Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an ARC of this novel.

I was very keen to read this, a variation on locked room vibe I hadn’t come across before. I enjoyed the beginning, and also the last 20%. The middle section did drag a bit, due to there not being much action while the characters in the tube train carriage talked to each other and argued. Once the doors were opened and people started to gat off the train, things livened up again.

Overall, I enjoyed the premise and the story, 4 stars from me.

The Train from Platform 2 is a good locked room type murder mystery book.
Jess, an ex detective inspector, is stuck on a broken down train with a killer on the loose. All the other passengers are suspects. She has to put her old skills to use to figure out who to trust and who not to.
It’s a good but not great book. Easy to read. Finished within a day. The characters don’t have loads of depth but were readable enough.

This wasn’t my cup of tea unfortunately. The entire story takes place over one night where Jess an ex detective is stuck on an underground train with a handful of other strangers. I think I’ve decided I dislike books that are only set over one short period of time as I just couldn’t get into it.

A black out occurs whilst on the tube and Jess goes into the drivers cab afterwards to find out what is happening and finds him dead. The rest of the book is a who done it where she uses her ex detective skills to interview the seven strangers on the tube as one of them must have done it. My first thought was surely the drivers cab is secure from a member of public just wandering in. My second thought was that the black out wasn’t very long, how would someone figure out how to open the door in the dark, find the driver in the dark and murder them, find the electrical cables and cut them, and then get back into the carriage all before the emergency lights kicked in. It took me ages to even realise that that was what Jess had assumed had happened as I was working on the fact that there must have been another person in the cab with the driver.

Not withstanding that major plot hole the entire story felt drawn out and I just wasn’t engaged. I didn’t gel with Jess and it felt like there wasn’t enough about her back story. There are a couple of flashbacks to her time in the police but they weren’t enough. One was to a case she was involved in which I assumed would have some relevance to the current mystery but turned out to have no relevance at all. Then the story jumps to the point of view of the other passengers every now and then but not enough so they all just felt a bit flat.

Took me 5 days to get through this, usually read a book within 2 days so this is a lot, as I just didn’t get into it. The ending was strange, I was glad it was all wrapped up finally and whilst the motive was fairly reasonable the actual murder plot was just way too ridiculous.

Sadly this just wasn’t my book, I wanted to like it as I love a thriller and especially one set on a train, but this felt more like a classic murder mystery that could have been written for an escape room. If you like a murder mystery / who done it, then this may be for you but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Train from Platform 2 is a gripping, heart-pounding thriller that traps readers in the confined, claustrophobic darkness of the London Underground. Former Detective Inspector Jess boards a late-night train, expecting a routine ride home. But when the train screeches to a sudden halt before reaching Baker Street, plunging passengers into darkness, the journey takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

Jess stumbles upon the driver’s lifeless body in the cabin, his neck marked by fresh stab wounds. With no way in or out of the train and no explanation for the murder, it becomes chillingly clear—the killer is among the passengers.

As fear grips the carriage, Jess must confront the horrifying reality of being trapped with a murderer. Each passenger is a suspect, and with time running out, the tension escalates into a deadly race against the unknown killer.

Stephanie Steel crafts an atmosphere of relentless suspense, where the claustrophobic setting intensifies the terror. The pacing is electric, keeping you on edge as the mystery unfolds. The dread is palpable, and the stakes are terrifyingly real—will anyone make it out alive?

The Train from Platform 2 is a nail-biting, addictive read that will keep you guessing until the final page. Perfect for fans of high-stakes thrillers with unrelenting tension, this is one ride you won’t forget.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

#TheTrainFromPlatform2 #NetGalley
Stephanie Steel’s The Train from Platform 2 is a tightly-wound, edge-of-your-seat thriller that turns a simple London Underground journey into a nightmarish fight for survival. With a chillingly claustrophobic setting and a protagonist driven by a relentless need for justice, this book grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go. The book explores themes of survival, trust, and the weight of past trauma. It also delves into the concept of justice and what it means to seek the truth in the most dire circumstances. The Train from Platform 2 is a gripping thriller that keeps you on edge from start to finish. Stephanie Steel’s ability to weave tension, mystery, and danger into the confined setting of a London Underground train is nothing short of remarkable. With a strong lead and a chilling premise, this is a must-read for fans of fast-paced, high-stakes suspense. A brilliantly crafted, heart-pounding thriller that will make you think twice about your next commute.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me an advance copy.

