Last Train to Key West

 

The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton is a historical fiction novel set in 1935. Cleeton also wrote When We Left Cuba and Next Year in Havana.  She is from Florida with a family of Cuban immigrants who lived through the Cuban Revolution.

Here's the back copy: In 1935, three women are forever changed when one of the most powerful hurricanes in history barrels toward the Florida keys.

For the tourists traveling on Henry Flagler's legendary Overseas Railroad, Labor Day weekend is an opportunity to forget he economic depression gripping the nation. But one person's  paradise can be another's prison, and Key West native Helen Berner yearns to escape.

After the Cuban Revolution of 1933 leaves Mirta Perez's family in a precarious position, she agrees to an arranged marriage with a  notorious American. Following her wedding in Havana, Mirta arrives in the keys on her honeymoon. While she can't deny the growing attraction to her new husband, his illicit business interests may threaten not only her relationship but also her life.

Elizabeth Preston's trip to Key West is a chance to save her once wealthy family from their troubles after the Wall Street crash. Her quest takes her to the camps occupied by veterans of the Great War and pairs her with an unlikely ally on a treacherous hunt of his own.

Over the course of the holiday weekend, the women's paths cross unexpected and the danger swirling around them is matched only by the terrifying force of the deadly storm threatening the keys.

So....this book was interesting on a variety of levels. There is the fact that it is set in Key West, which, although I've only been there once, it has remained one of my favorite places to visit. Then there is the historical aspect-the most powerful hurricane in history hit the keys Labor Day weekend 1935 and it is the center of the story, the Great Depression is still in full swing, and the unrest in Cuba is just beginning.

And lastly, the characters have unexpected connections. Although one of them I figured out ahead of time. But the last link between the characters was a bit of a surprise in the end. These connections prove to be more significant has the story progresses. And while, it might seem a little to coincidental, I still enjoyed it.

This was a good read overall. It had strong characters, a story that kept me wanting to read, and a good solid ending. If you like historical fiction and female lead characters, then this book is for you.

Happy Reading!