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A Midge McGowan Mystery #2
Murder on the Haunted Express
All aboard for the most gripping mystery of the year. Eight passengers board the train. Will any of them survive the journey?
When ex-detective Midge McGowan embarks on a sleeper train to Scotland, she's hoping for a nice relaxing trip to enjoy the snowy highlands. Instead, the journey quickly turns into a nightmare.
There's a priceless piece of art on board that's rumoured to be cursed. One of the passengers is a mysterious prisoner on release from jail, who won't speak to anyone and remains locked in his cabin, with a guard posted on the door. And then the lights go out, the train stops, and someone turns up dead.
Their body is found inside a locked carriage – with no way in or out – so how was the crime committed? Is this really the work of a ghost? Or has one of the guests just pulled off the perfect murder? The only thing Midge knows for sure is that not all of them will reach their destination alive...
When ex-detective Midge McGowan embarks on a sleeper train to Scotland, she's hoping for a nice relaxing trip to enjoy the snowy highlands. Instead, the journey quickly turns into a nightmare.
There's a priceless piece of art on board that's rumoured to be cursed. One of the passengers is a mysterious prisoner on release from jail, who won't speak to anyone and remains locked in his cabin, with a guard posted on the door. And then the lights go out, the train stops, and someone turns up dead.
Their body is found inside a locked carriage – with no way in or out – so how was the crime committed? Is this really the work of a ghost? Or has one of the guests just pulled off the perfect murder? The only thing Midge knows for sure is that not all of them will reach their destination alive...
- GenresMystery
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the second book in Emma Mason’s mystery series featuring retired police officer Midge McGowan. I enjoyed the first, Murder Most Haunted, with a few reservations, so was happy to give this one a try. You could definitely start with this one if you wanted to as it works as a standalone mystery, but reading in order will help you understand the backgrounds of the main characters and the relationships between them.
The novel begins with Midge’s friend, struggling pop star Rona, inviting her on a trip to the Scottish Highlands by steam train. Midge doesn’t really want to go, but accepts, thinking that at least it should be a relaxing break and a chance to do her embroidery. On arriving at the station, however, she finds that Rona, as usual, hasn’t been completely honest. The trip is actually part of a funeral procession, carrying the body of a recently deceased artist to his final resting place. Worse, the train itself has a tragic history and one of the carriages is said to be haunted – much to the delight of paranormal podcaster Noah, another friend who has joined them on the journey.
Before the train reaches its destination, a passenger is found dead in a locked carriage with no obvious cause of death. As the only detective on board, it naturally falls to Midge to investigate, but she’ll need to solve the mystery quickly before the killer strikes again. The suspects include a prisoner on temporary release to attend the funeral, accompanied by his prison guard, an undertaker responsible for the safe transport of the coffin, and a writer working on a biography of the dead artist. Is one of these people the murderer or could there be a more ghostly explanation?
First of all, I love the character of Midge McGowan; she feels so real and human. As a neurodivergent woman in her fifties with a bad knee she’s used to being ignored and underestimated and having spent most of her police career pushed into a backstage position in the property office, she’s an unlikely detective. But over the years Midge has learned to listen, observe and draw her own conclusions, skills that are invaluable when it comes to solving mysteries. She can be prickly at times – she likes her own space and to be allowed to do things in her own way – but her grief for the recent loss of her wife Bridie, who died of cancer, shows a more tender side of her personality. It’s good to see that the friendships with Rona and Noah formed in the previous book have continued although, as someone who hasn’t had many friends before, Midge isn’t always sure how to navigate those friendships.
My problem with the book was the same as with the first one: that apart from Midge, none of the other characters feel like real people and are a collection of stereotypes. Rona, for example, is the classic ‘pop star’ character – temperamental, entitled, in and out of rehab, obsessed with her appearance – and both she and Noah seem to be mainly in the book to provide some comedy. The same goes for the other characters who seem to have no personality beyond being an undertaker, a prisoner, an art curator etc. This isn’t a huge problem as these books are clearly intended to be funny and not taken too seriously (as you can tell from the titles) but I think they would definitely be improved by stronger characterisation.