This started off well and I was engrossed but, it started to get a little samey as the people just snipped at each other and there was just a lot of discussion with nothing happening. It had creepy undertones but that was it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A really strange one this. I started reading it and found it an ok read, but a few pages on, I thought about calling it a day. However, I wanted to know how it was going to work out, so stuck with it. I also wanted to see how a whole book could be given over to one tube carriage.
It kept me interested until the end though.
Having said that, I don’t think I have ever been on the tube when everyone has been in one carriage!

This was as fast paced as the tube would have been had it not been broken! I loved it. A modern day whodunnit in a modern day setting, with a number of modern day topics of discussion that were handled well. Lots of red herrings as each of the characters had their own agendas. And a nicely rounded ending.

Thanks so much to the author, netgalley, and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

being stuck underground is my biggest fear of using the underground (followed in quick succession by the steep escalators that go on forever!) and this book takes that feeling and amplifies in a thousand-fold!
Claustrophobic, creepy and unnerving with a host of suspicious characters and the ever pervading darkness- read it in daylight (and not on the tube!)

What a fab read this was!

After reading plenty of thrillers I can definitely say I've never read one based on the tube before and really enjoyed the concept.

Thai was twisty and turny and had some great moments of intrigue.

I also really liked the main character and would enjoy reading more involving her in the future!

This didn't quite hit 5 stars for me purely due to the fact I think it could have been 30-40 pages longer just to build the suspense a little more but overall this was a really great, quick paced read and I'd definitely read more by this author in the future!

A new author for me and I fully enjoyed the mystery and the characters.

I soon got involved in the storyline, for me personally it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat but a thoroughly good read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Publishers for this ARC which I can recommend.

Great story , really enjoyed the mystery of who was the killer. I found myself second guessing all the characters and what they could be up to!
My only slight annoyance (although enough that it has stuck with me beyond reading!!) is that it was never explained why the passengers didn’t go beyond the second carriage- where there were no doubt more people!
I actually couldn’t put this book down and kept carving out 10 minutes to read it!

From the synopsis I was hooked. A former DI stuck in a locked train mystery, absolutely right up my alley!

I liked Jess’s character and while I didn’t feel it was fully rounded out, I could feel that she was a little worn down and understandably craving a bit of progress in her life.

The characters on board were slightly more difficult to like, while we get a narration by most of them, there’s an element of them being very much 2D and not really springing from the page.

This book would be well suited to those new to the genre that want a fast ride without it getting to heavy, if you can suspend some disbelief at some hugely improbable situations, all the better, this is the book for you.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review which this is.

The Train from Platform 2 by Stephanie Steel delivers a gripping psychological thriller. The story follows former Detective Inspector Jess as she navigates the eerie and claustrophobic setting of the London Underground, where an ordinary commute devolves into a nightmare.

The story dives into the tense atmosphere of the stalled train and sets the stage for a exciting and scary narrative. Jess is a well-developed protagonist. The discovery of the driver’s lifeless body adds a chilling twist, and Jess races against time to identify the killer lurking among the trapped commuters.

The pacing was a bit slow in parts but it was interesting as Jess encounters the other passengers, each with their own secrets and motives.

Overall, The Train from Platform 2 is a well-crafted thriller. It's a good read for fans of psychological thrillers and mysteries.

#NetGalley

When Jess, on a train in the London underground, finds herself with the train stopping abruptly she discovers the driver has been killed.

