It is a great pity that Matt Haig’s latest novel, The Midnight Train, travels an all-too-predictable route.

The premise is simple and well executed to start. When Wilbur dies in his 80s, he is transported aboard a magical train that takes him through time to revisit the most significant moments of his life.

Wilbur’s life was a triumph. He rose from poverty and obscurity to become a highly successful bookshop owner, building a chain of stores across the country.

But it quickly becomes apparent that his determination to escape the hurts of his childhood came at a considerable cost. His relentless drive to build an empire alienated his one true love, Maggie, leaving him to die a lonely old man.

As Wilbur travels back in time and experiences his life from a different perspective, he is forced to grapple with the challenges that shaped him in a way he never had the courage to do while alive. The love story between Maggie and Wilbur is sweet and sentimental, but it still holds its own.

Unfortunately, as the story progresses, so does its predictability. Wilbur begins to hatch a plan to warn his younger self of the mistakes that await him, even at the risk of losing his place in eternity.

It is here that an intriguing exploration of regret, love and the choices that shape a life begins to unravel into a far more conventional tale, ultimately arriving at a destination that feels all too easy to see coming.