Trains have played pivotal roles in many mysteries and thrillers, from Patricia Highsmith’s intense STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, to James Bond’s life and death battle with hired assassin Donald Grant in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, to Agatha Christie's iconic mystery MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Though moving, trains can be claustrophobic settings, the proverbial locked room. This is true for Eliza Jane Brazier’s excellent thriller IT HAD TO BE YOU. When hired assassin Jonathan boards a train while nursing a gunshot wound, he did not expect to meet the sexy and intriguing Eva. Nor did he expect their relationship would quickly become white hot. And probably the last thing on his mind was that Eva was also an assassin and her target was him. What follows is a dark and humorous romantic thriller that has too many plot twists to keep up with. Will the lovers end up together, or kill each other, or join forces against a common enemy? These questions remain until the very end. Jonathan and Eva are unique and compelling characters that draw the reader in. It is hard not to root for each of them. If I have any criticisms of the story, they revolve around two things. The story is told entirely in first person point of view, moving back and forth between the two characters. Though it works well, there are times when you have to stop and think about who is the point of view character in the scene. Second, the internal angst that each of these characters faces sometimes becomes melodramatic and repetitious. These minor criticisms aside, this remains a compelling story and a fun read. Highly recommended.
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