I read this without knowing the historical reference but perhaps this made it all the more enjoyable as part of a mystery. I particularly enjoyed Donoghue’s character development within this claustrophobic environment where passengers change between carriages and strike up new acquaintances throughout their journey. There was a real sense of what it must have been like travelling during 1895.

The plot begins with Mado Pelletier, a passenger waiting for the train in Granville to return to Paris. She is planning something revolutionary, something that will cause the world to wake up and see the harsh social injustices dealt upon the poor at the hands of the rich. Also aboard the train is Maurice a young boy travelling alone and afraid. As each character is introduced, we are given a back story which creates rich and diverse storylines of racism, rebelliousness and taboo sexual desires.

The engaging writing kept me turning the pages and given that I didn’t know the history was surprised by the ending if not a little sad for those involved.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication.

I came to this book completely unaware of the historical basis but expected great things because of the author - and I was not disappointed. I loved the microcosm of the steam train setting, with disparate passengers thrown together (according to their carriage class of course) for the duration of the journey from Granville to Paris in the year 1895. Each passenger’s story was told in their own voice and even the train herself has a meaningful persona. The tension builds as we travel along the railway lines through the countryside and, not knowing the historical reality I was completely duped - in a good way! Do not delve too much into the real story until you have completed this masterful version of events and you will hopefully enjoy it as much as I did.

The blurb...
Based on an 1895 disaster that went down in history when it was captured in a series of surreal, extraordinary photographs, The Paris Express is a propulsive novel set on a train packed with a fascinating cast of characters who hail from as close as Brittany and as far as Russia, Ireland, Algeria, Pennsylvania, and Cambodia. Members of parliament hurry back to Paris to vote; a medical student suspects a girl may be dying; a secretary tries to convince her boss of the potential of moving pictures; two of the train’s crew build a life away from their wives; a young anarchist makes a terrifying plan, and much more.

Such a unique and creative way of addressing the 1895 French rail disaster. This story has captured the heart and soul of each traveller so realistically. For every one of the passengers, the author has brought to life the danger they unwittingly face, and by expressing their characters so vividly, the reader invests in the moments leading up to their inevitable outcome with a passionate attachment. Some with anger, some with sadness and some with pity, but however the reader feels about each individual, the author has done an incredible job of keeping the tension throughout the story building and providing much evidence of the thoughts and feelings of each of the travellers. A striking piece of writing.

Whilst I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, having had no previous knowledge of this disaster, I did think there were too many characters and too much detail about the train that I wasn't particularly interested in.

Emma Donoghue’s The Paris Express is an engrossing historical fiction book based on the infamous 1895 train disaster at Montparnasse station in Paris. Drawing inspiration from real events and the surreal photographs that documented the crash, Donoghue weaves a gripping tale set aboard a train bound for Paris from Granville, Normandy.

The book features a richly diverse cast of characters, hailing from various corners of the globe, each with their own motives and secrets. Among them are members of parliament racing back to vote, a medical student who fears for a girl’s life, a secretary advocating for the potential of moving pictures, and a young anarchist determined to execute a chilling plan. There are also glimpses into the lives of the train crew, who quietly build new lives away from their families. These intertwined stories provide a fascinating view of the passengers’ lives, their journeys, and their aspirations.

Donoghue skilfully integrates historical details about France's railroad system and the roles of train operators, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative. This backdrop highlights the social and technological context of the time, enhancing the tension and stakes surrounding the disaster.

I particularly enjoyed the stories of the passengers and train workers, whose lives reflect the vibrant, complex fabric of the era. Donoghue’s storytelling brings these characters vividly to life, making their fears, dreams, and choices deeply compelling.

The Paris Express is a beautifully crafted book that combines historical accuracy with human drama, offering a compelling read for fans of historical fiction and character-driven narratives.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I loved the evocative cover of this book. It immediately conjured up days of travel by steam and a different world. The story is partly based on fact, with the real Paris Express the literal vehicle for the narrative. I wanted to like this but it’s fallen rather flat. I’m not a huge Donohgue fan and found Room unreadable. She’s clearly undertaken extensive and meticulous research to inform the detail. Perhaps just too much detail overall as it’s distracting. Too much about the train and the number of characters is extensive. Each has a part to play, of course, but the sheer numbers are confusing at times and it feels muddled and put together piecemeal. I felt there’s only a tenuous thread throughout and not a great deal by way of plot. The writing is excellent and all depictions are plausible and well rounded, but this is a book that for me, failed to ignite.

Imagine a film. Something like Murder on the Orient Express. How all the characters develop, first on the platform, then on the train itself. How the staff on the train work as a team and of course the elite footplate staff, the engineer and fireman. Can you almost smell the scene? Coal, steam and oil?
Emma Donoghue manages to make paper become celluloid in her delivery of The Paris Express. It's so well done, I wouldn't be surprised if in fact it does become celluloid and appears at a cinema near you.