The mystery is interesting, with some twists and turns, and I would never have guessed the solution! Trains are the perfect setting for locked room mysteries with all of the suspects and potential victims together in close confines, separated from the outside world until they arrive at a station. Despite Noah’s fascination with the ghost supposedly haunting the train, this is never really considered as a plausible theory by Midge, but it does provide some atmosphere.
Like the first book, this one was enjoyable enough to leave me looking forward to the next one. I’m assuming there will be more as this one ends with a new development in Midge’s life which should be interesting to explore.
The novel begins with Midge’s friend, struggling pop star Rona, inviting her on a trip to the Scottish Highlands by steam train. Midge doesn’t really want to go, but accepts, thinking that at least it should be a relaxing break and a chance to do her embroidery. On arriving at the station, however, she finds that Rona, as usual, hasn’t been completely honest. The trip is actually part of a funeral procession, carrying the body of a recently deceased artist to his final resting place. Worse, the train itself has a tragic history and one of the carriages is said to be haunted – much to the delight of paranormal podcaster Noah, another friend who has joined them on the journey.
Before the train reaches its destination, a passenger is found dead in a locked carriage with no obvious cause of death. As the only detective on board, it naturally falls to Midge to investigate, but she’ll need to solve the mystery quickly before the killer strikes again. The suspects include a prisoner on temporary release to attend the funeral, accompanied by his prison guard, an undertaker responsible for the safe transport of the coffin, and a writer working on a biography of the dead artist. Is one of these people the murderer or could there be a more ghostly explanation?
First of all, I love the character of Midge McGowan; she feels so real and human. As a neurodivergent woman in her fifties with a bad knee she’s used to being ignored and underestimated and having spent most of her police career pushed into a backstage position in the property office, she’s an unlikely detective. But over the years Midge has learned to listen, observe and draw her own conclusions, skills that are invaluable when it comes to solving mysteries. She can be prickly at times – she likes her own space and to be allowed to do things in her own way – but her grief for the recent loss of her wife Bridie, who died of cancer, shows a more tender side of her personality. It’s good to see that the friendships with Rona and Noah formed in the previous book have continued although, as someone who hasn’t had many friends before, Midge isn’t always sure how to navigate those friendships.
My problem with the book was the same as with the first one: that apart from Midge, none of the other characters feel like real people and are a collection of stereotypes. Rona, for example, is the classic ‘pop star’ character – temperamental, entitled, in and out of rehab, obsessed with her appearance – and both she and Noah seem to be mainly in the book to provide some comedy. The same goes for the other characters who seem to have no personality beyond being an undertaker, a prisoner, an art curator etc. This isn’t a huge problem as these books are clearly intended to be funny and not taken too seriously (as you can tell from the titles) but I think they would definitely be improved by stronger characterisation.
The mystery is interesting, with some twists and turns, and I would never have guessed the solution! Trains are the perfect setting for locked room mysteries with all of the suspects and potential victims together in close confines, separated from the outside world until they arrive at a station. Despite Noah’s fascination with the ghost supposedly haunting the train, this is never really considered as a plausible theory by Midge, but it does provide some atmosphere.
Like the first book, this one was enjoyable enough to leave me looking forward to the next one. I’m assuming there will be more as this one ends with a new development in Midge’s life which should be interesting to explore.
October 22, 2026
Still reeling from a personal loss, ex-detective Midge McGowan is invited by friend Rona on a short holiday aboard a sleeper train to Scotland. Midge is hoping for a relaxing break, but instead finds herself involved in a funeral trip for someone she didn't even know!
The artist's body lies aboard the train & is being taken to Scotland for burial, & Midge's fellow passengers are a motley crew of people including the artist's biographer, art curator, undertaker, & his jailbird brother (who is accompanied by a prison officer). Most of them are there for the reading of the will, but when one of the passengers is found dead in a locked room, Midge has a mystery to solve.
Like another second-book-in-a-series I've just read, I think this follow-up works better than the original. I really like the setting of the train & the sketchy passengers - very à la Christie. There are also some spooky vibes as the train is reputedly haunted by the ghost of a nineteenth century girl on her way to an arranged marriage, who jumped off the train enroute.
