No WiFi. No distractions. No way out.
Agatha thought she was in for the perfect writing retreat: six hours of peace aboard a train from Toronto to Montreal, surrounded by beautiful winter scenery and a handful of quiet passengers. But when the train breaks down in the middle of the frozen Canadian wilderness, her day takes a chilling turn.
One passenger dies quietly in his seat. Another vanishes. And suddenly, Agatha and her fellow travelers realize they are trapped in a fight for survival against an unknown, unseen enemy lurking in the aisles.
Review
⭐ Rating: 3.5/5 stars
I love a good locked-room mystery, and 6:40 to Montreal delivered exactly that atmosphere. The setup was clever a train car becomes both sanctuary and trap, with every stop of the journey ratcheting up tension. The first half was fast-paced, filled with quirky side characters, tense exchanges between passengers and crew, and small details that made you question who could be trusted!
The Canadian winter setting was vivid, you could practically feel the chill coming through the pages. The mix of suspense and atmosphere kept me hooked! Trying to pick up on clues about who (or what) was behind the unfolding danger.
That said, while the beginning had me absolutely hooked, the pacing faltered toward the 80% mark. The ending came a little abruptly, and felt slightly rushed compared to the careful buildup earlier on. I wanted more payoff from the tension that had been building throughout.
Still, the concept of a “closed train car” mystery is one I adore, and this book delivered that. If you love mysteries set in confined, isolated spaces where the atmosphere is as much a character as the people then you’ll probably enjoy 6:40 to Montreal!
Final Thoughts
6:40 to Montreal is a quick, engaging thriller with an excellent setup and an atmospheric winter setting that mystery fans will appreciate. While the ending may feel a bit abrupt, the journey itself is suspenseful and entertaining enough to make this worth the read.
Read-Alikes
If you enjoyed 6:40 to Montreal, you might also like:
- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (the classic locked-train mystery)
- The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley (isolated, snowed-in suspense)
- One by One by Ruth Ware (a ski chalet mystery with a similar claustrophobic vibe)
- Death on Board by Anita Davison (another travel-based whodunit)
- I Am Behind You by John Ajvide Lindqvist (for an eerie, supernatural spin on being trapped)