THE PARIS EXPRESS by Emma Donogue

5 stars

This brilliant, brilliant novel takes place all in one day’s travel on an express train from France’s northern coast to Paris in 1895 that ends in a crash in the main Parisian train terminal. All of this is based on a true incidence, but don’t google it in advance to spoil it for yourself!

The tension starts immediately: a young French anacharist with a bomb in her lunch bucket hopes to blow up the train with some key senior Parliament leaders on board in protest of the terrible conditions of the working poor. There’s intense social commentary into poor, middle, and upper class of society, with each class of the train accordingly divided between third to first class. Through passenger conversations with each, the people on the train come alive and capture a snapshot of the times. Fascinating caricatures emerge and the novel delivers deeply compelling historical insights that move along as fast as the countryside scenery outside the speeding train.

There’s also the train itself: running on new complex technology that can easily break down. Despite this, the train is understaffed, with the train’s conductor and engineer under huge bonus incentives to bring the train in on time or better yet early. Not only do we dive into the perspectives of the crew, but also the earnest personification of the train itself, caring deeply about its passengers. Insights into early days of coal burning trains actually proves fascinating. We see first-hand the new and rapidly evolving technology of the steam and coal train engines, in which so many things could go mechanically wrong. Added on top of this is a mandate from the train companies to move as fast as possible between station stops to keep the express trains arriving on time. As the story moves through all the train components that need to work together, the dangerous tension between speed and safety becomes omnipresent to the story.

By the time the train approaches Paris, we care deeply about the people aboard, hate the train company, and hope desperately for disaster to be averted.

When finished, go online to see the extraordinary photographs!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.