A brilliant, fast paced, thrilling drama that interweaves several stories to create a beautiful read. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced read!

With a great many passengers representing all levels of society and coming from a number of countries, Emma Donoghue’s story feels overwhelming at times. I connected with some of these characters, yet some of them had me skimming through their stories. One passenger that stood out was Mado, whose pack contained a bomb to make a statement against social injustices. After witnessing her fellow passengers’ interactions she must decide whether to go through with her plan. This story is based on a derailment as a train came into the Paris Montparnasse station in the late 1800s, introducing both fictional and actual passengers. Donoghue’s story is well written and as the train made its’ stops at various stations and I became more familiar with the passengers I found myself enjoying this book more. I thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing this book.

The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue is the latest arc I’ve read. I need to thank Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for my advance reader copy.
The Paris Express is based on an 1895 train crash/derailment at the Paris Montparnasse Train Station. The book opens at the Granville Station with passengers catching the train to Paris and you get to meet some of the characters in this story. It’s 8:30 am and other chapters are for the other stops the train will make enroute to Paris. Despite its name, it is not an express as it makes multiple stops.
There are many characters in this story and it is an interesting time in France and interesting plot idea. The writing is very good. However, the stories pacing seems to speed up and slow down. I believe this was done to work with the concept of the train stopping and then moving again and picking up speed. That is all well and good and I am certain there are people who will enjoy that symmetry, but it was difficult to read through the slower parts of the story. Additionally, there were simply too many characters for us to get to know and to really care about their stories.
I liked this read and I gave it 3.5 stars. Again, thank you to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for my arc. This book releases tomorrow, March 18, 2025.

3.5. I really loved Emma Donoghue’s Room. It was incredibly written and had a profound impact on me. I was hoping for something similar on this book, The Paris Express. I had trouble getting engaged in the story and with the multiple characters. Some characters were very well defined, and others not. The historical fiction aspect was interesting on an ill fated train to Paris in the nineteenth century but the plot and the myriad of characters failed to keep me interested

The Paris Express is a train line running from Granville to Paris. Emma Donoghue will take readers along as her characters' fates join together on this fateful journey. Set in an era where class seperation was the accepted norm, each character takes their place in history with an equal chance of a horrible death. It's interesting, even educational, to see Donoghue's research played out like a deck of tarot cards telling the future. The story line is modeled on a true life train accident with fictional characters clearly marking how the classes were treated so differently, even in an event so dire.

This was interesting in that it is based on a true story of a train that ran on this date in 1895. I loved that Donoghue included real people she knew were on the train and then added characters that were also real people who were in the area and could very realistically have also been onboard this trip. The entire story takes place in those several hours on the express train. It had a lot of interesting facts that were happening in history at that time: the rise of French anarchists, the introduction of the automobile to the world, the first thoughts of the possibilities of motion pictures and more. I truly enjoyed that.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #Simon&Schuster #Summitbooks for the arc I read

"Your intention rules your life and determines the outcome." (Oprah Winfrey)

No truer words were said that actually lean in on a true incident occurring at the Paris Montparnasse train station in 1895. Emma Donoghue has done some mighty research into this actual train wreck that happened so long ago. Her novel is fictional and so are many of her characters, but reading this will certainly give you pause. Photos can be found on the internet.

Back to that intention.......We'll meet a multitude of characters here as various individuals prepare to board this train. Donoghue gives us a panoramic view of those passengers who unknowingly represent a variety of a widening scope of social classes. That includes the working class from those who shovel coal to stoke the engine to those in maintenance and the engineer. We'll observe the ticket takers who direct traffic to the correct car. Those in Third Class are right behind the engine......in case of a wreck they'll be offered up. The elite sit in cushy seats in First Class.

Emma Donoghue turns the faces of some of these characters toward us. Mado Pelletier is on a mission as an anarchist on the ready. Keep an eye on her. We'll notice Henry Tanner, a Black American artist, gaining international acclaim. There's also a young unaccompanied boy who will be meeting up with his father later. The list goes on with each having an intention for their trip that day. Some of these intentions are good and some of these intentions are deadly.

