Books Set on a Train
Ever since Agatha Christie wrote Murder on the Orient Express, trains have become popular settings for novels. After The Girl on the Train became a hit and was later adapted, it became clear that books set on a train could be juggernauts of success if done correctly.
When perusing my own read book list, I realized I too have a thing for novels set on modes of transportation. I’ve already tackled boat books and plane books, so train novels made sense to tackle next. It’s actually surprising how many books set on a train that Jackie and I have read!
Below you will find all of the very best books set on trains divided by genre, so no matter what kind of reader you are, you’ll have some options!
The Best Books set on Trains
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Thriller Book Set on a Train
Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins – Jump to Section
The Best Mystery Book Set on a Train
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie – Jump to Section
The Best Historical Fiction Book Set on a Train
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead – Jump to Section
The Best Contemporary Fiction Book Set on a Train
Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn – Jump to Section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Thriller Books Set on A Train
Girl on the Train
Author: Paula Hawkins
Year: 2015
Genre: Thriller
More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller
Movie Starring Emily Blunt
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Rachel takes the same train every day and peers out the window watching people. She watched two people in particular as they led what appeared to be a perfect life until one day she saw something terrible while watching them.
She reports it to the police but, can they trust a dysfunctional alcoholic? This is a domestic thriller story that will have you questioning who is telling the truth from the beginning until the end. Unreliable narrators like Rachel make the best page-turners! You’ll never know what to believe!
Trigger Warnings
Alcoholism
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a thriller that is unexpected and original. The unreliable narrator is one of my favorite thriller tropes and Hawkins did it to perfection in this book.
Why Jackie loves it
I loved to hate Rachel. She is the perfect unreliable narrator and I never guessed what would happen next.
Find this book in: Books with Stalkers / Domestic Thrillers / Unreliable Narrators / Psychological Thriller Books / British Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Paula Hawkins Books Ranked / Amnesia Books
Plot
The action starts on page one of this wilderness survival story featuring an ex-army officer and a woman who is 8.5 months pregnant. After an avalanche takes out their train car, they are the last survivors fighting for survival in the snowy mountains. We learn more about their backstory and what might be drawing them together.
Why Kirsten loves it
My heart was pumping the entire time! I couldn’t put this book down, I was so scared I needed to finish it before bed.
Find this book in: Novels About Weather / Isolation Books
Mystery Books Set on a Train
Murder on the Orient Express
Author: Agatha Christie
Year: 1934
Genre: Classic Mystery
More info: Hercule Poirot #10, International Bestseller
Age Range: 14+
Plot
When the luxurious Orient Express train is snowbound overnight, no one expects a murder to take place. But that’s exactly what happened and with Hercule Poirot onboard, the murderer just might get caught.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a classic and an absolute must-read.  It’s one of those books that unless you know the ending, you would never guess it.  So well-devised, this book is a definite favorite and it all takes place on a train in the middle of a snowy tundra, making it a fantastic story for a cozy winter night.
Find this book in: Agatha Christie Books in Order / Locked Room Mysteries / Novels About Weather / Detective Books / Ultimate List of Mystery Books
The Main Character
Author: Jaclyn Goldis
Year: 2024
Genre: Mystery
More info: Bestselling Thriller
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range:
Plot
This book had me at Orient Express. Within it, Rory has been sent on a lavish trip to the Italian Riviera aboard the newly remodeled famous train. It’s her reward for being celebrated writer Ginevra Ex’s newest main character – the real-life person who inspires each of Ex’s novels.
But Rory is shocked to see her brother, her best friend, and her ex-fiance aboard as well – all at Ginevra’s expense. The story opens with one of them being murdered but who and by whom remains to be seen.
As the foursome read Ginevra’s new manuscript secrets unravel, but behind the scenes, Ginevra’s own past is catching up to her and just why she was drawn to Rory in the first place remained unanswered.
