives don’t do much to make up for the legal career she imagined for herself, or the brother she’s grieving.
When public defender Amaya Fernando gets into her cab, they make a quick connection through their shared Sri Lankan roots. Siri, whose social circle is limited to her grade-school best friend, Alex, thinks things might finally be looking up with this new potential friendship. But she’s suddenly dropped into her own true crime when she discovers her next passenger murdered in the backseat, and she has to call Amaya sooner than she’d expected.
Pinned as the obvious and only suspect, and desperate to clear her name, Siri chases down leads across the boroughs of New York City with Amaya’s help. But with her court date looming, they have just five days to find out who really killed the midnight passenger—or Siri’s life will be over before she can even truly live it.
Siriwathi Perera doesn’t quite know where she’s going in life. She never expected to be a taxicab driver in New York City, struggling to make ends meet and still living with her parents at twenty-eight. The true-crime podcasts that keep Siri company as she drives don’t do much to make up for the legal career she imagined for herself, or the brother she’s grieving.
When public defender Amaya Fernando gets into her cab, they make a quick connection through their shared Sri Lankan roots. Siri, whose social circle is limited to her grade-school best friend, Alex, thinks things might finally be looking up with this new potential friendship. But she’s suddenly dropped into her own true crime when she discovers her next passenger murdered in the backseat, and she has to call Amaya sooner than she’d expected.
Pinned as the obvious and only suspect, and desperate to clear her name, Siri chases down leads across the boroughs of New York City with Amaya’s help. But with her court date looming, they have just five days to find out who really killed the midnight passenger—or Siri’s life will be over before she can even truly live it.
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2026
255 people are currently reading
19628 people want to read
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February 10, 2026
Siriwathi Perera spends most of her time thinking about murder.
The Sri Lankan American taxi driver uses true crime podcasts as a lifeline to ease the stress of New York City traffic and undesirable passengers, focusing on the facts, means, motives and opportunities she listens to-but that doesn’t mean she would kill somebody!
It seems like a good night when public defender Amaya Fernando gets into her cab. They make a quick connection when they discover that they share Sri Lankan roots. As she drops her off and watches her safely enter her home, she hopes that they might become friends.
Her midnight fare is a young man that she had noticed earlier when she waited on a passenger who called but didn’t show. He was carrying a strange oblong box with holes in it, but when he enters her cab, he is only carrying a black and orange backpack. He wants to be taken to the airport quickly and isn’t interested in talking.
Upon arriving at the airport, she discovers he has been murdered in the backseat. Sure, his window was down, and there had been a “distraction” on the drive but surely she would have noticed someone stabbing her passenger, wouldn’t she?
She is the obvious and only suspect, and doesn’t know what to do, so she calls Amaya desperate for help. The police think they have the guilty party when they take her into custody, so the two women will have to team up to find the ACTUAL murderer on their own.
DEBUT author Yosha Gunasekera has penned a COZY mystery with intriguing amateur sleuths in this love letter to New York and the cab drivers who keep the city moving! 🚕
Somehow, Siriwathi manages to keep her sense of humor, and discovers she is pretty good at investigating so she may be able to continue to do this part time-if she can get herself cleared of wrongdoing.
And, if there is to be a sequel-she will have to succeed!
If you are interested in solving this puzzle, the book is now available!!
A buddy read with MarilynW! Be sure to watch for her amazing review for additional thoughts!
Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
The Sri Lankan American taxi driver uses true crime podcasts as a lifeline to ease the stress of New York City traffic and undesirable passengers, focusing on the facts, means, motives and opportunities she listens to-but that doesn’t mean she would kill somebody!
It seems like a good night when public defender Amaya Fernando gets into her cab. They make a quick connection when they discover that they share Sri Lankan roots. As she drops her off and watches her safely enter her home, she hopes that they might become friends.
Her midnight fare is a young man that she had noticed earlier when she waited on a passenger who called but didn’t show. He was carrying a strange oblong box with holes in it, but when he enters her cab, he is only carrying a black and orange backpack. He wants to be taken to the airport quickly and isn’t interested in talking.
Upon arriving at the airport, she discovers he has been murdered in the backseat. Sure, his window was down, and there had been a “distraction” on the drive but surely she would have noticed someone stabbing her passenger, wouldn’t she?
She is the obvious and only suspect, and doesn’t know what to do, so she calls Amaya desperate for help. The police think they have the guilty party when they take her into custody, so the two women will have to team up to find the ACTUAL murderer on their own.
DEBUT author Yosha Gunasekera has penned a COZY mystery with intriguing amateur sleuths in this love letter to New York and the cab drivers who keep the city moving! 🚕
Somehow, Siriwathi manages to keep her sense of humor, and discovers she is pretty good at investigating so she may be able to continue to do this part time-if she can get herself cleared of wrongdoing.
And, if there is to be a sequel-she will have to succeed!
If you are interested in solving this puzzle, the book is now available!!
A buddy read with MarilynW! Be sure to watch for her amazing review for additional thoughts!
Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
February 10, 2026
***HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY***
Siriwathi had dreams of attending university but family struggles required that she take over her father’s taxi license. The family needs her paycheck. She spends her long idle hours listening to true crime podcasts.
