Terror on the Train

Dorothy Martin #27

by Jeanne M. Dams

Dorothy Martin is travelling from England to Canada for a wedding, but her journey takes a dark twist when a man falls from the train.

Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired chief constable Alan Nesbitt, are leaving England behind to attend a wedding on Vancouver Island, Canada. Opting for the scenic route, the pair board the Empire Builder sleeper train from Chicago to Seattle. But the journey takes a terrifying turn when Dorothy witnesses a person falling from the train.

The body of a man is quickly found on the route, and Dorothy feels compelled to investigate. Who was he? Was he alive or dead when he fell? Could his fate be linked to a confrontation on the train? As Dorothy and Alan unravel the secrets surrounding the dead man, they uncover disturbingly dark truths . . .

Genres: Mystery, Canada, Cozy Mystery, Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 31, 2026

About the author

Jeanne M. Dams lives in South Bend, Indiana. The Body in the Transept, which introduced Dorothy Martin, won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Dams is also the author of Green Grow the Victims and other Hilda Johansson mysteries published by Walker & Company.

Reviews

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Spoiler alert-

I won’t say what the ending was, only that it was a massive disappointment. It felt as though the author just became weary and decided to end the story in the least satisfying way possible.

I’ve been reading this series since the beginning. Dorothy and Alan were 60+ in 1995, when the first of the series was published. Which is fine! Poetic license and suspension of disbelief is par for the course for cozy mysteries. But now that I’m 60+ myself, they just seem tiresome, and the logical pretzel twists the reader is asked to make for the sake of advancing the story just didn’t seem worth it in the end.

Not the author’s best work.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terror on the Train is the 27th book in the cozy mystery series starring American born British ex-pat Dorothy Martin and her British husband Alan, a retired DCI. The books are a quick read and author Jeanne Dams does a wonderful job filling the books with facts and travel information on her physical settings. In Terror on the Train we join Dorothy and Alan on an Amtrak sleeper train from Chicago to Seattle then on to Victoria BC. I feel the plot in this book was rather thin but if you love reading cozy mysteries you will probably overlook it. There are many things to enjoy about this series but one thing that I find increasingly irritating is the author's frequent references to Dorothy's age and infirmaries. As Dorothy and Alan retired from their jobs only 5-10 years ago how old can they be? Dorothy talks as if they are one step away from a nursing home. I've read the series from the beginning, maybe this was always the case and it's just more irritating to me now.
Again, I feel this book will appeal to readers of cozy mysteries.

[Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at about the halfway mark.

I enjoy a gently paced novel if I’m invested in the story and characters, but the cripplingly slow pace of this one and lengthy descriptions of plot unrelated to the mystery made it too lackluster for me. This was my first introduction to the series but I don’t think that was my issue with the book at all. I got a feel for the main characters within the first chapter, but the problem was that nothing much happened after that. If you’re expecting shades of Murder on the Orient Express because of the setting, premise, and title, you will be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

No Terror…just Nosy Dorothy

Bid to do over nothing and immature reactions! Dorothy was at her immature best. There was no big mystery or a reason to investigate. Boring at best , convoluted at its best and made main characters look like buffoons.
Ugh… I’m done w Dams books. They’re poorly written written and don’t hold anybody’s interest.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was an avid reader of the Dorothy Martin mystery series many years ago and periodically I still pick up the latest book. But, I found Terror on the Train quite disappointing.

The title itself is a little misleading, since very little of the story takes place on a train and there wasn’t any terror or suspense to speak of. Meanwhile, Dorothy seems to have changed and not particularly for the better. Throughout the story she’s critical of the food, the accommodations, places she and her husband visit, and so on. This isn’t the Dorothy I remember from previous books and it felt uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, the plot wasn’t really very interesting and the fact that there was always someone who knew someone who could help seemed much too contrived. Cozy mysteries often have somewhat outlandish plots and coincidences but Terror on the Train seemed excessive. There are also a number of extraneous events that are distracting. The fact that two retirees are convinced it’s ok to interfere in a police matter and one of them isn’t even a US citizen seems to imply they are simply nosey and bored.

Finally, there was a travelogue feeling throughout the book. Parts of it were interesting but it eventually became tedious and at the same time it took the focus off of the mystery. While I enjoyed earlier books in this series, Terror on the Train was a disappointment and it’s 2.5 stars for me. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

[Gerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in the Dorothy Martin series. This ones follows them to Vancouver Island, Canada for the wedding of the daughter of their friends from a previous mystery encounter they solved together. On their cross country journey through the U.S. on route to their destination, they take the Empire Builder sleeper train. And of course during this journey there’s a murder that they get involved solving. They meet people in the train and connect with them later in the book as Dorothy and Alan work to solve this murder that they think is going to fall through the cracks of the system due to the circumstances.

