Last Train to Freedom is another stunning achievement in historical fiction from Deborah Swift. In this book, she explores the plight of thousands of Polish Jews who escaped to Lithuania seeking safe haven from the Nazis, only to lose it to the Soviets in a year's time. Setting the majority of the story on the Trans-Siberian Express, a 15-day journey from Moscow to Vladivostok, heightens the tension of the pursuit by both the Nazis and the NKVD while giving the reader a spectacular view of the wide expanse of Russia.

The author bookends this novel with two quotes that have long been favorites of mine and are perfect for this book. The first is:
"There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen." Vladimir Lenin

The second quote is:
"The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for." Fyodor Dostoevsky

If like me you enjoy historical fiction because it allows you to painlessly absorb new information while allowing you to feel the impact, I highly recommend this book. If you prefer action, mysteries, or a bit of romance in a plot that moves at the speed of light, you too will love this book.

My thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. The review and all opinions are entirely my own.

This was my first book by this author and I am so glad to have had this opportunity to read this book. Whilst based in fiction, the book truly encapsulated some of the true horrors of WW2 particularly for the Jewish population. You can tell the care the author put into writing this book particularly as it is largely based entirely on fiction.

The characters were well rounded and you can see how the author tries to encapsulate a variety of experiences through those characters. You can sympathise with most of them but are reminded of their part in the atrocities explored in the boom. One particular character I was particularly enamoured with was Masha who's arc did not fall into any of common tropes surrounding her arc which was refreshing.. The protagonist, Zofia, makes you want to fight for her throughout and it is never a sure bet how things will play out and she is not infallible often relying on luck or allies when things do not play out how she wishes they would.

I appreciated the context at the end to signpost both historical accuracies and fictional liberties as well as the resources listed for further study. As someone with a keen interest in WW2 this was a great addition.

I will definitely be checking out other works by this author and can wholeheartedly recommend the book.

A gripping and unforgettable novel and brilliant story and characters. Zofia is the leading character, but Otto, Haru, Masha and Jacek are important as well. I am not going to relate the story because that would spoil a fantastic tale. But I can say that the reader is unlikely to be sorry that they read this novel, it grips you from the beginning and does not let go until the end. Highly recommended .

Such an interesting and original book. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. It also informed me about the situation between Japan and Russia pre WW2. Informative, full of suspense and thrills. Recommended.