With the number of books I read, I am surprised when I read a truly unique story, and this one is a case in point! I really enjoyed the structure of the book that had us stopping at train stations around France, and told the interesting stories of several people who were aboard this real-life historic train ride to Paris in 1895. Refreshing and difficult to put down!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a strong historical fiction novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed in the time-period. It uses the disaster perfectly and brought characters in that felt like they were supposed to. Emma Donoghue has a strong writing style and was hooked from the first page.

The Paris Express was a typical train with people from all walks of life and all around the world. Everybody was trying to get to Paris for one reason or the other. Some had business there. some had more sinister plans for the trip.

I really enjoyed the variety of the characters in this train. No two people were the same. Their interactions were something you can only experience on a public transport. People who wouldn't be looking each other's ways where exchanging stories only to end up in the same tragedy.

It's based on 1895 disaster and I have to say I spent more time in the back of the book looking at the photos and reading about victims than in the front. That does not mean that story was not captivating, but the photos of the disaster were even more captivating.

What a marvelous work of historical fiction based on a true event. I felt as if I was riding with the passengers on this trip to Montparnasse. The train’s speed, the potential interactions with the passengers made for a thrilling and exciting and informative read.