“A hilarious and whip-smart crime novel by the multimillion-copy bestselling author of the Horrible Histories. The perfect mystery for fans of Anthony Horowitz, Richard Osman and Janice Hallett.
Four strangers on a train. An unlikely introduction:
‘Actually, I’m a murderer.’
It is 1973 and the lives of four people are thrown into turmoil when sharing a carriage with an unremarkable little man with glasses, on the night train back to Newcastle.
By the end of the following day, one of them will be dead, one will turn blackmailer and another forced to commit a crime. And all of them will be under the astute observation of Aline, the local police officer with her own agenda to fulfil.
When the body count begins to rise, the question is: just how many murderers are out there… and who will be the next victim?”
Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of Actually, I’m a Murderer by Terry Deary. Actually, I’m a Murderer was published by Constable Books on 12th June 2025 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats with the paperback to follow. I chose to read a free eARC of Actually, I’m a Murderer but that has in no way influenced my review.
On a late-night train journey to Newcastle, four strangers start idly chatting to pass the time. The conversation moves to work, and what each of them does to earn a living. The last thing the group expects is for the most insignificant among them to say “Actually, I’m a murderer”. Surely it’s a joke. Something controversial said off the cuff to shock them all awake. Not really believing Mr Brown, Tony and Clair mention what was said to the two police officers on duty outside the station. Their concern is brushed aside. However, by the end of the following day, one of the travellers will be dead and one will be blackmailed into committing a crime. That singular comment, that one moment in time changes everything…
Actually, I’m a Murderer is a fun, entertaining historical murder mystery. Not really surprising but you do know who the murderer is pretty much from the outset of the book. The mystery aspect is more about who the next victim is and how they will meet their grisly end. I loved how one moment in time, one seemingly inconsequential comment, changes the lives of all those present. The story is told from three perspectives: Tony Davies, Constable Aline James and John Brown. These three individual, believable voices lead the reader through the chaos that rains down upon all of them following Mr Brown’s fateful declaration. But how does Aline end up mixed up in all of this? Aline is one of the two police officers Tony confides in when he disembarks the Newcastle train. Whilst her male colleague brushes Tony’s concerns away, Aline’s interest is piqued. She’s hoping for a promotion (a rare thing for a woman in the police force in 1973) so makes it her business to keep a cautious eye on the passengers.
Would I recommend this book? I would recommend Actually, I’m a Murderer to fans of well-written cosy crime (particularly those who read Deary’s books as a child, or those who have children who read this author now). It is a light-hearted, humorous, murder mystery where the identity of the murderer isn’t really any part of the mystery! It’s a clever tale, expertly delivered by an accomplished, skilled writer. I loved the premise. I thought the characters were all interesting and played their parts well. I liked how the many strands of the book all come together in a wonderful, slightly nerve-wracking finale. I liked the historical aspects of the story. Again, we see how differently female police officers were treated compared to their male counterparts. This seems to have become a bit of a theme in my reading this year. That and trains! I absolutely despised Aline’s beat partner, Constable Greatorex. He made my blood boil. I did enjoy Aline’s determination though. Her drive to get that promotion and the lengths she went to to get it. I can see this book being adapted for the screen in the future, and I can see Deary’s fan base increasing exponentially. All in all, I enjoyed Actually, I’m a Murderer. A fun, light-hearted, easy-to-read novel with a gentle, engaging pace and a cast of wonderful characters. Recommended.
I chose to read and review a free eARC of Actually, I’m a Murderer. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
Actually, I’m a Murderer by Terry Deary was published in the UK by Constable on 12th June 2025 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats with the paperback to follow (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |
Terry was born in Sunderland, England, in 1946 and now lives in County Durham, in the North-east of England..
In 48 years as an author his writing has included fiction and popular non-fiction for children and adults. He has published 354 books in 45 languages and sold over 38 million copies.
In 2009 CBBC Television launched a major television series of his Horrible Histories which has gone on to win several Children’s BAFTA awards. In February 2011 the TV series won a British Comedy Award for best sketch show – the first children’s show ever to win a Comedy Award. The same month Terry Deary became the 10th most-borrowed author in British libraries.
Terry’s adult non-fiction title ‘A history of Britain in Ten Enemies’ (Penguin-Transworld) appeared in 2024 and his first adult murder-mystery ‘Actually I’m a murderer’ (Constable) in 2025.
