Chrissy’s Review: The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

The Christmas Train
written by David Baldacci
published by Grand Central Publishing

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Apple Books, Target, Walmart, Kobo, Book Depository, Goodreads

Why did I pick this book? I read this book every Christmas. It is easily one of my all-time favorite books. Also, this is my book group’s selection for the month of December. (I suggested it.)

Did I enjoy this book? I did. I always do. It is definitely a book that I read every free chance I get. This book has love, adventure, criminal activity, near tragedy, and it takes place at Christmas time. What more can you ask for?

The snake incident toward the end of the first half of the book always gives me a big chuckle.

The author has a good way of depicting his characters in this book. Not everyone is who they appear to be. That adds so much to this story, which seems like it should be simple. Tom meets some interesting characters: Agnes Joe, a rather large woman who is one of my favorite characters especially when she elbows Tom right onto his back; Regina, a sweet woman who works for Amtrak on the Capitol Limited; Misty, the eccentric fortune teller; Father Kelly, the retired priest; Gordon Merryweather, the loud obnoxious attorney; Herrick Higgins, the laid-off Amtrak train engineer; Roxanne, a loud and wonderful train worker on the Southwest Chief who is also one of my favorites. These are just a few of the many characters that formulate this story.

The only downside of this book is the long descriptions about the train engines, the history of Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain), and the detailed weather information for they are sometimes too long and not needed. These tend to make the book drag on those parts. But once you get past those, all is good. (They are short passages but drag nonetheless.)

The revelation at the end is my absolute favorite. I never see it coming. Even though I have read this book every year, it still gets me by surprise and gives me the biggest smile.

Would I recommend it? Yes, absolutely.

Will I read it again? Every Christmas!
 

 
About the book – from Goodreads: Disillusioned journalist Tom Langdon must get from Washington D.C. to L.A in time for Christmas. Forced to travel by train, he begins a journey of rude awakenings, thrilling adventures and holiday magic. He has no idea that the locomotives pulling him across America will actually take him into the rugged terrain of his own heart, as he rediscovers people’s essential goodness and someone very special he believed he had lost.

The Christmas Train is filled with memorable characters who have packed their bags with as much wisdom as mischief … and shows how we do get second chances to fulfill our deepest hopes and dreams, especially during this season of miracles.

 
 

* This post contains affiliate links.
** This post first appeared on Every Free Chance Books (everyfreechance.com) on December 3, 2011. Book cover, graphics, and links updated on December 5, 2019.