The Venice Train

by Georges Simenon. Penguin Classics.

Due to work commitments, Justin Calmar leaves his family’s holiday in Vence to return to Paris. On the train journey, a stranger asks a favour of him, to deliver a briefcase during his layover in Lausanne. From this point, his life turns into a series of lies, deceit and guilt, each creating further pressure in his life.

This was an amazing psychological thriller that centred upon the mind of our protagonist. It starts with some uncomfortable observations about his daughter growing into a woman while waiting to depart from Venice. Then there are his observations about this stranger who is the sole companion in the train car. Once he agrees to the task, we are privy to all his thoughts about this secretive task, all his imaginings as to what it’s really about. For the duration, Justin feels he is holding his cover quite well, but it seems almost everyone has noticed changes in him and eventually various ideas emerge as to why he has changed. There’s a tension throughout the novella that keeps the reader on the edge of the seat, wondering what is going to happen and how things will turn out.

This was my first book by Simenon and it’s a brilliant introduction that surely will have me exploring more of his work. I give this 4.5 stars overall. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Classic for the advanced reader copy. I have provided this review voluntarily.