One evening a midnight passenger flags her down - he needs to get to the airport. It’s a long drive and the passenger is quiet during the ride.
When she arrives at the airport she finds that the passenger has been stabbed and is dead in the back seat.
As a Sri Lankan-American and a woman - she is sure that she will be the #1 suspect.
Siri is frantic but she stumbles upon a public defender who is leaving the courthouse - she is Sri Lankan also and decides to help Siri find the murderer.
The novel continues with Siri and attorney Amaya working together to puzzle out the mystery of how the man could have been murdered in a closed taxi! There seems to be no obvious reason or culprit!
I enjoyed the characters who were realistic and likeable, I was certainly rooting for them to find the killer. Siri’s love of true crime podcasts may help her find the killer!!
This is the first in what is to be a series. It will be fun to read the future adventures of Siri and Amaya.
This is an enjoyable, quick read and I definitely recommend this one!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
Siriwathi had dreams of attending university but family struggles required that she take over her father’s taxi license. The family needs her paycheck. She spends her long idle hours listening to true crime podcasts.
One evening a midnight passenger flags her down - he needs to get to the airport. It’s a long drive and the passenger is quiet during the ride.
When she arrives at the airport she finds that the passenger has been stabbed and is dead in the back seat.
As a Sri Lankan-American and a woman - she is sure that she will be the #1 suspect.
Siri is frantic but she stumbles upon a public defender who is leaving the courthouse - she is Sri Lankan also and decides to help Siri find the murderer.
The novel continues with Siri and attorney Amaya working together to puzzle out the mystery of how the man could have been murdered in a closed taxi! There seems to be no obvious reason or culprit!
I enjoyed the characters who were realistic and likeable, I was certainly rooting for them to find the killer. Siri’s love of true crime podcasts may help her find the killer!!
This is the first in what is to be a series. It will be fun to read the future adventures of Siri and Amaya.
This is an enjoyable, quick read and I definitely recommend this one!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
February 10, 2026
3.5 STARS
A Good Debut!
A taxi driver, Siri, in New York City has a bit of a problem when murder charges come her way. What happened in her cab? The evidence points her way, but she calls an attorney she just met and we have a murder mystery to solve!
Siri loves true crime podcasts and has her own skill set, but can she clear her name? She wants to help in the investigation because her freedom is on the line.
I was addicted at the beginning, but the pacing slowed quite a bit. The author did have a few chapter cliff hangers that kept things interesting. The ending was predictable, but satisfying.
Thanks to NG for my ARC! Out Feb 10, 2026
A Good Debut!
A taxi driver, Siri, in New York City has a bit of a problem when murder charges come her way. What happened in her cab? The evidence points her way, but she calls an attorney she just met and we have a murder mystery to solve!
Siri loves true crime podcasts and has her own skill set, but can she clear her name? She wants to help in the investigation because her freedom is on the line.
I was addicted at the beginning, but the pacing slowed quite a bit. The author did have a few chapter cliff hangers that kept things interesting. The ending was predictable, but satisfying.
Thanks to NG for my ARC! Out Feb 10, 2026
October 22, 2025
Written very simply like middle grade/YA level language and conceptions of how the world works. Nonetheless fun and gaggy
Also read this on the subway which made it better
3.5
Also read this on the subway which made it better
3.5
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 4.25 stars
this was an enjoyable mystery novel! i loved how much culture and identity was a huge part of this story, not belonging and feeling like an outsider was just written so authentically.
there was so much love for new york city in these pages and i yearn to visit there even more now (like not rn ofc...)
i think this was an amazing debut novel and i cannot wait to see what else yosha has in store!!
near the last 20% it definitely felt like a thriller with the way i was kind of getting worried for the characters myself LOL especially since i was thinking someone might betray our lovely fmc.
↪ started jan 27
↪ finished jan 28
some things to expect
⤷ mystery set in NYC
⤷ sri lankan fmc & culture
⤷ found family
⤷ death of a family member (off page but talked about)
⤷ some grief representation
the midnight taxi is out february 10th!!
thank you so much berkley for the gifted copy!
this was an enjoyable mystery novel! i loved how much culture and identity was a huge part of this story, not belonging and feeling like an outsider was just written so authentically.
there was so much love for new york city in these pages and i yearn to visit there even more now (like not rn ofc...)
i think this was an amazing debut novel and i cannot wait to see what else yosha has in store!!
near the last 20% it definitely felt like a thriller with the way i was kind of getting worried for the characters myself LOL especially since i was thinking someone might betray our lovely fmc.
↪ started jan 27
↪ finished jan 28
some things to expect
⤷ mystery set in NYC
⤷ sri lankan fmc & culture
⤷ found family
⤷ death of a family member (off page but talked about)
⤷ some grief representation
the midnight taxi is out february 10th!!
thank you so much berkley for the gifted copy!