Why Kirsten loves it
While the who-dun-it mystery within Ginevra’s novel was so well executed and the suspense of who was killed kept me turning the pages, it was Ginevra’s storyline that intrigued me most.
I was enthralled by Russia’s history with the Jewish people, having been mostly unaware of the animosity there before this book, and was shocked to learn that element came from Goldis’s own family history!
Why Jackie loves it
The idea of a novel within a novel is always so much fun and this book was brilliantly executed. I was never sure was a coincidence and what was the next attempt at murder. This was a page-turner I could not put down.
Find this book in: Best Mystery Books of 2024 / Best Jewish Writers / Mystery and Thriller Novels About Writers
Plot
This book is so many things in one! It’s a mystery set on Christmas Eve about a train full of people who get snowbound – and then someone gets murdered! Luckily there is a former detective named Roz who will work the case and try to keep everyone safe.
Trigger Warnings
Rape, Domestic Violence
Why Kirsten loves it
It’s more than just a murder mystery though, it also addresses domestic violence and rape – so please go in prepared if those are triggers for you. It’s kind of odd to put all those things in one book, but it works! #gifted
Find this book in: Christmas Books 2023 / Best Christmas Books of All Time / Isolation Novels / Christmas Mystery Books
Historical Fiction Books Set on a Train
The Last Train to Key West
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Year: 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: The Cuba Saga #3
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Book 3 of the Perez family series was different from the rest, because there wasn’t a particularly big Cuban storyline. Instead, it’s the story of three women impacted by a fierce Hurricane that hit the Florida Keys.
One woman, Mirta Perez, is on her honeymoon, one is a local, and one is in the Keys to save her family fortune. Their lives intertwine throughout the disastrous holiday weekend.
Trigger Warnings
Domestic Abuse
Why Kirsten likes it
Well, I was not expecting this doozy of a book. Chanel Cleeton’s Cuba book series is wonderful, but this one left me with mixed feelings.
I love the Florida Keys setting of this story and the elements of the hurricane in this novel. I was not expecting the domestic abuse one woman experiences (I mention this as it might be a trigger for some,) and while I liked most of the plots, I wasn’t a fan of the mobster storyline. Still, it was a fun read for a stormy summer day at the beach.
Find this book in: Hurricane Novels / Beach Reads 2021 / Chanel Cleeton Books
The Orphan’s Tale
Author: Pam Jenoff
Year: 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Noa has been cast out after becoming pregnant by a Nazi Soldier. She is forced to give up her baby as well and now finds herself living at a railway station and cleaning to earn her stay. When she finds a boxcar filled with Jewish infants being transported to a concentration camp, Noa grabs a baby and runs.
She finds safety with a German circus and must learn to become a trapeze artist to remain hidden in plain sight.
Trigger Warnings
Antisemitism
Why Jackie loves it
This is a powerful story about love and friendship and a beautiful read from books about WWII.
Find this book in: Best Books by Jewish Authors / Books About WWII / Best Historical Fiction Books
Water for Elephants
Author: Sara Gruen
Year: 2006
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: A Major Motion Picture starring Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, and Christoph Waltz
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I read this book long before we started the blog and I still recommend this book to everyone as a must-read.Â
It is the middle of the Great Depression and Jacob is orphaned just shy of earning his Veterinary degree. He finds himself a job with a circus caring for a menagerie as a way to continue working with animals but also to support himself.
Here he meets Marlena, the beautiful star of the show, and an untrainable elephant named Rosie. I loved everything about this book from the romance and tension to the beauty of the animals and their relationship with the people around them.
Trigger Warnings
Animal Cruelty
Why Jackie loves it
This is a unique story, unlike anything I have ever read. I am a huge animal lover and so this book spoke to my heart
Why Kirsten loves it
The relationship between Marlena and Jacob develops beautifully with such love and respect. It is a love story to be remembered.