It was nice to see a couple of old faces return (Rona & Noah) although Noah seems strangely more annoying in this one. Overall though, it's a nice little mystery which is quite entertaining to read.
SUMMARY:
Plot: 4/5 - Another follow-up which I think works better than the first book of the series. Really liked the setting of the train & the spooky vibes.
Characters: 3.5/5 - Nice to see a couple of old faces return, although Noah seems strangely more annoying in this one.
Enjoyment: 4/5 - Overall this is nice little mystery with all suspects isolated aboard a moving train - very à la Christie.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Random House UK/Transworld Publishers/Bantam, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
The artist's body lies aboard the train & is being taken to Scotland for burial, & Midge's fellow passengers are a motley crew of people including the artist's biographer, art curator, undertaker, & his jailbird brother (who is accompanied by a prison officer). Most of them are there for the reading of the will, but when one of the passengers is found dead in a locked room, Midge has a mystery to solve.
Like another second-book-in-a-series I've just read, I think this follow-up works better than the original. I really like the setting of the train & the sketchy passengers - very à la Christie. There are also some spooky vibes as the train is reputedly haunted by the ghost of a nineteenth century girl on her way to an arranged marriage, who jumped off the train enroute.
It was nice to see a couple of old faces return (Rona & Noah) although Noah seems strangely more annoying in this one. Overall though, it's a nice little mystery which is quite entertaining to read.
SUMMARY:
Plot: 4/5 - Another follow-up which I think works better than the first book of the series. Really liked the setting of the train & the spooky vibes.
Characters: 3.5/5 - Nice to see a couple of old faces return, although Noah seems strangely more annoying in this one.
Enjoyment: 4/5 - Overall this is nice little mystery with all suspects isolated aboard a moving train - very à la Christie.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Random House UK/Transworld Publishers/Bantam, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
November 3, 2026
i received an advance copy of this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When former detective Midge McGowan boards a sleeper train bound for the Scottish Highlands, she’s expecting a relaxing journey. Instead, she finds herself surrounded by suspicious passengers, rumours of a ghost haunting the train’s final carriage, and a seemingly impossible murder committed behind a locked door. With no obvious explanation for the death, Midge must work out whether something supernatural is at play or whether there’s a rather more human culprit.
Unfortunately, Murder on the Haunted Express wasn’t quite the read I’d hoped it would be. The premise certainly sounded intriguing, and a murder mystery aboard a supposedly haunted train should have been right up my street, but I struggled to become particularly invested in either the characters or the story itself.
For me, the biggest issue was the characters, who felt rather two-dimensional and lacked the depth needed to make me care about what happened to them. As a result, I found it difficult to muster much interest in the unfolding mystery, and even the more dramatic moments failed to make much of an impression.
It’s a shame, because there’s certainly potential in the concept, but ultimately I found the whole thing rather underwhelming. Not a terrible read by any means, just one that never really managed to capture my attention.
When former detective Midge McGowan boards a sleeper train bound for the Scottish Highlands, she’s expecting a relaxing journey. Instead, she finds herself surrounded by suspicious passengers, rumours of a ghost haunting the train’s final carriage, and a seemingly impossible murder committed behind a locked door. With no obvious explanation for the death, Midge must work out whether something supernatural is at play or whether there’s a rather more human culprit.
Unfortunately, Murder on the Haunted Express wasn’t quite the read I’d hoped it would be. The premise certainly sounded intriguing, and a murder mystery aboard a supposedly haunted train should have been right up my street, but I struggled to become particularly invested in either the characters or the story itself.
For me, the biggest issue was the characters, who felt rather two-dimensional and lacked the depth needed to make me care about what happened to them. As a result, I found it difficult to muster much interest in the unfolding mystery, and even the more dramatic moments failed to make much of an impression.
It’s a shame, because there’s certainly potential in the concept, but ultimately I found the whole thing rather underwhelming. Not a terrible read by any means, just one that never really managed to capture my attention.
October 13, 2026
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
This is the second book in a series, and while they detail separate crimes that can be read standalone, I highly recommend reading these in order to avoid spoilers for book one. They’re both very entertaining!