As a former Detective she has to use her skills to disocver what has happened and find the killer.

This is a clustraphobic read and the reality of it is quite scary. I found myself holding my breath at times.

It is a pacy and gripping read, the drama unfolds quickly and I got hooked right away.

I will be looking for more from this author..she's brilliant at her storytelling..

This is a new author for me, and I must say, I do love books set around trains. This one takes place on the London Underground. While traveling home late one night, Jess, a former Police Detective Inspector, finds her tube train comes to an abrupt stop between stations when the power cuts out. With only a handful of passengers left on the train, they are plunged into darkness until the emergency lighting kicks in. When Jess goes to speak with the driver to find out what's happening, she discovers he's been brutally murdered.

This was an incredibly enjoyable, albeit nerve-wracking, read! With only a few characters, it's easy to keep track of everyone, but you need to stay sharp to figure out who might be lying and who the murderer could be. I really liked Jess's character. Although she's no longer on the police force, she still exudes an air of authority. In a similar situation, I would definitely want someone like her to take charge. The other characters all seem to have secrets, and as the story unfolds, you get to learn more about each of them.

I really enjoyed the premise of a tube train halting in a tunnel, even though it made me feel slightly claustrophobic! The tension and suspense throughout the book kept me on the edge of my seat. The idea of being stranded in the dark with no air or light seemed like the least of their worries when there's clearly a killer among them. The "whodunnit" plot was executed very well, and I had no clue who the murderer was until the reveal—I suspected every character at some point!

The storyline was well-thought-out with a good pace, and it will certainly keep you guessing until the end. Highly recommended!

Wow! My head was completely spinning with this
I absolutely loved it
So many secrets and lies ex Di Jess has a hell of a time stuck underground with a dead body and 7 suspects
Literally the twists just kept coming
I was on edge the whole book
Definitely worth a read an fantastic unique mystery thriller which keeps you on your toes
Amazing characters I’m hoping Jess will get her own crime series

Stephanie Steele's/Steel's [conflicting spellings on the cover on NetGalley and Goodreads] The Train From Platform 2 is a classic locked-room thriller with a twist; it's set on one carriage of a tube train. The passengers find themselves stranded in a dark tunnel on the Bakerloo line after the train breaks down, and even worse, they soon discover that the driver has been murdered. Jess, a former DI, is determined to use her skills to get to the bottom of the mystery, but she has to tread carefully, as she knows the killer must be among them. I've read many, many thrillers with this 'killer is one of a small group of people in a confined setting' premise, but I thought The Train From Platform 2 worked better than most. First, if you're going to go locked-room, I think it should be as small a room as possible, and I liked how the cramped confines of the carriage helped Jess to figure out the logistics of what was going on. Second, Steele does a good job of developing her cast as individuals, and manages to avoid broad stereotype; while dropping convincing red herrings, she also doesn't sacrifice realism for the sake of a twist ending, and I really appreciated that there were no false conclusions. Jess is a pretty sensible protagonist who I appreciated as our lead, and the book is nicely paced. My only hesitation is the decision to let all the characters narrate except one; keeping this vague to avoid spoilers, but given what happens in the end, this felt like an even more inexplicable choice. But I'd wholeheartedly recommend this to thriller fans, and would read more by Steele.

Front the synopsis of this book I was eager to read it and on being granted an ARC, I quickly moved it up the TBR pile. I certainly was not disappointed with this novel. It all takes place on a stranded tube train in central London. From the beginning, you are thrown straight into the action and the tension builds as the clock ticks painfully slowly by and darkness descends into the train carriage. A well thought out plot that will keep you intrigued and entertained to the very end. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

I was hooked from the first page and was engaged with the thriller element going on through this. It had that feel that I was hoping for and enjoyed the use of the train. The character development has that element that I was looking for and enjoyed. I was glad I was able to read this. I enjoyed the suspenseful atmosphere and was hooked from the first page.