Find this book in: Animal Novels for Adults / Jackie’s All-Time Favorite Books / Best Romance Novels of All Time / Historical Fiction Romance / Carnival and Circus Books
The Underground Railroad
Author: Colson Whitehead
Year: 2016
Genre: Literary Historical Fiction
More info: August 2016 Oprah Book Club Pick, Pulitzer Prize winner, New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The story is about Cora and Caesar, two run-away slaves in the South who run away to the underground railroad which, in this book, is an actual railroad. Each stop along the way is reminiscent of a different place in history and it is interlaced with actual ads placed for runaway slaves. This book is profound and beautiful and a must-read.
Trigger Warnings
Slavery
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this book, and it was one of the first reviews we did on the blog. I love how this book examined the underground railroad with a touch of magical realism. If you are looking for thought-provoking books, look no further.
Find this book in: Thought-provoking Books / Best Historical Fiction Books / Magical Realism Books
Contemporary Fiction Set on a Train
Mrs. Queen Takes the Train
Author: William Kuhn
Year: 2012
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Imagine what would happen if Queen Elizabeth decided to just stroll out of the palace and hop on the train. That’s exactly what happens in this novel when Queen Elizabeth is feeling particularly stressed out and wishes to visit her old pleasure yacht for the day. She sneaks out and heads towards the Royal Yacht Britannia while her staff tries to track her down.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a hilarious book that was so charming. Watching her try to navigate the world on her own was quite amusing. As a longtime fan of QEII, this is a must-read story!
Find this book in: Books About Queen Elizabeth II / Royal Reads / Books Like the Crown
Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting
Author: Clare Poole
Year: 2022
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: New York Times bestselling author of The Authenticity Project
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Iona Iverson has rules for commuting on the train and they start with never talking to anyone. She brings her dog Lulu with her and that is all the company she needs although it does not stop her from giving the other regulars on the train nicknames. When a businessman (Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader) starts choking on a grape, this all changes. As the characters get to know one another, we see them all change, evolve, and develop friendships. This feel-good book is heartwarming and delightful in every single way and we knew we needed to include it in our best summer reads 2023 post.
Why Jackie loves it
I have to say that I think this feel-good book was my favorite pick of 2022. The writing, the characters, and the storyline are all outstanding and I loved every minute of this book. If you are looking for books about friendship, this one will make your heart sing.
Find this book in: Books About Friendship / Ultimate Beach Reads 2023 / Ultimate List of Feel-Good Books / Books Set on a Train
Emergency Contact
Author: Lauren Layne and Anthony Ledonne
Year: 2o23
Genre: Christmas Romance
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Plot
What happens when hotshot attorney Katherine gets into a car accident before removing her ex-husband Tom’s name from her emergency contact list? A funny, charming story about her traveling with him in a blizzard during the lead-up to Christmas Eve so he can propose to his current girlfriend.
Along the way, they dissect their marriage, get into loads of funny scenarios, and generally leave mayhem in their wake.
Why Kirsten loves it
I read this Christmas romance in the middle of August and didn’t bat an eye. Yes, it take place at Christmas time, but traveling that time of year is more of a plot device to get them back together than a real holiday book. It’s a retelling of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles and I adored seeing the similarities and differences.
Find this book in: Plane Books / Books Set on a Train
More Books Set on a Train
Helpful Tip
- Be mindful of the genre of each book before you find yourself reading a murder mystery set on a train…while you are on a train!
- Not sure which train book to read? Try Murder on the Orient Express. It’s a classic for a reason and it’s super short!
Frequently Asked Questions
What popular thriller takes place on a train?
There are lots of popular thrillers that take place on trains, but Paula Hawkin’s Girl on the Train is probably the most popular one.
What is the most famous fictional train?
You are probably thinking of the Orient Express, made famous by Agatha Christie, but did you know it’s not actually fictional? It’s a real train that you can still ride today!
Related Content
Epilogue
What books set on a train did I miss? Do you have a favorite? I think Murder on the Orient Express will always be my favorite train book, but is it yours?
Book Lists by Genre
Are you looking for more books in your favorite genre? This hub will let you choose which genre to dive into!