March 3, 2026
This book… will make you hungry. I know what the title says, but look, if you have an even teeny bit of hunger, this book will send you snacking. It is a love letter to delicious food that makes up the blanket that is New York (and its boroughs.) That being said, it’s a delightful read that very much makes me want to move to New York City. Just maybe not so much on the murdery part. Siri finds out exactly what her city means to her when she ends up with a murdered man in the backseat of her taxi. The doors were locked, no one got in or out of the cab so how did he end up murdered? Well, that’s for me to know and you to find out when you read this delightful book!
Now… where can I find some Sri Lankan food at 1am?
Now… where can I find some Sri Lankan food at 1am?
February 11, 2026
Captivating, creative, and suspenseful!
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐀𝐗𝐈 is a well-paced, amusing murder mystery that takes you into the life of Sri Lankan taxi driver, Siriwathi Perera, a young woman who, after one of her passengers is found dead in the backseat of her cab, is forced to help solve the crime when she herself becomes the prime suspect.
The prose is witty and light. The characters are quirky, intelligent, and intriguing. And the plot is a mysterious, engaging whodunit full of secrets, greed, suspects, deduction, red herrings, and amateur sleuthing.
Overall, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐀𝐗𝐈 is a cosy, satisfying, entertaining read by Gunasekera that was a great deal of fun with all its intricacies, culture, drama, and suspense.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐀𝐗𝐈 is a well-paced, amusing murder mystery that takes you into the life of Sri Lankan taxi driver, Siriwathi Perera, a young woman who, after one of her passengers is found dead in the backseat of her cab, is forced to help solve the crime when she herself becomes the prime suspect.
The prose is witty and light. The characters are quirky, intelligent, and intriguing. And the plot is a mysterious, engaging whodunit full of secrets, greed, suspects, deduction, red herrings, and amateur sleuthing.
Overall, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐀𝐗𝐈 is a cosy, satisfying, entertaining read by Gunasekera that was a great deal of fun with all its intricacies, culture, drama, and suspense.
January 30, 2026
3.5
Interesting murder mystery, but leaned too heavy into character driven which made the murder investigation feel like an afterthought. The beginning hooked me immediately, but after 65%, I just wanted to wrap it up.
I do think if you like cozier mysteries, similar to Finlay Donovan, you’ll enjoy it.
Interesting murder mystery, but leaned too heavy into character driven which made the murder investigation feel like an afterthought. The beginning hooked me immediately, but after 65%, I just wanted to wrap it up.
I do think if you like cozier mysteries, similar to Finlay Donovan, you’ll enjoy it.
February 16, 2026
dnf. this was not for me, i didn't enjoy the writing and really disliked the main character and her inner conversations and moanings. decided to leave it half way through, i really didn't care about anyone in the book and didnot find the mystery interesting at all.
May 10, 2026
⭐ A Thriller That Collapses the Moment You Think About It
The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera is genuinely one of the worst thrillers I have ever read. If Goodreads allowed zero stars, this would receive one immediately. The most impressive achievement of this novel is its cover design. The cover is beautiful. It creates more atmosphere, intrigue, and cultural texture than the actual story ever manages to produce. I picked this up for the Goodreads AAPI challenge after seeing the striking cover earlier this year and thinking the premise sounded promising. A NYC taxi driver becoming entangled in a murder investigation should have been an easy setup for a tense and claustrophobic urban thriller. Instead, the novel becomes an endless sequence of contrivances, procedural absurdities, and increasingly embarrassing attempts to appear contemporary.
Siriwathi may be one of the most irritating protagonists I have encountered in recent thriller fiction. The novel constantly reminds the reader that she listens to true crime podcasts. Every page there is another reference to podcasts, investigations, or amateur crime knowledge. The repetition becomes exhausting very quickly. Ironically, despite supposedly being obsessed with true crime media, Siriwathi behaves with astonishing stupidity the moment an actual crime occurs. She discovers a stabbed man and immediately flees instead of seeking police assistance. The situation becomes even more ridiculous once the police arrive with guns drawn despite the fact that a lawyer had already phoned in the murder and informed them there was no immediate threat present. The novel immediately treats Siriwathi as the obvious suspect even though the police would realistically investigate timelines, CCTV footage, GPS records, airport surveillance, forensic evidence, and witness statements before behaving with that level of certainty. From that point onward, the novel spirals into procedural nonsense. The police interrogation scenes are absurdly dramatized. The legal process makes little sense. Characters speak as though grand jury proceedings prevent basic disclosure of information. The novel simultaneously insists that DNA testing takes time while somehow treating forensic conclusions with certainty almost immediately afterward. At several points I genuinely stopped reading and wondered whether anyone involved in the editing process had paused to think through the legal or investigative implications of what was happening.
The NYC setting is equally artificial. This does not feel like New York City. It feels like a collection of internet references and cinematic clichés awkwardly stitched together into a thriller. Pizza rats appear because apparently every modern NYC novel now requires a pizza rat reference. Characters dramatically gaze toward the Statue of Liberty from office windows as though Manhattan functions like a movie set. The geography itself becomes laughable. One moment characters are in Queens, then Manhattan, then Brooklyn, then Staten Island, all with almost no meaningful discussion of transportation, timing, traffic, or logistics. The city feels weightless and fake. At one point I genuinely forgot where characters were supposed to be because they moved through boroughs as though NYC were a small suburban town rather than one of the largest and busiest cities in the world.
