Tracks Eric D. Goodman, 316 pgs, Atticus Books, atticusbooksonline.com, $16

"I know a thing or two about the sort of person who takes a train," muses the conductor in the opening paragraphs of Baltimore author Eric D. Goodman's first novel. "They're neither here nor there - in transition." So begins Tracks, a collection of stories set on an overnight train heading west from Baltimore to Chicago, filled with a mix of young and old passengers who feel optimistic for the expedition ahead and hardened by the past left behind.

Each brief chapter explores the perspective of a different passenger, while a major character in one story might reappear as a bit player in the next. One woman's back tattoo is gawked at by the male passengers on board and, seen through their lustful eyes, she acquires an unflattering reputation for most of the book until her own tale is told. Another character deals with the sudden death of a nearby rider, who moments earlier (as only the reader knows) experienced a major change of heart.

Once everyone's introduced, the real fun begins. Two characters drunkenly end up in a cabin together, while on the other end of the train a cat-and-mouse game breaks out between a runaway mob member and his pursuing hit man. At times, Tracks feels like an episode of The Sopranos on VIA Rail, particularly since the mafia story arc - the one Goodman spends most of the novel crafting - is by far the highlight. The other stories, in comparison, only offer a glimpse into the lives of those touched by loss or uncertainty. By the novel's end, there are many dangling loose ends, but even if the final destination is somewhat unsatisfying, the writing makes for a great ride. (Melissa Hergott)