
Member Reviews

Based on the true story of a train derailment in 1875, The Paris Express covers the journey leading up to the crash, focusing on the personal stories of the crew and passengers. The pacing of the story is beautifully done, starting slowly and building to a frantic pace as the train loses control. Similarly the way we meet a wide range of characters, get to know them gradually and then see them all disappear back to their own lives is a nice representation of meeting someone in passing on a journey (it’s interesting how often Emma Donoghue’s books focus so closely on people brought together into a very confined setting, whether that’s a room as prisoners, a windswept island off Ireland or now a train). Her writing is, as always, wonderful.
However, by choosing to place a large number of people who were notable in Parisian history at the time alongside some of the real people who were on the journey, the number of characters all with their backstories at times became a little overwhelming. The politics of the era, the mechanics of the steam train and the running of the railways were also interesting but at times a bit too much.
Emma Donoghue is such a talented writer though that everything she writes is worth reading and this was no different.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review 3.5 stars.

Based on a real train derailment accident in 1895 at Montparnasse Train Station in Paris, I was intrigued by the novel’s description, and of course, since it was written by Emma Donoghue, knew the writing would be excellent. Ms. Donoghue did thorough research into the incident, and her novel includes both real and imaginary characters. I am glad I did not know the story of this accident, because it would really have affected my enjoyment of the book. No spoilers, but readers should avoid looking up the history of this book before reading it, keeping in mind that it is historical fiction, not straight history.
My only quibbles are that there are way too many characters, and much time is spent on their various histories, reasons for being on the train, personalities, etc. I found myself skimming through parts to get to the “good stuff.” But I invariably had to go back and find out something that I missed by skipping over it…

I have been a fan of Emma Donoghues work since Room (which still gives me disturbed dreams) and the writing is always strong and immersive. Thankfully this tale, although exciting and well researched, will not make me lose sleep. You always feel as though you are in the scene watching on only just out of the picture. This would make a great movie and you can tell that Donoghue is an ace scriptwriter as you could easily imagine this on the big screen.

This is an entirely fantastic book. The research is obviously meticulous and detailed. The story is rich and by the end I was almost giddy with anticipation. Despite the many characters it was very easy to read, very easy and very enjoyable.

A truly fascinating, meticulously researched novel about a seven hour train journey from the seaside town of Granville on the Normandy coast to Paris. Set in 1895, it tells the story of a wide cast of characters over the course of a single day, from the staff on the train, to passengers in each of the first, second and third class carriages. It's the train itself, however, which is the true protagonist of the book.
Based on real-life events and using existing figures from the time, it's difficult to say too much about the plot line without giving away spoilers but there is a gradual escalation of tension throughout the book which perfectly mirrors the rhythm and pacing of the train journey.
Even though the story jumps from one character to another - one moment a maid in third class and the next a politician in first class. - there's still a very linear feel to the book. Like the train, the story can only move forward, to one inevitable conclusion.
The train's passengers act as a microcosm of French society, their individual stories enabling Emma Donoghue to deliver a searing social commentary on poverty and class. The divide in living standards between the very rich and the very poor combined with growing class tensions seem particularly relevant today. It's a stark reminder that, despite the passage of time, history often repeats itself and the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Overall it's another ambitious, unique and intelligent novel from Emma Donoghue that kept me completely hooked from start to finish - I loved it!