The plotting somehow deteriorates even further as the novel progresses. Alex’s involvement in financial crimes while simultaneously assisting Siriwathi with the investigation becomes increasingly ridiculous. The story constantly withholds information simply to preserve twists later. Characters refuse to disclose critical details, not because it makes psychological or emotional sense, but because the narrative would collapse instantly if anyone behaved like a rational adult. The conspiracy itself depends on absurd coincidence chains and impossible levels of narrative convenience. The further the book progresses, the less coherent the story becomes. Every revelation weakens the earlier chapters retroactively.
The ending may have been the most aggravating section of the entire novel. Siriwathi pursuing legal action against the NYPD and DA’s office felt especially absurd considering the novel never convincingly establishes genuine misconduct. Police investigating a murder and focusing on the last known driver of the victim is not some shocking miscarriage of justice. The story desperately wants emotional vindication and a triumphant resolution even though the legal and procedural groundwork for that ending barely exists. Everything is simplified into a neat resolution that ignores the very realities the novel occasionally pretends to care about.
What makes this book so frustrating is that it clearly wants to sound intelligent, modern, and legally informed. References to podcasts, DNA timelines, grand juries, surveillance, and financial crimes are scattered throughout the narrative to create the appearance of sophistication. None of it withstands scrutiny. The moment one stops to think about almost any major plot development, the story collapses entirely. This is not merely a flawed thriller. This is a thriller fundamentally constructed on convenience, contradiction, and artificial suspense. I finished it out of pure stubbornness. Very few books make me seriously consider a DNF. This one came dangerously close
The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera is genuinely one of the worst thrillers I have ever read. If Goodreads allowed zero stars, this would receive one immediately. The most impressive achievement of this novel is its cover design. The cover is beautiful. It creates more atmosphere, intrigue, and cultural texture than the actual story ever manages to produce. I picked this up for the Goodreads AAPI challenge after seeing the striking cover earlier this year and thinking the premise sounded promising. A NYC taxi driver becoming entangled in a murder investigation should have been an easy setup for a tense and claustrophobic urban thriller. Instead, the novel becomes an endless sequence of contrivances, procedural absurdities, and increasingly embarrassing attempts to appear contemporary.
Siriwathi may be one of the most irritating protagonists I have encountered in recent thriller fiction. The novel constantly reminds the reader that she listens to true crime podcasts. Every page there is another reference to podcasts, investigations, or amateur crime knowledge. The repetition becomes exhausting very quickly. Ironically, despite supposedly being obsessed with true crime media, Siriwathi behaves with astonishing stupidity the moment an actual crime occurs. She discovers a stabbed man and immediately flees instead of seeking police assistance. The situation becomes even more ridiculous once the police arrive with guns drawn despite the fact that a lawyer had already phoned in the murder and informed them there was no immediate threat present. The novel immediately treats Siriwathi as the obvious suspect even though the police would realistically investigate timelines, CCTV footage, GPS records, airport surveillance, forensic evidence, and witness statements before behaving with that level of certainty. From that point onward, the novel spirals into procedural nonsense. The police interrogation scenes are absurdly dramatized. The legal process makes little sense. Characters speak as though grand jury proceedings prevent basic disclosure of information. The novel simultaneously insists that DNA testing takes time while somehow treating forensic conclusions with certainty almost immediately afterward. At several points I genuinely stopped reading and wondered whether anyone involved in the editing process had paused to think through the legal or investigative implications of what was happening.
The NYC setting is equally artificial. This does not feel like New York City. It feels like a collection of internet references and cinematic clichés awkwardly stitched together into a thriller. Pizza rats appear because apparently every modern NYC novel now requires a pizza rat reference. Characters dramatically gaze toward the Statue of Liberty from office windows as though Manhattan functions like a movie set. The geography itself becomes laughable. One moment characters are in Queens, then Manhattan, then Brooklyn, then Staten Island, all with almost no meaningful discussion of transportation, timing, traffic, or logistics. The city feels weightless and fake. At one point I genuinely forgot where characters were supposed to be because they moved through boroughs as though NYC were a small suburban town rather than one of the largest and busiest cities in the world.
The plotting somehow deteriorates even further as the novel progresses. Alex’s involvement in financial crimes while simultaneously assisting Siriwathi with the investigation becomes increasingly ridiculous. The story constantly withholds information simply to preserve twists later. Characters refuse to disclose critical details, not because it makes psychological or emotional sense, but because the narrative would collapse instantly if anyone behaved like a rational adult. The conspiracy itself depends on absurd coincidence chains and impossible levels of narrative convenience. The further the book progresses, the less coherent the story becomes. Every revelation weakens the earlier chapters retroactively.
The ending may have been the most aggravating section of the entire novel. Siriwathi pursuing legal action against the NYPD and DA’s office felt especially absurd considering the novel never convincingly establishes genuine misconduct. Police investigating a murder and focusing on the last known driver of the victim is not some shocking miscarriage of justice. The story desperately wants emotional vindication and a triumphant resolution even though the legal and procedural groundwork for that ending barely exists. Everything is simplified into a neat resolution that ignores the very realities the novel occasionally pretends to care about.
