This Train

The train is carrying a seven-foot cube of paper money and a SWAT team to make sure it arrives safely. There are two computer hackers who intend to divert the money cube into their own pockets; an abused wife who plans to kill her husband; a disenfranchised man who intends to kill himself, a wealthy, self-centered billionaire; and an assassin who wants to kill him. There is also a senior citizen with a pesky little dog, and a military family aligning their moral compasses. In the 47 hours of the trip, these passengers work toward their goals, form new alliances, and make decisions. Most arrive in Chicago, but only some achieve their objectives. Grady (Six Days of the Condor) creates an action-packed adventure with a host of interesting characters. The clackety-clack of the train gives a rhythm to the story, and the reader can nearly feel the sway of the train. Narrator Natasha Soudek deftly delivers a wide range of voices for the many characters and enhances the feeling of being on the train.