I loved the author’s book The Room very much and requested this one quickly when I saw it on NetGalley UK
The book is entirely set on board an express train travelling from the countryside towards Paris in the late 1800s we gradually meet all the passengers and staff as a train as they settle down for their journey. There’s a slow start to the book which speeds up and up and up till it’s hurtling along at a fast rate of knots Towards the expected a dénouement . Add on a disgruntled androgynous woman who has a home-made bomb that she wants to set off on board with the train and you have a typical disaster move scenario.
I liked the little quotes from writers of the time at the beginning of each chapter they were all appropriate to what goes on in that chapter.
The offer has a clear straightforward writing style, which is a pleasure to read the novel is well constructed and I liked the way it speeds up towards the end
There is a whole cast full of interesting characters that you meet during the novel as they get on and off the train. Emma‘s writing is highly visual and I couldn’t help thinking this would make an amazing movie. I suspect the rights will be taken up quickly.
This is a very different book to the room and probably not what fans of her previous book will be expecting personally I didn’t think it quite hit the highs of the previous novel but was nevertheless enjoyable read and I’m sure it’ll do very well

I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. In return for an honest The book was published in the UK on the 20th of March 2025 by Pam McMillan Picador.
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, Story and my book blog bionicSarahS books.wordpress.com will also appear on Amazon UK

I feel very undecided about this book I really like Ms Donoghue's writing so was sucked into this true story of the 1895 Montparnasse derailment and some of the passengers (some real, some fictionalised) who were on the train. The author has obviously done meticulous research and the prose is very detailed - almost overwhelmingly so and I have to admit, while I enjoyed much of the description, I did struggle with all the characters and remembering their stories and the french history
Thank you to netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of this book

Based on a train disaster which occurred in 1895, this is a mix of historical fact and fiction. Some of the passengers actually were on the train and some were introduced by the author. I found the beginning of this book quite confusing because of the number of characters. I did become more engaged as the book progressed but it was not the easiest of reads.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Emma Donoghue/Pan MacMillan for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

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.