What makes this book so frustrating is that it clearly wants to sound intelligent, modern, and legally informed. References to podcasts, DNA timelines, grand juries, surveillance, and financial crimes are scattered throughout the narrative to create the appearance of sophistication. None of it withstands scrutiny. The moment one stops to think about almost any major plot development, the story collapses entirely. This is not merely a flawed thriller. This is a thriller fundamentally constructed on convenience, contradiction, and artificial suspense. I finished it out of pure stubbornness. Very few books make me seriously consider a DNF. This one came dangerously close
October 1, 2025
I have not lived in the city for nearly 40 years, but I am still at heart a New Yorker. What I found here was another true New Yorker.
I loved the heroine's eye rolling reaction to out of town tourists who head for Times Square and a meal at the Olive garden. As a Bronxite by birth I grinned over the line about people of the Bronx being kind but not nice.
( I do have to say though that my bronxite parents were both!)
Combined with believable characters and plot, this is the sort of book that makes a really "good read" for me. I'll look forward to more books by this author,
I loved the heroine's eye rolling reaction to out of town tourists who head for Times Square and a meal at the Olive garden. As a Bronxite by birth I grinned over the line about people of the Bronx being kind but not nice.
( I do have to say though that my bronxite parents were both!)
Combined with believable characters and plot, this is the sort of book that makes a really "good read" for me. I'll look forward to more books by this author,
November 20, 2025
This is a cute, cozy mystery featuring Sri Lankan characters - Siriwatha “Siri” Perera and Amaya Fernando - working together to solve a mysterious murder, one in which Siri must prove her innocence.
Siri is a midnight taxi driver in New York City. She loves true crime podcasts and was hoping to go to law school. One night she picks up a fare who upon arrival at the airport is dead and Siri is the logical suspect. Fortunately for Siri an earlier fare had been another Sri Lanka, Amaya, and she’s able to secure an attorney quickly. Free on bond, Siri and Amaya join forces to solve the murder. No spoilers here; you have to read the book to find out what happened. It’s a good ending!
I enjoyed the characters in this book. Siri is particularly enjoyable with her love of the true crime podcasts where there are certain requirements involved for investigating and solving crimes which are reflected in the story - adding a light, comedic touch. Amaya serves as a nice foil to Siri - so no surprise! There will be another book with these two. I also liked the introduction of Sri Lankan characters, giving more diversity to the mystery genre.
I want to thank BookBrowse and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.
Siri is a midnight taxi driver in New York City. She loves true crime podcasts and was hoping to go to law school. One night she picks up a fare who upon arrival at the airport is dead and Siri is the logical suspect. Fortunately for Siri an earlier fare had been another Sri Lanka, Amaya, and she’s able to secure an attorney quickly. Free on bond, Siri and Amaya join forces to solve the murder. No spoilers here; you have to read the book to find out what happened. It’s a good ending!
I enjoyed the characters in this book. Siri is particularly enjoyable with her love of the true crime podcasts where there are certain requirements involved for investigating and solving crimes which are reflected in the story - adding a light, comedic touch. Amaya serves as a nice foil to Siri - so no surprise! There will be another book with these two. I also liked the introduction of Sri Lankan characters, giving more diversity to the mystery genre.
I want to thank BookBrowse and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.
April 16, 2026
pains me to say it, but this was a painful experience. i often felt like the writer couldn't decide who she was speaking to- an american audience or a sri lankan one? a lawyer or not a lawyer? everything was overexplained and underexplained at the same time, somehow. the book was way too long! and obvious! crimes in a mystery thriller!! but worst of all were the sweeping, boldly inaccurate facts about a (one dimensional) sri lanka
i do feel like this would be a good setting for a tv show though
~
adults bookclub: march edition
i do feel like this would be a good setting for a tv show though
~
adults bookclub: march edition
April 7, 2026
I read this as an audiobook, and I was so disappointed in it. My main complaints came from the lack of a good editor. The book uses the phrase “in my true crime podcasts” about 2475 times. When it wasn’t saying in my true crime podcasts, it was saying “in my culture we,”followed by something that all cultures do, such as privilege people who become doctors or care about food. As a locked taxicab mystery told from the perspective of a Sri Lankan. I was really expecting this author to do something new with the locked room mystery genre, but she did not. The plot was predictable. The writing was banal and repetitive, and the end couldn’t come fast enough. The characters were under developed. And the plot premise was simply unbelievable, and that’s coming from someone who regularly reads books about dragons, so take that as you will.
November 28, 2025
Overall, I liked the book. It was interesting to read a story from a point of view you don’t often encounter, and I appreciated the uniqueness of the narrator’s voice. However, the mystery felt more like a side element and didn’t pick up steam until about halfway through. It was also fairly easy to guess the culprit, and some of the circumstances surrounding the crime felt implausible. The main character’s inner monologue and frequent flashbacks became distracting at times, and there was a lot of world-building that didn’t always feel necessary.