I have no idea how anyone can make a book about a train crash interesting, funny, entertaining and educational, but somehow Emma Donoghue has managed it here.
Astonishing, Fantastic, Brilliant.
Even though I knew about this crash, my heart was in my mouth right until the end.
If I was to recommend just one book for all inspiring authors to read it would be this one.
Thank you a fantastic couple of days reading. I loved it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Once again Emma Donoghue has produced a great novel that is different from all her others. She's an author who resists formulae, has brilliant ideas and executes them to perfection. The train of the title is speeding through the French countryside in the late 19th century, and on board is the full range of society - from wealthy politicians in first class, through to maids and manual workers in third, and the railwayman themselves. Amongst their number is a young anarchist with a bomb, who believes the only way to transform what she sees as a fundamentally broken society is to blow it up. The reader's knowledge of this creates an escalating tension throughout the book, as we come to know and love the characters the stakes feel higher and higher as the train approaches the station and we fear for their lives.
At first I worried I wouldn't enjoy the story, as it uses one of my biggest bugbears in a book - swapping character viewpoints from one paragraph to another without any sort of break. And it does it constantly. However I grudgingly admit that it probably is the right technique for this particular novel, as there are so many characters and staying too long with any one would affect the pacing, meaning there are so many transitions that using different sections for each would break the flow of the narrative. I did get used to it over time, and Donoghue is such a good writer that she makes it work. I did still find it a bit annoying, but not enough to take away a five star overall impression.
I don't want to say too much about the story to avoid spoilers, but I'd highly recommend it to all those who enjoy literary fiction, and it's essential reading for anyone with an interest in the time period. I liked the 'message' within it about the value of life, and the contrast between the philosophy of the anarchist versus that of the selfless humanitarian Blonska creates a second layer to the tension. Is it better to make a radical gesture, no matter how destructive, in the hope of forcing big scale change, or to make small contributions to improving the lives of others even if in the grand scheme of things such an effort seems paltry? It's possible to appreciate the philosophical tension between the ideas, even though using a bomb is clearly never the right thing to do.
As the story is quite thought provoking and full of characters and ideas, it would be a great book group choice, as well as being a very enjoyable and compelling read.

What a great read for me.. I love trains and particularly steam trains.. so a historical novel set on a steam train with a wonderful collections of characters.. well a dream read.. Plus based on true events too.. It certainly felt well researched and the characters were well drawn. I will definitely recomend this to fellow train lovers.. An excellent sense of time and place. and there was. great sense of suspense.. Def 4stars..

An eventful railway journey based on real events. A train travels to Paris in 1895 with an odd assortment of passengers, including a photographer, a gay man (illegal then), a very pregnant woman and a girl with a bomb. An enjoyable read, especially if you like train trips or railway history.

As ever, Emma Donoghue tells a very good story and it’s easy to become swept up in the sounds of station bustle, peep into the baggage carried on, listen to the railway workers’ grumbles, picture the various different seating arrangements and peer at the many passengers boarding the train to Paris from Granville in 1895. The author has clearly researched this true story meticulously and we are given plenty of social and historical context throughout this calamitous journey.
However, at times it feels as if the background research is in danger of overwhelming the narrative. The large cast introduced in this relatively short novel inevitably means that the reader only connects fleetingly with some of the characters even though others, such as Olivia and Maud, make a strong impression.
Not one of Donoghue’s best but an interesting story which gives life to a now mostly forgotten fragment of railway history.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan Picador for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I think I've read all of Emma Donoghue's books to date, and each one varies greatly from the others on topic and style. This was a good read, descriptove of setting and lots going on with plenty of characters.. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy .

Every book of Emma Donoghue’s can be vastly different in style and tone from each other. The Paris Express is a very commercial historical fiction story based on an actual train crash in 1895. Written from the points of view of the passengers as well as the men who work on and operate the steam train, the story builds momentum as it rocks along, much like the train itself.
From the first few pages, the reader realises one of the passengers isn’t what she appears to be and who will be the main focus of the action. Not only is this a good drama/thriller in itself, I really enjoyed the depiction of each of the passengers from First class to third and their varied lives as well as learning a lot about how a steam train worked.

This was a really interesting book, but there was just too many characters which made the story confusing and hard to follow. I think it would have been a great book if there was a few less characters, or a small core group that you got to know better. It's a shame because I love this author and I think this book had great potential

This was just OK for me, it felt confusing at times and I can't put my finger on it but just seemed to bore me more than anything else. I was disappointed with this book which is a shame because I love this author but I did finish it and find the overall story, the real life story interesting at least.
Also it is really badly edited to read on Kindle, which took me out of the story so perhaps buying a copy when released might make me enjoy it more.