The Paris Express is a fine read by Emma Donoghue. But here's the thing: Mega amounts of characters left and right to keep track of. Yes, it is a crowded train. No, I didn't want to necessarily follow so many back stories. More is not always better. A few characters with their intentions would have sufficed far better. Still ,The Paris Express is a worthy read with a heart pounding destination.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and to the talented Emma Donoghue for the opportunity.

This is my second book I have read by this author and I liked this one better. However, this author again disappointed me with the ending as I felt rather than showing she told in her author’s note.

I am not typically drawn to historical fiction, but this one was extremely well written. It makes a comment on how all involved in a situation have their own lives, hopes, dreams, and motivations. I thought it was an interesting way to write about a disastrous event. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | S&S/Summit Books for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I couldn’t keep up with all the switching characters so I gave up pretty early on this one. I typically love this author but couldn’t keep them all straight.

The Paris Express takes place in October of 1895. There are many passengers that board this train from all over the world, some really interesting characters. All have little quirks about them, some would think them to be very strange or intriguing. The train makes many stops along the way, which enables them to take breaks at each train station. Train were different then, no food or facilities on board. Two of the crew are really good friends as they are mostly aboard the train and away from their families.
The novel is based on the true disaster that occurred at the Paris Montparnasse Train Station. I am very interested in historical reads. This takes me back to a place and time that made the read interesting for me. I want to thank Emma Donoghue for your writing of this history many of us never knew about. Also thank you to Simon Schuster/Summit Books for the personal invitation to read "The Paris Express" before publishing.

This novel begins with a girl catching her train just in time, and rolls along at an ever-increasing pace.

I’m always a fan of Donoghue’s work, and while this is definitely more fast-paced than her previous few books the characters still take center stage. There’s a revolutionary, a philanthropist, a performer, a parliament member, an artist & more, each with something niggling at their conscience. Nothing like a seven hour train ride to come to terms with your personal demons 😇 Together, this group of characters paints a lively picture of life in Paris at the turn of the 20th century. I loved seeing these transient bonds form between vastly different characters, with that special sense of closeness made possible by spending a long time with someone who will soon return to being a stranger.

Whether this train is hurtling towards disaster or salvation, we don’t quite know, but the journey is well worth the ride. I was charmed by our motley group, and as the express hurtles towards Paris, I was flipping the pages just as fast. Donoghue’s historical note was also fascinating, and I can see why she was inspired to write such a novel. You can never predict what she’ll write next, but I will eagerly await whatever it may be!

This is a beautifully written about strangers who form bonds over the disaster of derailment of the train in Paris. I thought there were a lot of points of view within this story and sometimes it got confusing. But it is a fast moving book and it does draw you in and make you feel that you are there.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I really love this author and was quite looking forward to this read. Unfortunately, the story seemed to drag on, and I kept getting the characters confused. There were too many for my liking.

The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue is a historical fiction novel based on an infamous train derailment that occurred at the Montparnasse train station in Paris in 1895. I went into this novel curious because I like reading about historical events that are new to me.

The novel features an exhaustive cast of characters who were listed as passengers on the train or were living in Paris during that time. In the beginning it was difficult to keep all the characters straight. While sorting out the characters I was overcome by a sense of dread.

There are some characters that you become invested in and look to them for answers regarding the impending disaster. All was not as it seemed. I am not going to give you any spoilers as I suggest reading this blindly so as not to ruin any twists.

I was thankful for the author’s note, especially on how she chose her characters based on the actual passenger list. Historical fiction fans who aren’t overwhelmed by an extensive group of characters will enjoy this novel

Thanks to the author, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Paris Express is an interesting historical novel inspired by the real-life 1895 train disaster. With passengers from across the globe—politicians, revolutionaries, dreamers, and schemers—the novel attempts to capture the pulse of a world on the brink of change.

While Donoghue’s prose is as sharp, as usual, the story often feels scattered. With such a large cast, many characters remain surface-level, their backstories hinted at but never fully developed. There are fascinating threads—a secretary advocating for cinema’s future, a medical student grappling with an ethical dilemma, a young anarchist plotting destruction—but the novel moves so quickly I felt that these narratives didn't have the space to fully land. The tension builds as the train approaches disaster, yet the emotional stakes feel diluted by the sheer number of perspectives.

That said, Donoghue’s ability to transport readers to another time is undeniable. The historical details are immersive, and the novel effectively captures the chaos and energy of a rapidly modernizing world. Though The Paris Express didn't quite reach the heights of Donoghue’s other works for me, it’s still a compelling journey through history.

Strangers on a train to Paris. Know that there are many characters but also know that each is distinct and intriguing both for their reason for being on the train and for themselves. Donoghue has taken the real 1895 train crash and changed things up a bit so that you wonder whether the young woman with the bomb will set it off even as she watches her fellow passengers. I liked that the lives of the men who run the train, feed it's hunger for coal, stow the baggage, and so on are included alongside snapshots of a young boy, a pregnant woman, a Russian emigre and the rest. They will come together, perhaps not as you might expect. It became a page turner for me as each chapter takes the reader closer to Paris. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I very much enjoyed this. And don't miss the afterword which includes information about what came after for the real people who are part of the journey.

Set in 1895 and based on the real-life Granville-Paris Express train that derailed that same year, Emma Donoghue’s "The Paris Express" is a captivating historical mystery that seamlessly blends suspense, historical detail, and complex character development.

The story follows Mado Pelletier, a mysterious anarchist, as she embarks on a journey fraught with peril. Donoghue skillfully builds tension as the train races toward its uncertain fate, combining meticulously researched details—such as the train’s operational nuances and the daily lives of its passengers—with a plot that keeps readers on edge. As the story unfolds, the intricate web of secrets and motivations surrounding Mado and the other passengers deepens, creating a thrilling narrative.

The strength of "The Paris Express" lies in its nuanced character portrayals. Donoghue brings historical figures like the African-American artist Henry Tanner and the pioneering filmmaker Alice Guy to life, adding depth to their historical roles and creating a sense of intimacy with their personal struggles. These characters, alongside Mado’s inner conflict and the societal challenges faced by others aboard the train, form a rich, layered narrative. However, with such a diverse cast, some characters feel more like sketches, leaving readers wishing for a more developed exploration of their backgrounds and arcs.

Despite these minor shortcomings, "The Paris Express" delivers a compelling reading experience. Donoghue’s ability to blend historical intrigue with emotional resonance makes this novel an engrossing journey, even if it doesn’t delve as deeply into thematic exploration as some of her previous works.

"The Paris Express" thrives on its atmospheric tension and its vivid portrayal of characters on the brink of their fates, making it an enjoyable and thought-provoking read for those who love historical mysteries with complex, multi-faceted characters.

A train travels to Paris in 1895 and we are told that danger is on its way but we don't know how. Will it be because one passenger, a young woman, fashions herself an anarchist and is holding a homemade bomb? The book draws portraits of a cross-section of the French population of the time. From the wealthy politicians and titans of industry in First Class, to the professionals and artists in Second, and the poor crowded into Third. We also meet the engineer and the stoker plus other crew taking tickets and seated in the baggage cars.

The author has done an amazing amount of research about trains, the French landscape, and the political ferment of the time. While the writing is strong and the characters interesting, there's likely too many to get engaged with. But for anyone wanting to learn more about this time in the history of railroads, the book is excellent.

I was provided an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read The Paris Express. This historical story is one that was well written. If you are looking for a story that keeps you wanting to know what happens next then this is for you. The main Character is one who people could relate to and feel like you could be there with them. It is one where you could never see the ending for what happened. It makes you think of different events that could happen.