On a positive note, the story wraps up quickly and doesn’t rely on cliffhangers. If you enjoy a character-driven story (especially one with a rare perspective) and don’t mind the mystery taking a backseat, I would recommend this as a quick, easy read. The writing is approachable, with occasional touches of humor.
On a positive note, the story wraps up quickly and doesn’t rely on cliffhangers. If you enjoy a character-driven story (especially one with a rare perspective) and don’t mind the mystery taking a backseat, I would recommend this as a quick, easy read. The writing is approachable, with occasional touches of humor.
February 23, 2026
The Midnight Taxi is a cozy-leaning mystery with a big heart and a deep love for New York City. I really enjoyed the sharp, funny narrative voice and the way culture, cuisine, and immigrant communities are woven into the story—it genuinely feels like a love letter to the city and the people who keep it running at all hours.
While the mystery kept me guessing and had some fun twists, the pacing lagged in spots and I wished for a bit more character depth. Not flawless, but thoughtful and promising, with strong themes and ambition. I’m definitely curious to see what the author does next
While the mystery kept me guessing and had some fun twists, the pacing lagged in spots and I wished for a bit more character depth. Not flawless, but thoughtful and promising, with strong themes and ambition. I’m definitely curious to see what the author does next
February 14, 2026
A unique, quick cozy mystery that may require a few leaps of disbelief (the way she meets Amaya is incredibly fortuitous and coincidental...) but a fun time without a lot of filler.
November 27, 2025
Siriwathi Perera is a taxi driver with a penchant for true crime podcasts. Unfortunately for her, a true crime occurs in the back seat of her taxi. She was just taking a man to the Air France terminal at JFK airport. Her fare was murdered at some point during the trip, but Siri didn’t see or hear a thing.
The police believe that she must have killed him. Off she goes to jail. But, wait! Siri has
the business card of a fellow Sri Lankan attorney in her pocket. Will a good attorney be enough to free Siri?
“The Midnight Taxi” is an enthralling murder mystery. First, there’s the tragedy itself: who stabbed the fare? Second, another tragedy: an innocent woman being falsely accused.
I thought “The Midnight Taxi” was well-written– a real page turner. Siri and her lawyer look for clues and try to find the actual culprit. The characters seem like real people. Siri has known tragedy in her life, and I was rooting for her and her lawyer.
I recommend “The Midnight Taxi” if you’re in the mood for a tricky mystery with characters you’d probably like to meet. Personally, I hope it becomes a series.
Thank you to BookBrowse and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. This is my honest review.
The police believe that she must have killed him. Off she goes to jail. But, wait! Siri has
the business card of a fellow Sri Lankan attorney in her pocket. Will a good attorney be enough to free Siri?
“The Midnight Taxi” is an enthralling murder mystery. First, there’s the tragedy itself: who stabbed the fare? Second, another tragedy: an innocent woman being falsely accused.
I thought “The Midnight Taxi” was well-written– a real page turner. Siri and her lawyer look for clues and try to find the actual culprit. The characters seem like real people. Siri has known tragedy in her life, and I was rooting for her and her lawyer.
I recommend “The Midnight Taxi” if you’re in the mood for a tricky mystery with characters you’d probably like to meet. Personally, I hope it becomes a series.
Thank you to BookBrowse and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. This is my honest review.
February 16, 2026
Thank you @PRHaudio for the free audiobook & to @BerkleyPub for the free book!
After a passenger is found murdered in her backseat, struggling Sri Lankan American cab driver becomes the prime suspect. With help from a new friend and public defender, she races across New York City to find the real killer before her looming court date destroys her life.
The story leans heavily on internal monologue, which felt excessive, with more telling than showing. That said, the New York City setting is vividly rendered, and the author thoughtfully explores themes of prejudice, grief, & the immigrant experience. I especially appreciated the developing friendship between Siriwathi and her attorney, Amaya (there’s something deeply satisfying about a strong women supporting women dynamic).
The audiobook narration by Isuri Wijesundara was beautifully performed, enhancing the story with distinct, expressive character voices and seamless transitions between Sri Lankan & American accents.
Overall, it was an enjoyable listen & an impressive debut that leaves me eager to see what the author writes next.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 Stars
After a passenger is found murdered in her backseat, struggling Sri Lankan American cab driver becomes the prime suspect. With help from a new friend and public defender, she races across New York City to find the real killer before her looming court date destroys her life.
The story leans heavily on internal monologue, which felt excessive, with more telling than showing. That said, the New York City setting is vividly rendered, and the author thoughtfully explores themes of prejudice, grief, & the immigrant experience. I especially appreciated the developing friendship between Siriwathi and her attorney, Amaya (there’s something deeply satisfying about a strong women supporting women dynamic).
The audiobook narration by Isuri Wijesundara was beautifully performed, enhancing the story with distinct, expressive character voices and seamless transitions between Sri Lankan & American accents.
Overall, it was an enjoyable listen & an impressive debut that leaves me eager to see what the author writes next.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 Stars
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A Sri Lankan NYC cab driver who is a true crime officiando finds herself charged for murder and in a quest to prove her innocence
WOW! What an impressive, fantastic debut. Even better, another book is planned with these characters. I'm thrilled to have gotten in at the start of the series!
