Plot Summary

Night Train

Martin Amis
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Night Train

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1997

Book Brief

Martin Amis

Night Train

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1997
Book Details
Pages

175

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Unnamed American City • 1990s

Publication Year

1997

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Night Train by Martin Amis, a pastiche of hard-boiled American detective novels, follows female detective Mike Hoolihan as she investigates the suicide of Jennifer Rockwell, a beautiful astrophysicist and daughter of police chief Tom Rockwell, in a second-tier American city. The narrative includes reflections on astrophysics, the nature of suicide, and moral relativity, exploring Hoolihan's personal and professional struggles. The book addresses sensitive topics such as mental health, substance abuse, and sexual trauma.

Dark

Mysterious

Gritty

Suspenseful

Unnerving

Reviews & Readership

3.5

6,463 ratings

42%

Loved it

38%

Mixed feelings

20%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Night Train by Martin Amis offers a gripping narrative with a dark, noir atmosphere. Readers praised its stylistic prose and complex protagonist. Some criticized its convoluted plot and bleak tone. Overall, it is a well-crafted, if sometimes polarizing, read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Night Train?

Readers who would enjoy Night Train by Martin Amis are those intrigued by psychological noir with a dark, introspective edge. Similar to fans of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or Sharp Objects, these readers appreciate complex characters, gritty settings, and poignant explorations of despair and mystery.

3.5

6,463 ratings

42%

Loved it

38%

Mixed feelings

20%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

175

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Unnamed American City • 1990s

Publication Year

1997

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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