This was a pleasant mystery. I’ve read several of this series. The author does a great job of making you feel as if you know this happy and very inquisitive couple and those whom they meet along the way. This one took a few too many detours and a bit more time getting to the truth about the murder than I would have preferred. But it was a pleasant trip regardless.
#TerrorOnTheTrain. #NetGalley

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars. Reading another Dorothy Martin book is like visiting old friends--though Dorothy and Alan are complaining more about their age than I remember before. If you have read the series before you pretty much know what to expect, though here it is minus the usual supporting characters because Dorothy and Alan are on a trip to attend a wedding in Vancouver. They are taking a train from Chicago to Seattle and Dorothy sees a person fall from the train. Suspecting more than just an accident, she is determined to investigate.

Though this is called Terror on the Train there aren't any scary moments. In fact, there are a lot of descriptions that you could call this part travelogue. It may be a bit thin on plot in places it is still enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dorothy and Alan are heading to a wedding across the pond in Victoria, Canada, but hate the idea of flying all the way. They book a sleeper car on a cross-country Amtrak train and look forward to a leisurely trip. Of course, the first night, they both see a body falling from the train and become totally involved in the investigation. The mystery is mixed in with the wedding prep and sight-seeing, so the plot does move slowly and the only incentive to investigate is their own desire to solve the murder. It’s fun to see an older couple traveling and being active, though at a slower pace. There really was no terror on the train, more of a puzzle. It is a relaxing cozy read.
Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Casca Wardle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Step aboard, this train ride is going to take you on one hell of a journey! I immediately got some ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ kind of vibes when I first started reading this story. I also started thinking it reminded me of our older murder mystery tv dramas in the UK I grew up with in the 1990’s like ‘A Touch of Frost’ and ‘The Ruth Rendell Mysteries’. I was instantly invested and needed to know what happened next every time I finished a chapter. Some very intriguing characters, suspense and the plot gets more intense when the pieces start coming together. I think this would actually be quite fun to read whilst taking a train journey.



5 out of 5! It is a mystery that will keep you guessing and guessing till the very end.

[Daria · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Terror on the Train" will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries and readers who enjoy mysteries set on trains, especially people who are already familiar with the series. The plot and the rationale behind the murder of one of the travelers on the train are rather thin, and there is never really a good justification for Dorothy and Alan's excessive efforts to solve the crime. But their relationship is charming, and returning to their lives (this is the 27th book in the series) is a pleasure, although long-time readers may miss the recurring characters from their usual residence in England. Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.

[Emy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dorothy Martin and her husband, Alan Nesbitt, are traveling from England to a wedding in Canada, taking a sleeper train from Chicago to Seattle. Their trip turns alarming when Dorothy sees someone fall from the train, leading them to investigate the man's mysterious death and uncover dark truths.
An interesting cozy mystery/ travel blog. This was a different kind of cozy mystery. There did not appear to be much suspense as the investigating couple carried out their investigation predominantly by phone. The remaining part of the book was the travel descriptions of the sites that they were visiting, interesting but not what I expected reading a murder mystery.

[Catherine Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually enjoy the Dorothy Martin series but was horribly disappointed in this book. The plot is terribly weak. There is no logical justification for Dorothy and Alan to get involved in the crime, there are no facts to support their suppositions and they keep telling the reader that, the conclusion is not accordance with Alan's reputation as a man of the law, and the book reads more like a travelogue of the western US than a mystery story. The elderly tropes (naps, sore feet, crankiness, cats) and the Christian moral messages, which are only mildly annoying in Dams' previous books, seem overdone here.

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different sort of mystery for Dorothy

And I liked it. I especially enjoyed a more Christ-like Dorothy. Feeling her anger and expressing her judgments of people, but backtracking once she’s had time to think about the implications of those judgments. I was growing weary of her holier-than-thou attitude towards those who did not share her views in previous books. And we’ve all had quite enough of the “my way’s right” mentality in day-to-day living, haven’t we?

[Mary E. Sears · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the Dorothy Martin mysteries. Author Dams did hit Fr. Junipero Serra hard, however. Proper research would show he was not the evil man that modern history has portraited him as. He was a strong advocate and defender of the Native Americans and well deserved to become a canonized Saint in the Catholic Church. Potential saints are meticulously researched and no one who some portray as awful as some claim Fr. Serra was would ever be elevated to Sainthood.

[Sue Hampshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Awesome Dorothy Martin Mystery!

I have been a fan of Jeanne M. Dams’ Dorothy Martin mysteries since her first book. This one entails transportation of planes, trains, ferries, and cars - and how a sudden death of a despicable man is solved by Dorothy and her affable husband.