The writing is superb, real, and thought provoking. The characters are so well developed and three dimensional.
They are also little sprinklings subtly funny lol moments, an added and unexpected bonus.
I cannot say enough good things about the audio production. I do think the audio made the story even better, really brought everyone to life. If audiobooks are your thing, I highly recommend this one. Not only is the production great, the story isnt overly complex, making it a perfect candidate for audio IMO.
WOW! What an impressive, fantastic debut. Even better, another book is planned with these characters. I'm thrilled to have gotten in at the start of the series!
The writing is superb, real, and thought provoking. The characters are so well developed and three dimensional.
They are also little sprinklings subtly funny lol moments, an added and unexpected bonus.
I cannot say enough good things about the audio production. I do think the audio made the story even better, really brought everyone to life. If audiobooks are your thing, I highly recommend this one. Not only is the production great, the story isnt overly complex, making it a perfect candidate for audio IMO.
April 5, 2026
I was frustrated with this book because I really wanted to like it. The main character is poor and barely surviving but then doesn't seem to worry about her taxi lease or fares throughout the book (does the author know how taxi cabs work?).
The writing is halting which disrupts the flow of the unfolding mystery. The "discoveries" are clumsy and happenstance rather than deductive. The relationships are not well developed and the characters are shallow. I didn't even believe the author has listened to true crime podcasts herself or followed Redditors who are obsessed with solving crimes. These characters seemed to struggle to do any internet sleuthing.
The writing is halting which disrupts the flow of the unfolding mystery. The "discoveries" are clumsy and happenstance rather than deductive. The relationships are not well developed and the characters are shallow. I didn't even believe the author has listened to true crime podcasts herself or followed Redditors who are obsessed with solving crimes. These characters seemed to struggle to do any internet sleuthing.
November 28, 2025
I loved this book. It was great from the first page. I enjoyed learning about New York City, and the Sri Lankan culture. The female protagonist was interesting and delightful. Great beginning to a new series. Highly recommend.
February 16, 2026
Congratulations to Yosha, this was a very fun read!
May 5, 2026
At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book, but oh boy, was I wrong! As far as debuts go, this was incredible. I found it nearly impossible to put down and flew right through it. The story is packed with suspense, and the mystery surrounding what actually happened during Siri's real-life True Crime taxi ride is so well done. I can't recommend this enough; I'm really excited to see what Yosha Gunasekera writes next!
March 4, 2026
3.5 stars. This is a decent debut novel. It’s about the complexities of the criminal legal system and the lived experiences of Sri Lankan immigrants in New York City.
The novel follows Siriwathi "Siri" Perera, a Sri Lankan-American taxi driver who becomes a murder suspect after a passenger is found dead in her cab.
The novel follows Siriwathi "Siri" Perera, a Sri Lankan-American taxi driver who becomes a murder suspect after a passenger is found dead in her cab.
April 3, 2026
this was not good.
April 10, 2026
3.5⭐️
short chapters, fast paced, i was hooked! predicted the twists/ culprits easily but it was still fun
—
full review:
i read this one last month for my book club (@kitaabklub.ig on insta) march book pick and it was such a fun cozy mystery!
highly recommend if you’re interested in reading a book that is:
- set in new york city and takes you around all 5 boroughs
- showing the side of the yellow taxi cabs that many people don’t think about; the drivers driving the cabs
- filled with descriptions of very yummy food that will make you hungry
- portraying grief as well as doubts and fears of the late 20s
the fast paced, short chapters kept me on my toes and i couldn’t put the book down, so i finished it in 3 sittings! i really enjoyed the mystery and loved the rep in this one!
i interviewed the author recently so will be sharing our conversation over on the book club page and youtube (@kitaabklub) so keep an eye out!
short chapters, fast paced, i was hooked! predicted the twists/ culprits easily but it was still fun
—
full review:
i read this one last month for my book club (@kitaabklub.ig on insta) march book pick and it was such a fun cozy mystery!
highly recommend if you’re interested in reading a book that is:
- set in new york city and takes you around all 5 boroughs
- showing the side of the yellow taxi cabs that many people don’t think about; the drivers driving the cabs
- filled with descriptions of very yummy food that will make you hungry
- portraying grief as well as doubts and fears of the late 20s
the fast paced, short chapters kept me on my toes and i couldn’t put the book down, so i finished it in 3 sittings! i really enjoyed the mystery and loved the rep in this one!
i interviewed the author recently so will be sharing our conversation over on the book club page and youtube (@kitaabklub) so keep an eye out!
January 31, 2026
Rating: 4.5/5
Format: Physical
This was such a special read. It was definitely the combination of NYC highlights, depth of discussion re: both the immigrant and child of immigrant experiences as well as all of the South Asian food chat that made me feel very seen while reading. I also had the privilege of reading this with five fellow South Asian bookstagrammers, which elevated the experience of The Midnight Taxi for me.