This is a winter crime novel (not Christmas specific). It takes place on a luxury overnight train journey to the Scottish highlands. The confinement of the carriages, and the perilous weather both play a strong role in creating a sense of entrapment for the characters.
We follow Midge, the ex-detective we met in the first book. She’s dragged on this journey by her two friends. It really is the characters that make these books so entertaining. Midge is quite set in her ways, sometimes taciturn, and disinclined to tolerate nonsense. She’s also very smart and astute with an eye for detail and what’s out of place. And because she’s elderly, she’s often overlooked and underestimated. Midge is a fantastic main character. However she’s bolstered by her unlikely friends. She’s joined by two much younger and chaotic people who pull her out of her comfort zone, while she stabilises them and stops them spinning towards doom. I really liked this gang of unusual friends.
I really enjoyed the setting of this mystery. The celebrations that irritate Midge, the excitement of the moving train, the peril of winter. There’s an interesting cast of conflicting characters and a satisfying mystery for Midge to solve.
This is the second book in a series, and while they detail separate crimes that can be read standalone, I highly recommend reading these in order to avoid spoilers for book one. They’re both very entertaining!
This is a winter crime novel (not Christmas specific). It takes place on a luxury overnight train journey to the Scottish highlands. The confinement of the carriages, and the perilous weather both play a strong role in creating a sense of entrapment for the characters.
We follow Midge, the ex-detective we met in the first book. She’s dragged on this journey by her two friends. It really is the characters that make these books so entertaining. Midge is quite set in her ways, sometimes taciturn, and disinclined to tolerate nonsense. She’s also very smart and astute with an eye for detail and what’s out of place. And because she’s elderly, she’s often overlooked and underestimated. Midge is a fantastic main character. However she’s bolstered by her unlikely friends. She’s joined by two much younger and chaotic people who pull her out of her comfort zone, while she stabilises them and stops them spinning towards doom. I really liked this gang of unusual friends.
I really enjoyed the setting of this mystery. The celebrations that irritate Midge, the excitement of the moving train, the peril of winter. There’s an interesting cast of conflicting characters and a satisfying mystery for Midge to solve.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a perfect book to add to your October reading list. Midge, an ex detective is looking forward to a relaxing trip on the sleeper train to the snowy Scottish Highlands but her peace is shattered when a passenger is discovered dead in a locked carriage. The train is rumoured to be haunted and it is down to Midge to solve this ghostly crime.
This is the second book in the Midge McGowan series but it works well as a stand alone. I like the character of Midge, she is quite vulnerable and irritable but in view of some of the other characters on board the train I can’t say that I blame her.
A fun story that is easy to get into and ideal for a cold autumn evening.
This is the second book in the Midge McGowan series but it works well as a stand alone. I like the character of Midge, she is quite vulnerable and irritable but in view of some of the other characters on board the train I can’t say that I blame her.
A fun story that is easy to get into and ideal for a cold autumn evening.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Midge is coerced into taking a trip on a steam train by Rona, Noah, who is going too, is excited as this is the Haunted Express. Expecting a nice leisurely trip Midge is horrified to find it is a funeral train. It is not long before she discovers that Rona used to be married to the deceased.
The trip soon results in Midge having to solve a murder and stop everyone freezing.
A very good cosy mystery, and from the ending I do hope there is another in the series.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc
The trip soon results in Midge having to solve a murder and stop everyone freezing.
A very good cosy mystery, and from the ending I do hope there is another in the series.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc
October 24, 2026
Midge McGowan is back travelling on a sleeper train hoping for relaxing break , but will she get it?
You’ve guessed it the answer is no !
The train has more than a few dubious characters and some strange ( haunted. ) incidents .
A locked room mystery at its best .
Can Midge use her detective skills to solve the mystery and find a murderer?
The writing is excellent and the story moves on at a fair pace .
Perfect winter reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers
You’ve guessed it the answer is no !
The train has more than a few dubious characters and some strange ( haunted. ) incidents .
A locked room mystery at its best .
Can Midge use her detective skills to solve the mystery and find a murderer?
The writing is excellent and the story moves on at a fair pace .
Perfect winter reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers
November 3, 2026
It took too long to get to the point and the final page was maddening.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews