Emma Donoghue has written a best seller about an actual train crash tragedy that took place in a single day in 1895 on a train from Normandy to Paris. She details the events from the standpoint of many individual passengers and staff up to and at the crash. Although only one person died, the papers covered the crash extensively at first as it was thought to be a terrorist attack. When it was found to be defects by train and tracks interest waned. Emma Donoghue is known for her spectacular fictional reenactments of historic events.

Once again, Donoghue has written a novel set in an enclosed space. This time it’s the train from Granville to Montparnasse in 1895. The reader encounters a diverse set of characters and shares their stories. Based on a true story which was widely photographed, the train crashes at the Montparnass station.

I love Emma Donoghue, and I love trains, but the structure of this just didn't work for me. It's a short book with a LOT of characters and I could not keep them straight to save my life. The writing was good, but it just kept confusing me.

A well written historical fiction that is inspired by the actual 1895 train derailment at Montparnasse station in Paris, and reimagines the events and characters involved while spotlighting the social changes of the time.
There is a huge cast of characters and at the beginning it is hard to keep track of them all and is a slow burn for the first half of the book. The ones I got most attracted too were the old Russian woman and the anarchist. The tension in the second half of the book really kept me going until the end of the story. The historical notes at the end of the book are really interesting and important to read to know which parts of the book are factual and which are fictional. Great read overall.



Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Canada | HarperAvenue for this ARC. This is my honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I'm willingly leaving a review
TRIGGERS: LBGT MM/FF, class differences, violence of all sorts to children, including being sold, gory details of railway accidents, extra-conjugal affairs and daydreams of them too.
Extremely fictionized, a bit poetic at times, with many people of colour (not a typo; I'm Canadian) without the burden of it, a child who thinks of his future like an adult. Did we really need some of these visuals such at the man with a pro going at it on the station wall? The professional at his job gets blamed - his workload is too much - and the sloth is the one being praised because of his prompt action. There is no justice in this world. The beginning of the end starts around 85%, the actual crash at 90%-92%, then the author's notes at 96%. The notes are interesting except for the fact that she goes on and on about the one lone victim, whom we never saw before and never heard of, but we get her full history, family, future, etc. In my head, I thought the author's notes would have been the actual book, not the other way around. Based on actual facts is taken loosely here. Also, there is only one picture in the book.

The events in this novel take place in a single day (October 22, 1895) on an express train from Granville on the Normandy coast to the Montparnasse station in Paris.

The author populates the train with actual people who were part of the crew or on the passenger list, real people who could plausibly have been on the train, and fictional characters. The passengers include people from various classes of society: government officials, a priest, a female scientist, a cabaret performer, an Irish playwright, a black American artist, a Russian immigrant, a coffee seller, a pregnant woman, a young boy travelling alone, a young anarchist, a fisherwoman, etc.

The novel begins at a leisurely pace as the various crew members and passengers are introduced, but then we learn that a young woman named Mado Pelletier, an anarchist, has fatal plans for the train. As the journey progresses, because the engineer tries to make up time to keep the train on schedule, the train’s speed towards disaster increases and tension builds. Will Mado change her mind when she considers the collateral deaths of innocent people? Will a fellow passenger who guesses Mado’s intention be able to stop her? The writer effectively adds suspense by shortening the scenes devoted to characters: at the beginning several pages focus on each person but as the train gains momentum, the scenes become shorter and shorter and there are constant shifts among characters, thereby adding to the impression of speed and impending doom.

And then there’s the ending. Yes, a disaster does occur, though there is a twist. I knew nothing about the historical event and I would advise readers to go in blind. At the end of the book, there is a lengthy explanation about the train and the fate of her crew and passengers. Knowing beforehand what actually happened would, I think, lessen the novel’s impact.

The book provides a snapshot of the times. Political and social conditions and technological advances are described. For instance, classism, racism, and misogyny are evident. And references are made to typewriters, automobiles, the development of films, and the building of a subway.

The book also provides a snapshot of the intimate lives of people. There is a large cast of characters, but I found it not too difficult to differentiate among them. Everyone has a pre-occupation or secret or regret or hope unique to him/her.

The plot could be summarized as a train journey, but there are mini-plots. For example, there’s a sexual encounter, a possible romance, Mado’s internal conflict, friction between a boss and his ambitious female secretary, and a quarrel over a young woman’s health.

I found I learned a great deal from reading this book. Donoghue clearly did considerable research. I also appreciate when a book adds to my vocabulary: glacis, dynamitard, bourdalou, demimondaine, and dandling are words with which I was not familiar.

When travelling, I like to imagine the intimate lives of my fellow travellers, and this book is a writer’s imaginative creation of the interior lives of travellers, albeit those on a specific historical train journey. I enjoyed the novel and definitely recommend it, though some readers might find the sheer number of characters daunting.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Read this right through and as it’s a character study and meticulously researched I’m just not sure I enjoyed the book enough to say yes.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Canada for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Today’s trip of 326 kilometres should be interrupted by only four brief stops. Barring acts of God, caprices of Nature, mishaps, or human failings, she should pull into Paris-Montparnasse in seven hours and ten minutes, at 3: 55 p.m....

So why care about this one express from Granville on the morning of the twenty-second of October, 1895?....No: What’s remarkable about this train is that she’s heading straight for disaster.


I like it when authors of historical fiction teach me about a moment of history that I have never laid my eyes on. In this case, Emma Donaghue takes readers back to the Montparnasse Derailment of October 22, 1895, in Paris. The events of that fateful day are told through the p.o.v's of the passengers and crew aboard the train.

Although it took me a while to navigate the who's who on the train, I did enjoy learning about this accident. Without posting spoilers, however, I do have a quibble that a dramatic plot point of the author's made me feel a little letdown when all was revealed to be a fairly simple outcome of the story.

A complete appendix at the back of the novel provides a list of the actual historical figures and what happened to them after the crash.

#TheParisExpress #NetGalley
Expected Publication Date 18/03/25
Goodreads Review Date 16/03/25

Please note: My quotes are taken from the ARC and may change slightly in the final publication.

3.5 Stars

This story takes place in the late 19th century, on a train, no less. I loved reading about how life was back then, especially for women. Ms. Donoghue's writing was amazing, as always, and the research was meticulous. The best part of the book is the character development. The different backgrounds made for some tension, and the dialogue and inner thoughts kept me engaged throughout. I loved the interactions as well.

The descriptions of the train journey and the period are also well done, and Ms. Donoghue transported me to the era. The pacing was slow at times, but the plot and characters were intriguing. The resolution was mostly satisfying, if a tad anticlimactic. The Paris Express is a wonderfully written historical drama. It's a solid read for fans of the author's style (of which I am one) and readers of historical fiction. I give it 3.5 stars, rounded up.

A fascinating read !!! Set in period detail Donoghue bases this novel around the infamous train derailment at Montparnasse Paris train station in 1895. She takes us on its scheduled stops as we meet all the individual passengers. They are the very core of society. From first class to rear third, it is a cornucopia of class with its privilege and inequality.

Plumed girl, an American painter, a Russian, Oyster woman and one young female anarchist who has a sinister agenda. There are a lot of characters to this novel, but we get a compelling look at the divisions of class. The oppression of the poor, the downtrodden and those who have kept them underfoot. "The moving image of unfairness."

It's an exquisite ride into the times, the hopes, the fears of a people and the politics as the turn of the century approaches. Rich in French culture, we get a first-hand look at eh personal struggles of each passenger and a significant historical event.
Ultimately, it's the writing l love that Donoghue has this ability to throw you into a room with no escape other than to confront your inner self. Do you sit silently, or do you engage with people you don't know. It's the premise I think overtook the historical event. However, It's still an excellent book. "Knees touching", crowed and stuffy. The smell of oysters, sausage and tobacco smoke. It's a brave place to be your inner-slf, a boundless confidence to engage, because tomorrow no will remember you. "Just strangers on a train."

Overall it was an excellent read. This is my second book of Donoghue that I have read and so enjoy her writing. Highly recommend this one if you want something different.

check out my full review on instagram @sunflowerbooknook

I love Emma Donoghue's work, and The Paris Express is another beautifully written story based on the 1895 disaster at the Paris Montparnasse train station.

The novel is very character-driven, capturing multiple POVS from travellers of all ages, different parts of the world, and social classes. It is a believable storyline if you have ever taken a train ride in Europe and interacted with the diverse passengers onboard.

At times, I found it challenging to keep track of the author's host of characters. So much so that I had to write them down to follow each passenger's interaction with others, their placement on the train, and the importance of their seat to the social hierarchy of the times. 

The fact that I did so illustrates how effective Donoghue is in creating characters that readers come to care for. Even though there are a few slow moments in the storyline, I kept moving with the train because of my investment in each character's reason to reach their final destination. There is a pregnant woman about to give birth who is eager this happens in Paris, a boy who missed his train stop and will have to find his way home when he reaches the platform, an artist with an attraction to a female passenger that he hopes will materialize into something more as their journey continues, an anarchist intent on destruction, several prominent politicians on their way to cast a last-minute vote in Paris, and the lives of the train's crew and their attachment to one another.

Donoghue masterfully captures several passengers' observations of their train surroundings, the passing landscape, and, in particular, their reactions when they realize their train is headed toward disaster, which could end in their potential demise. 

Among my favourite quotes: ""So those in chronic pain with no family to cling to them are just as unwilling to go as those who have youth, beauty, health, and wealth. It seems life, in any form, is too sweet to surrender."

I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves character-driven stories. If you are looking for a plot-driven narrative with lots of action, this is likely not the book for you. Thank you to NetGalley, Author Emma Donoghue, and Harper Collins Canada for my advance e-copy to read and review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read The Paris Express. I have a lot of respect for the writing of Emma Donoghue. I imagine the author wanted to create an image of who was on the train at the time and the interactions that they may have had. I had difficulty keeping track of all the characters as there were many. In the end, it was a fascinating ride on a doomed express train. This book is a look into the past and the political and social environment in France at the time.

I have just finished reading The Paris Express, by Emma Donoghue.

This novel takes place on a train in France and is based on an 1895 disaster at the Montparnasse station.

The train is packed with characters from different parts of the world, who are spread out in the three classes of carriages. We are also introduced to workers on the train.

I must say that I found the story very slow going for the most part, and at times felt confused with some of the many characters, just trying to keep them straight in my mind.

This is the first book that I have read by the Author, who has a good following.

Although I did not totally enjoy this book all that much, I will look forward to reading some of Emma Donoghue’s books in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Author Emma Donoghue, and HarperCollins Canada for my advanced copy to read and review.

I love Emma Donoghue’s books. I believe I’ve read all of them and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them. That said, this was not on of my favourites of hers.

I’m not one of those people who can flip back and forth between many characters without any trouble. Instead, I have to go back and figure out which character I’m on now. There were so many characters in this story that I had some trouble keeping them straight. If you don’t have the same issues with the fast and furious changing of characters, I think you’ll love this book.

Without going into too much detail, this a story based on a true story of a train that crashed in 1895, Paris. The reader gets to know the inner most thoughts of the potential bomber as well as those all around her in third class, first class, second class, and those working on the train. It’s a really interesting story and I feel like I would have enjoyed it a bit more if I had been able to remember who was who from beginning to end. Please, don’t let me discourage you from reading this book. I feel like most people would be able to better manage the many characters than I did. If you like Ms. Donoghue’s stories please give this one a chance!

DNF @ 21%. Not for me.

I am disappointed because I usually love this authors work. However, I am finding the storyline is dragging/boring and the characters are blurring together and hold no appeal to me.

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!

Emma Donoghue, a well known and beloved author, takes her readers on a journey back to 1895 in <i>The Paris Express.</i> This historical fiction novel was based on the railway disaster that occurred on an express train from Granville to Montparnasse station in Paris. The book follows a large ensemble of characters who for one reason or another have boarded the train. While some of the characters stories kept me captivated, overall this book just wasn’t for me. It felt very long despite being less than 300 pages and was also quite dry at times. I don’t think I like trains or French history enough to find this entertaining :(

This book is best suited for historical fiction lovers who aren’t intimidated by a very large cast of characters, readers who are interested in transit disasters or French history buffs. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy, the publication date will be March 18, 2025.

I was looking forward to delving into this book. I had never heard of the 1895 Montparnasse train derailment so was curious to go into this story blind and learn about it through these fictional characters. For this reason, I was expecting the story to revolve mostly around the crash and its repercussions but in reality, I think it’s important for readers to know that the story focusses primarily on the lead-up to the incident.

Throughout the pages, Donoghue introduces us to a wide cast of character through whom she does an excellent job of capturing the time period. She immerses the reader into the politics, social conditions, technological discoveries, and human rights issues of the day. The amount of research that must have gone into writing this book is phenomenal, and I think readers who want to learn more about France during this timeframe will adore this book.

Because the story is inspired by some of the real people who were on the train in 1895, I was surprised to realize—in the afterword—the number of historically-significant people who were onboard… influencers who left their mark on the arts, the transportation industry, cinema, scientific research and more. Because the cast of characters is so large (and a bit hard to keep track of at times) I think I would have enjoyed this being highlighted in some way early in the book, to help me hone in on the key characters earlier in the story. I really enjoyed the afterword, in which I learned more about their real life outcomes and achievements, so would have loved for the book to include a bit more of how the characters experienced the tragic accident, and the ‘after’.

I always wait impatiently for Emma Donoghue books and am very grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Happy to include this title in the March edition of Novel Encounters, my column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national lifestyle and culture magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

Not only is this a compelling historical thriller, but it also traces history’s impact on the present. Donoghue spotlights the social changes during the Belle Époque and encourages us to view them with an equity lens to see how the working class and less fortunate’s plight during this upheaval added to the inevitable and disastrous outcomes for the French with worldwide repercussions felt at present, both socially and politically.

Her cast of characters is as varied as the countries they represent and Donoghue uses this as a springboard to propel her main character’s mission. Mado Pelletier, 21, a French anarchist on a mission, boards the train from Granville to Paris with a plan set in momentum. When she begins interacting with the passengers she discovers that they are no longer just a sea of unknown faces. The tension lies in the multiple points of view and whether or not Mado can stop her plan that’s already gaining momentum.

The narrative is rich with symbolism and double meaning. For example, Granville on the Normandy coast is the end of the line for the Granville-Paris Express - how symbolic that Mado, a young woman out of options now forced to resort to drastic measures should board here, the end of the line.

There’s so much more I want to share, but I’ve got my toe on the line, and saying more would cross the line into ‘spoilers’. You need to read this fantastic character-driven novel.

I can see this one being optioned for the silver screen!

I was gifted this copy by Harper Collins Canada and was under no obligation to provide a review.