Our FMC, Siriwathi Perera (Siri), is on the hook for the murder of a passenger in her NYC taxi and has limited time to prove her innocence. Siri is assisted by a former passenger and public defender, Amaya Fernando. One of my favorite parts of The Midnight Taxi was piecing all of the clues together and navigating the procedural element of Siri's alleged crime. Yosha does an incredible job at utilizing her knowledge as an attorney to provide information and context about the justice system to the reader in a way that is informative but also digestible. As we know, the criminal justice system does not always provide justice to those who seek it, which Yosha also interweaved throughout Siri's interactions with the system.
I really loved this book. I still think about Siri and her crime podcasts, as someone who also gets lost in them often. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a thriller that has more depth than your average "whodunit."
Thank you to Terrace Public Relations, Berkley Pub and Yosha Gunasekera for the ARC and finished copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
Format: Physical
This was such a special read. It was definitely the combination of NYC highlights, depth of discussion re: both the immigrant and child of immigrant experiences as well as all of the South Asian food chat that made me feel very seen while reading. I also had the privilege of reading this with five fellow South Asian bookstagrammers, which elevated the experience of The Midnight Taxi for me.
Our FMC, Siriwathi Perera (Siri), is on the hook for the murder of a passenger in her NYC taxi and has limited time to prove her innocence. Siri is assisted by a former passenger and public defender, Amaya Fernando. One of my favorite parts of The Midnight Taxi was piecing all of the clues together and navigating the procedural element of Siri's alleged crime. Yosha does an incredible job at utilizing her knowledge as an attorney to provide information and context about the justice system to the reader in a way that is informative but also digestible. As we know, the criminal justice system does not always provide justice to those who seek it, which Yosha also interweaved throughout Siri's interactions with the system.
I really loved this book. I still think about Siri and her crime podcasts, as someone who also gets lost in them often. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a thriller that has more depth than your average "whodunit."
Thank you to Terrace Public Relations, Berkley Pub and Yosha Gunasekera for the ARC and finished copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
January 30, 2026
4.25/5
I loved this book from the very beginning!
First off, the narrator was great! Her voice was really soothing to listen to and I appreciated the way her accent really brought Siri to life. Siri was a delightful MC already, and the narration just added to that. I really appreciated the taste of Sri Lankan culture that we got throughout this book, as well.
I really enjoyed all of our characters, but particularly the bond between Siri and Amaya. Their first interaction warmed my heart so much, and I was rooting for them as friends from the beginning. Plus, their antics and clever investigation were really fun to follow.
The mystery aspect was well done, as well. I had a few inklings that proved to be true, but ultimately was surprised by the way things turned out. Information was revealed at a fun and intentional pace, and this propelled the plot in a really entertaining way.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book! I would happily read another by this author, and loved the tease that this will be a series. This book was heartwarming, without being overly cozy, and fast-paced without feeling rushed. I loved it!
I loved this book from the very beginning!
First off, the narrator was great! Her voice was really soothing to listen to and I appreciated the way her accent really brought Siri to life. Siri was a delightful MC already, and the narration just added to that. I really appreciated the taste of Sri Lankan culture that we got throughout this book, as well.
I really enjoyed all of our characters, but particularly the bond between Siri and Amaya. Their first interaction warmed my heart so much, and I was rooting for them as friends from the beginning. Plus, their antics and clever investigation were really fun to follow.
The mystery aspect was well done, as well. I had a few inklings that proved to be true, but ultimately was surprised by the way things turned out. Information was revealed at a fun and intentional pace, and this propelled the plot in a really entertaining way.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book! I would happily read another by this author, and loved the tease that this will be a series. This book was heartwarming, without being overly cozy, and fast-paced without feeling rushed. I loved it!
February 24, 2026
Thank you to Berkeley for the free book!
The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekara is a fun and character-driven mystery with strong cultural roots and an engaging women led cast of characters. The story follows a late-night taxi driver who becomes entangled in a mystery when a man is murdered in the backseat of her taxi. As the mystery unfolds, multiple new characters and theories emerge, some a little more far fetched than others but everything gets wrapped up nicely at the end. I liked how we cover more than just the mystery, there’s family dynamics and the realities of immigrant life in America that really broadens the book into a well rounded story. The Sri Lankan and immigrant representation was really well done and added a lot of interest for me. Both main characters were genuinely interesting and easy to invest in, a long with their family and personal histories it made it easy to root for them both. The pacing did slow down a little in the middle and made me question where we going but it all picked up by the end. Overall this was a fun and satisfying mystery, and an easy read to recommend.
The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekara is a fun and character-driven mystery with strong cultural roots and an engaging women led cast of characters. The story follows a late-night taxi driver who becomes entangled in a mystery when a man is murdered in the backseat of her taxi. As the mystery unfolds, multiple new characters and theories emerge, some a little more far fetched than others but everything gets wrapped up nicely at the end. I liked how we cover more than just the mystery, there’s family dynamics and the realities of immigrant life in America that really broadens the book into a well rounded story. The Sri Lankan and immigrant representation was really well done and added a lot of interest for me. Both main characters were genuinely interesting and easy to invest in, a long with their family and personal histories it made it easy to root for them both. The pacing did slow down a little in the middle and made me question where we going but it all picked up by the end. Overall this was a fun and satisfying mystery, and an easy read to recommend.
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