It’s a classic tale of murder and mystery:  the famed Orient Express has just left Paris, and that most foul of crimes has struck again.  The players are passengers on the train, called upon to answer the critical questions of who, what, when, where, and why before the train reaches its final destination in Istanbul.  It’s a race against time and their fellow sleuths to see who can solve the crime.

Serge Laget, co-designer of another murder mystery game, Mystery of the Abbey, joins up with Antoine Bauza, creator of Ghost Stories, in an attempt to re-invent the deduction board game.  Focusing on the analytical aspect of the murder mystery, the game mechanics reward logical and rational play.

Each player is assigned a character with a unique ability that they must use effectively if they are going to solve the mystery.  Clues will have to be collected from the different train cars.  Then, using their powers of deduction, the players will try to piece together the facts of the crime.

Mystery Express will offer resin figures and ticket wallets for each player character, sheets for tracking their deductions, 72 playing cards, a miniature train, conductor, tokens, and travel bag, and a train whistle.

Mystery Express is for three to five players.  It is scheduled for an April 2010 release, with a suggested retail price of $50.