This book is inspired by an actual event in 1895 Paris and many of the characters are based on real people. It is very well researched and makes for an interesting read. I enjoyed the cameos of each passanger on the train which gives the book its title. They gradually built into relatable people and made for a good cast to make the journey with. Not a long book at 288 pages but there's a lot going on and it's a very good read. With thanks to NetGalley, the publsher and the author for the e-ARC to read and review.

“All Aboard the Confusion Express!”
Emma Donoghue’s The Paris Express had all the makings of a thrilling ride—an overnight train, a tense wartime setting, and a plot that promised intrigue. Unfortunately, what we got felt less like the Orient Express and more like a train stuck in a loop, stopping at every possible station of overstuffed character backstories and internal monologues.
There are simply too many people on this train. I expected spies, refugees, and wartime drama, but at some point, I started wondering if even the dining cart had a tragic backstory. Every passenger has thoughts—so many thoughts—most of them muddled and overlapping like a particularly chaotic game of musical chairs. And yes, even the train itself gets a speaking part, which was about the moment I started questioning my life choices.
The concept and setting had potential—after all, an overnight journey through occupied France is inherently dramatic—but the execution derailed somewhere between the excessive character count and the narrative’s need to make sure we hear from everyone. Ultimately, The Paris Express is a journey that’s interesting in theory but exhausting in practice. Maybe next time, fewer passengers? And perhaps let the train just be a train?

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for an early Kindle copy of this book.
I mostly enjoyed this novel that was based on true events in 1895 but I wasn't a fan of the short passages, which switched back and forth between a multitude of characters that were difficult to get to know. I would have preferred fewer characters with more depth as some didn't interest me and held up the more interesting narratives.
I liked the factual information at the end of the story including accounts of that calamitous day and how real people were interwoven into the story.

Set in Paris 1895, this fascinating novel is based on a real life event. We get to know the passengers and crew, their backstory & some of them their dreams.
There's a large amount of characters, but the descriptive language is so perfect, creating tension & making the reader anticipate, if a character lives or dies.
Please don't research, as it will spoil the dramatic conclusion.
Donahue shows she has carried out great historical research so the reader understands the social & political changes, that were starting to emerge in the Victorian era.
She has included some wonderful quotes running throughout the story.
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue
I had high hopes for The Paris Express because I have loved many of the author’s previous books but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. While the concept, a thrilling train journey through Paris, sounded exciting, the execution left a lot to be desired. The pacing felt sluggish, and the excessive amount of characters was underdeveloped, making it hard to connect with their struggles.
The setting had potential, but I found myself wishing the descriptions were more vivid and engaging. Instead of feeling like I was on a high-speed ride through the city, I was left feeling like I was just reading about it from afar. There were some interesting moments, but they were few and far between.
It just didn’t offer the captivating experience I was hoping for. The bones of the story was the derailment but it didn’t happen until 87% into the book and it only lasted a chapter. This novel was just 288 pages long but it was overloaded with wasted words. While it’s not a total loss, it’s hard to ignore both the slow, tedious storytelling and not only the exorbitant amount of characters but also their lack of any development. I can see some readers enjoying the premise, but it didn’t quite click for me. ⭐️⭐️ 2 / 5

It’s 1895 and people are boarding a train from Granville to Paris.
It’s fascinating reading about those in third and first class - who make up the majority of passengers. Then there are a few in second class.
What’s going through people’s minds - shall I ask her out, when do I set the bomb to go off, where can I find a discreet man?
An unscheduled stop at Briouze meant that the train was running late - that was not good for Guillaume nor Victor who depended on reliability and timekeeping for bonuses - the engine driver and his coal man.
I found the story fascinating, even more so when I found it was based on a true story, albeit with a little embellishment.
Engaging and drew me in.