November 3 - 28, 2025 Virtual Book Tour
A Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mystery
From the moment Steven and Olivia arrive, Steven is out of his element. The small-town cop has no idea what techniques the French police use in 1895. Worse, he has no official status to investigate murder in one of the world’s largest cities. The sleuths soon discover disturbing secrets at the Paris Ballet. And when Olivia insists on going undercover to visit a suspect’s house alone, Steven fears he’s made the biggest mistake of his life.
Travel back in time with Steven and Olivia, as they enter the back-stabbing world of dance in one of the world’s greatest cities. Murder at the Moulin Rouge is their most daring and dangerous case to date.
Book Details:Genre: Traditional Police Procedural with a Time-Travel Twist; Historical Mystery.
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: September 23, 2025
Number of Pages: 325
Series: The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries, #5
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Level Best Books
The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mystery Series
 Doorway to Murder Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub |
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 Threshold of Deceit Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub |
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 Death Rang the Bell Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub |
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 RSVP to Murder Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub |
GUEST POST:
The Orient Express
Glamor. Luxury. Murder. What do you think of when you think of the Orient Express?
The first time I read Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, I was immediately pulled in by the mystique and the exoticism. A legendary, luxurious train traveling across multiple countries in Europe. The intriguing city of Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) that I longed to visit. A fascinating cast of international characters—an Italian, a Hungarian count, a Russian princess, a French conductor, and, of course, the little Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. Agatha had me on page one.
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| The Blue Mosque. I eventually had a chance to visit Istanbul. I loved it! |
But, a strange thing happened. Two years ago, I taught several workshops called “What’s So Great about Agatha? Learn the tricks of the trade by the bestselling author of all time.” When I reread the book, looking for the devices I would use and appropriate quotes, I discovered very little description about the Orient Express itself in the novel. I was stunned. Where were all the velvet seats and sparkling chandeliers? The fancy wooden inlays and crystal goblets? I realized my memories of the train must have come from the movies.
Peter Ustinov, Albert Finney, Kenneth Branagh, and David Suchet each brought something different to the character of Hercule Poirot in the various film iterations of the story. However, the constant for me was the train itself. I absolutely love train travel. An overnight trip on the Orient Express went to the top of my bucket list. When I told a close friend, I was thrilled to learn she also wanted to take that trip.
The Venice Simplon Orient Express
Last year when I was writing Murder at the Moulin Rouge, I wanted to go to Paris to do some research. In the book, I had decided to send my characters Detective Steven Blackwell and journalist Olivia Watson on the Orient Express to interview some suspects in their murder investigation. Our plan was made!!
A car picked us up at our Paris hotel and took us to the Gare de l’Est train station for our exciting journey. Two young men wearing white, cotton gloves and in Venice Simplon Orient Express livery met us at the curb. We weren’t allowed to lift a finger. We followed them to the platform where a small band played to welcome us as we were checked in. Our suitcases were stored in a luggage car, the small overnight bags were taken to our compartment. As I stepped on the red carpet to board the gorgeous dark blue and gold carriage, I mentally pinched myself. Is this really happening?
Boarding the Orient
Express on the red carpet.
Our compartment was tiny but beautifully appointed. Since dinner was hours away, there was a snack waiting to hold us over. After enjoying our champagne and sandwiches, Anna wanted to relax in the compartment and look out the window. I wanted to go exploring.
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| The luxurious bar car. |
My first surprise was a tuxedoed man playing a baby grand piano in the bar car. What? On a train? Yes. And it was fabulous. The bar car was awash in blue velvet. Every wooden surface was polished to within an inch of its life. I walked through the train and found three dining cars, each decorated in a different color—dark blue, gold, moss green. Sensuous, sculpted Lalique glass panels hung in carriages and intricate wooden marquetry designs forming bouquets of flowers were inlaid in the walls. The plush carpets were beautifully designed.
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| One of three dining cars. |
At six-thirty, we dressed in evening gowns and went to our dining car—the gold one. Neither of us was crazy about the food, but, it was fine. We were serenaded by a guitarist and singer while we drank champagne and wine, and ate. After dessert and coffee, we joined the celebration in the bar car. We found a settee across from a lovely couple from Ireland, and spent the rest of the evening with them. The pianist played, a singer sang, and we enjoyed glasses of wine and interesting conversation.
At dinner
The following day, we oohed and aahed as the train took us through the snow-capped Alps. We pulled into the train station in Venice in late afternoon, where a boat waited to take us to our hotel.
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| Snow-covered Alps Mountains |
Our trip on the Venice Simplon Orient Express was a dream come true...even if we didn’t get to meet Hercule Poirot.
A former language teacher and business owner, Carol Pouliot writes the acclaimed Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries, traditional police procedurals with a seemingly impossible relationship between a Depression-era cop and a 21st-century journalist. With their fast pace and unexpected twists and turns, the books have earned praise from readers and mystery authors. Carol is a founding member of Sleuths and Sidekicks, 4 mystery writers who have banded together to share their love of mysteries, immediate Past President and Program Chair of her Sisters in Crime chapter, and Co-Chair of Murderous March, an online mystery conference. When not writing, Carol can be found packing her suitcase and reaching for her passport for her next travel adventure.
Catch Up With Our Author:
www.carolpouliot.com
Sleuths and Sidekicks
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @cpouliot13
Instagram - @carolpouliotmysterywriter
Pinterest - @cpouliot13
Facebook - @WriterCarolPouliot
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