Our Take

6:40 to Montreal is a delightfully clever thriller that resurrects the golden age mystery for contemporary readers. Eva Jurczyk clearly loves Agatha Christie—the protagonist's name is no accident—and she uses that classic locked-room structure to create mounting tension and paranoia. What makes this work so well is the confined setting: a train stranded in frozen wilderness becomes a pressure cooker where every passenger is both potential victim and suspect. Jurczyk excels at creating distinct characters quickly, giving each passenger enough personality and backstory to make them three-dimensional without slowing the pace. The Canadian winter setting adds atmospheric menace—the cold outside becomes as threatening as the killer inside. The protagonist Agatha is smart and observant, her background as a writer giving her the analytical skills to piece together clues while also making her sympathetic. The twist about her "other plans" adds an extra layer of complexity to the mystery. Jurczyk keeps the pages turning with short chapters, escalating stakes, and well-timed revelations. While some plot elements require suspension of disbelief, that's part of the genre's charm. This is puzzle-box mystery done right—fair play clues, satisfying resolution, and enough red herrings to keep readers guessing. Fans of One by One by Ruth Ware or The Guest List by Lucy Foley will devour this. 6:40 to Montreal proves that classic mystery conventions still work beautifully when executed with skill and genuine affection for the genre.