[Belle · Rating 1 out of 5]

From the cover and blurb, I had thought this book would take place solely on the train. Unfortunately, it doesn't. We only get a couple of chapters at the start. I was so disappointed.

It is also very slow and bland. I love senior citizen characters, but they unfortunately couldn't hold my attention. This felt more like a travel blog, not a murder mystery.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 27 in the Dorothy Martin series. I have not read any of the previous books. I might have connected more with the characters if I had. Dorothy and Alan are traveling by train from Chicago to Settle on the Empire to attend a wedding on Vancouver Island for characters from a previous book. A dead body falling off the train consumes them. A good murder mystery.

[Mate Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like spending a long day (or 2) with old friends

Not my favorite, but quite well conceived and laid out. Always happy to spend some time with Alan and Dorothy and, I suppose, whoever died to bring us all together.

[Lavender · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75
good read and really do enjoy this series but the exorbitant price I paid for this Kindle book on Amazon ($30+) was ridiculous but thankfully I had a gift card. That should have been the price of a hardcover not an e-book! I won't be paying that price again if the series continues.

[Shama Bole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simultaneously twee, tedious, heavy-handed, boring and excruciatingly pedestrian. I ended up riffling through it though I'd mostly stopped caring whodunit. The narrator is frumpy in character, as odd as that sounds. Meh.

[Norma Den · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent fun clean story.

Always excellent. Dorothy & Alan & their friends make good friends of the readers. The descriptions of scenery & places is very good & the lots always meticulously detailed.

[Sandy Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed

Not as good as this author usually writes, her earlier are much much better. I like the books set in England much more

[Rita Josephson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of the Dorothy Martin books. They are excellent! You should read them in order, if possible.

[Diane Earnshaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terror? on the Train

I found it rather disappointing. More of a travelogue than a murder mystery. Maybe it’s time Dorothy Martin took retirement.

[Scilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan learns that friends John and Amy are hosting a wedding for their daughter in late April and want them to come help celebrate. They live in British Columbia on Vancouver Island. John McKensie is a retired mountie there and Alan had helped him out with some crimes awhile back. Alan and Dorothy decide to fly to Chicago, and then take the train to Seatle, and then go to the island by ferry. They joined two young women for their first dinner on the train. One of them had diabetes and had a special little dog who could sense when she needed her medicines. While they are eating, a very officious man comes to their table and says dogs are not allowed in the dining care and the woman and their dog needed to leave immediately. Dorothy tried to tell the man that this was a care dog, but the man made their new friends leave. Later, Dorothy and Alan see a man falling off the train with his arms flailing. They ring the steward and tell him about the body.

They finally reach Seattle and get off the train. However, there is terrible weather, and it takes a couple of days before they can take the boat to Vancouver Island. They finally get to their friends' home. They go to church and to a beautiful island and figure out wedding gifts. Meanwhile, they keep looking into the case of the man seen flying from the train. They find out his name and that he had worked at vets, but hated dogs. They also found out that he was dead when he left the train, but it's a lot later before they find out the whole story of the man.

This book was a fun read, and I won't reveal the ending. I thank Netgalley and Severn House for the ARC so that I could read the book before publication.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not feel there was actual terror on said train. Kudos to the great descriptions of scenery.

[Charline Romine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Trip to Vancouver

Dorothy and Allen were headed across the USA on a train from Chicago to Seattle then on to Vancouver, making friends along the way. Following the crime was interesting. But I did not like the constant eating and alcohol episodes, the language used for the deceased, and the travelogue. It all made the story improbable.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 Retired chief constable Alan Nesbit and his expat American wife are heading across the ocean to Vancouver, British Columbia, to attend a wedding and visit friends and decide to broaden their trip to include a stop over in Chicago breaking the very long flight from the UK and moving to train travel on the Empire Builder to Seattle and the ferry to Vancouver. They are a bit disappointed with Amtrak versus European train travel but it is still a nice break from flying and they enjoy meeting and talking with different people on the train, especially in the dining car. But like most of their trips, untoward events occur when they witness a man falling from the train. An accident or something more? And who has jurisdiction over the crime (if there is one)? Interesting characters and a nice new story in this cozy mystery series.

[Craig Beyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book listed in my weekly library email and thought it looked interesting—and it was. The book’s plot is simple: there’s a murder and the detectives have to solve it. Knowing nothing about this series—this is my first time reading this author—I found the American-British combination interesting and novel [pun intended]. The book’s pace is a bit slow compared to Robert Parker, but the side episodes the characters take in detecting are suitable. The ending is hinted at throughout but is still a bit of a surprise.