The Paris Express is a fictional work, albeit with meticulous research, that explores the journey made by the train involved in the crash at Montparnasse in Paris in 1905. The passengers travelling in different classes of carriages are highlighted, along with the crew and the back stories are told and links between them are forged.
The writing is good, the historical details are interesting and Donoghue has obviously done a lot of research both into the people who were on the train and into how this railway company worked, but I found the huge list of characters overwhelming and I wasn't that interested in how the train worked. Ultimately, since the outcome of the story is inevitable the plot is weak.
I found it an interesting idea and it was as well executed as it could be but it didn't make a great read and is certainly not the best of Donoghue's books.
With thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this book as I had no previous knowledge of this disaster. Clearly a lot of research has been done and I appreciated that. I did think there were too many characters and too much detail about the train that I wasn't particularly interested in. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed this journey into Paris. Emma Donoghue is a great study of character. I have read all her books and actually I don’t always enjoy them but they are always interesting. This was both. I got wrapped up in the characters. All with different reasons for being on the train, and different desires and internal dialogue. Worth a read and thanks to NetGalley for the early copy.

This novel explores the circumstances surrounding the 1895 train crash at the Paris Montparnasse. Various characters from each class are highlighted, their back stories told and links built up.

You hear about a female anarchist, a medical student who suspects a fellow passenger may be dying, a Russian emigre whose life’s work is to help those around her, members of parliament rushing back to Paris to vote and a budding artist and film maker. All potential victims of the anarchist until fate intervenes.

The author also builds up a picture of the train crew - the pressures they are put under by the train company and the difficulties of life on the railways.

Evocative, building slowly but with an unexpected ending.

One I will be recommending.

A fascinating dramatisation of a real train journey that ended in tragedy for many. I loved the back stories and historical details and the factual role call at the end.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7099053159

3.5 stars for me.

The author is very talented to take the story of a single (real) train journey through late 19th century France and turn it into an interesting and suspenseful read. She must have done a fair bit of research as the time period is evoked in meticulous detail and I felt that I learned quite a bit about French society at the time by reading this. After a slow beginning, the suspense also builds up nicely - unless you read up on the incident on which the book is based in advance, you'll know from the start that something is going to happen to the train, but not what or when.

However, all that said, there are limits on what you can do with a book based on a single event like this. It's hard to get more than a brief snapshot of the train's various occupants over the course of this one relatively short journey. I personally could probably also have done without quite so much detail about the train itself and how it works - I found myself glazing over slightly during those parts!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC, which I enjoyed.

This book takes you on a journey from Granville to Paris in 1895, inspired by a real train crash. The story is packed with over 30 characters from all walks of life—a knitter, a revolutionary with a bomb, a medical student, and more. It’s an interesting mix, and the setting really brings the time period to life.

But honestly, there were just too many characters for me to keep track of. I couldn’t tell who I was supposed to focus on, and some of the details—like how steam trains work—felt unnecessary. By the halfway point, I was a little overwhelmed.

That said, if you enjoy historical fiction with lots of perspectives, you might like this one. The premise is fascinating, even if the story felt a bit crowded to me.

I loved this! It was so interesting and well written with all the different characters had such great back stories. At first I got a bit confused between them all but once I got into the story I was well away. I actually stayed up until 3 am to finish it which says it all. I hope the little boy found his family...

Was astonished that it was based on an actual incident at Montparnasse Station.
Highly recommend this - an author I always look out for the next book from.

The Paris Express is a fascinating historical novel based on the true story of a train derailment in 1895. The story follows a steam train traveling to Paris, filled with a diverse group of passengers, including an anarchist with a bomb, a young boy on his first solo trip, and a pregnant woman..

The book starts slowly but has quite a dramatic finale. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy well-researched historical fiction and whilst it’s not fast-paced, it’s a compelling and unique read.

I knew I was going to love Emma Donoghue's new novel, but I had no idea quite how much. The Paris Express is a piece of literary engineering genius. (Beware, there follows some rail-ly bad train puns.) The story takes place on the Paris Express train in 1895. The steam train is a character in her own right, and chugs along for a bit quite gently, meandering almost, as the reader is introduced to all the varied passengers and crew.

All the characters are intricately drawn, Donoghue conducting their hopes and fears and dreams in her consummate genius way, but a few in particular stand out.

Most notably the young woman clutching the bomb on her lap.

The train steams on towards its destination, and the reader thinks the rails will bend in a certain inevitable direction, but then there comes a shock that no one is predicting, least of all me! This story derailed me (in a good way!), stoked my heart, and I predict it will be a runaway hit!

Emma Donoghue is an excellent writer and you never know where her novels are going to lead you. This one leads you across France on a steam train with a huge cast of characters and a building atmosphere of tension. Although the writing is crisp, the stories behind all of the people on the train are slightly overwhelming and I found myself speed reading to get to the end of the book. Not the best Emma Donoghue novel I have read, sadly.

Absolutely jam-packed with characters, this worked for the most part but did feel slightly overwhelming at times. I hadn't realised it was based on a true story, and so I felt the suspense throughout, wondering quite how things would play out and what was going to happen. Everything feels heightened, since these chance conversations are taking place on a train journey, and when you meet someone on the train you know it's just, usually, a momentary interaction. And there is that pace to the story of the journey passing, time passing, and the disaster incoming. I'd imagined we were heading towards something quite different with the ending, so it was interesting to learn about the true story it was based on at the end.

I liked the additional note at the end explaining the characters & the author's research. I also learned a bit about steam trains, which was interesting!

A haunting story filled with suspense right until the end. The author really manages to make the reader feel on the fated train with all the various passengers each with their own back story. I would highly recommend mend this book.