A diverse group of passengers aboard the Orient Express finds their lives inextricably linked as a series of personal crises and political tensions collide during the long transit to Istanbul. Carleton Myatt, a Jewish businessman, and Coral Musker, a young chorus girl, navigate the claustrophobic confines of the train while contending with the presence of a revolutionary and a journalist. The narrative framework utilizes a shifting third-person perspective to examine the internal motivations of each traveler. As the train traverses Europe, the physical constraints of the carriages force these disparate individuals into uncomfortable proximity, heightening the stakes of their individual objectives. The plot relies on the intersection of chance encounters and the looming threat of political instability to drive the narrative forward.

Readers often note the sharp, cinematic quality of the prose, which reflects the author's early interest in film and narrative economy. Discussion frequently centers on the effectiveness of the train as a confined setting that forces character development through forced interaction. Critics highlight the balance between the thriller elements and the deeper, more cynical observations regarding human nature and social isolation. Many readers appreciate the way the narrative avoids sentimentality, opting instead for a detached, observant tone that defines the author's early work. The book is widely regarded as a significant example of the author's ability to blend popular entertainment with serious thematic inquiry.