Beware the Midnight Train

by Anna Faversham

From an award winning and Amazon #1 Time Travel Romance author comes this treat for the imagination – based on truth. If you were offered a dream cottage in an English country village and it’s dirt cheap, would you be tempted? Ellie is, especially as she has nowhere else to go after walking out on her no-good two-timing ex. It's a good start - the neighbours are great, bit strange perhaps. And the dishy local vicar declares himself willing to help day or night. Night? And what’s this talk about a mysterious Midnight Train? Has she done the right thing?

It's the 1970s and Ellie attempts to make a new life for herself and ignores the village gossip about ghosts and disappearing people. The ex called her boring but from now on she’ll never be called that again and I think you’ll agree with her. Travel in style on the Midnight Train and see where it takes you.

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2024

About the author

I have lived most of my life in Kent, England but I’ve also lived in New Zealand and central Africa. Both had a lasting influence. Africa dragged my love of writing to the surface. Living some forty miles from the nearest tarmac road and seventy from anything pretending to be a bookshop, I soon ran out of bedtime stories for the children. Scribbling began.

On returning to England, fiction had to take a back seat as real life took over, you know the sort of thing - a proper job to keep feeding the mortgage and the growing family, and chores, chores and more chores. But a love of writing finally erupted into regular tap-tapping. I've written and read for the BBC and published short stories.

Finally, a little more time was found, seven novels have been completed, and more are in the pipeline. I like to include interesting facts in my writing and it is often the case that fact is stranger than fiction, as you probably know. The first book to be published was Hide in Time, a time travel romance. The second book was inspired by the smugglers’ caves I visited as a child, and the third is a sequel set in the ‘diamond isle’ – the Isle of Wight. My website tells more about the inspiration for the books.

And what do people say about the books?

“A clever mixture of suspense, romance and time travel” - Hide in Time
“Dark romantic mystery on a knife edge throughout” - One Dark Night.

www.annafaversham.uk

Reviews

[Gail Meath · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I normally don’t read time travel novels, the premise of this book drew me in for a few reasons. First and foremost, I have read other historical books by the author, Anna Faversham, and always, her stories, the characters, and descriptions, are beautifully written and amazingly absorbing. I also had an interest in the ghostly plot from the intriguing title, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed.

This is a unique and captivating account of Ellie Raynett’s adventures after a bad breakup. She moves to Flint Cottage to begin anew, and from the start, she not only meets some very unique and memorable characters, but she finds herself engulfed in a world beyond her own. It is a gripping story that fans of both time travel and romance will love. I highly recommend it.

[Lynn Helton · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ellie moves to her new flat in Flint Cottage, she finds herself among a cast of interesting characters: the exuberant pop star and his wife who live upstairs, the handsome vicar and his fluffy dachshund, the Frilly Apron Brigade.... Oh, and then there are ghosts. And a warning to beware the midnight train, whatever that might be.

I loved the unique, often colorful characters and enjoyed how, as the story progressed, Ellie grew beyond the hurtful things her ex had her believing about herself. The final break with him was a delight! It intrigued me that a true happening inspired the story. The mystery around the ghosts was compelling and the story moved along at a good pace as events developed. The Christian faith is an integral part of the tale, more so in the second half.

One thing that I struggled with was why some characters targeted a certain man. That part didn't seem very clear. But otherwise, motives and events all fell into place well as the characters unraveled the mystery.

Overall, this is an engaging story with plenty of interesting characters, an intriguing historical mystery, faith, and messages of self-acceptance and forgiveness. An entertaining read!

(I read this book through Kindle Unlimited.)

[Sienna S'Zell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very strange story with interesting characters. Lots of contrast between "ghosts" and "Spirit," as in Christianity. I wasn't sure what was happening half the time, but it all wraps up with a good ending. Worth the read.

[Julia Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving five stars for Beware the Midnight Train as I enjoyed it very much. The writing was beautiful and the story unfolded in such a way I was intrigued from the first chapter. When Ellie boarded the Midnight Train I had my heart in my mouth and although it was a plush train, I feared for her safety and admired her bravery.
Her adventure led her into an adventure that was both sad and poignant and I wondered if it could have a happy ending.
I've read all the novels by this author and have always enjoyed them. I recommend Beware the Midnight Train for any reader who enjoys time travel with a twist.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth a read!

Ellie, after being dumped by her boyfriend for being ‘boring,’ moves into Flint Cottage. Determined to make a fresh start, she sets out to create a cosy, welcoming home. But that’s no easy task when the house is haunted, and the neighbours issue bizarre warnings about midnight trains. Following an attempted break-in, Ellie makes a decision that draws her into a supernatural world, hidden just a train ride away from ours.

This book truly has something for everyone. Fans of time travel and ghost stories will find plenty to enjoy, while the second half delves deeply into religious themes. There’s even a sweet romance for readers who enjoy heart-warming connections.

The characters are well-crafted and compelling. Ellie is instantly relatable, but my personal favourites were Joshua and Bruno. I wasn’t a fan of Dom – his lack of sympathy for Mr Busselbee, who endured unspeakable tragedy, was hard to overlook, while the triple murderers seemed oddly portrayed as victims.


The story is fun but also thought-provoking, raising fascinating ethical questions: if you had the chance to rewrite history and right a wrong, would you defy the ‘rules’ of time travel to do it? I wish Ellie had chosen to break the rules, but the tension around that decision added depth to the story.

For those who’ve read the book: why was Joshua set up in the first place? I must’ve missed something, but all the ‘witnesses’ lied so quickly, it left me confused. I wasn’t clear why the setup needed to happen at all? Why not just have the death as an ‘accident’? It must be in there, but I couldn't find it.


Overall, this is a gripping, well-written, and imaginative story, which is definitely worth a read!

[Rosemary Mairs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Raynett moves into Flint Cottage, needing a fresh start after breaking up with her boyfriend. She meets the locals, including larger-than-life Troy, whose outlandish vibrant clothes match his exuberant personality and behaviour. Then there is the delectable vicar, Dominic, from whom Ellie 'shielded her fragile heart', avoiding eye contact.

It soon becomes apparent that all is not as it seems in Ellie's new abode, and she gets sucked into the ghostly goings-on at Flint Cottage. The mysterious midnight train journeys were captivating, had me burning the midnight oil.

As in the author’s previous books, a religious message takes front stage, the characters are guided and encouraged by their Christian faith. A central theme is the power of forgiveness, giving the reader pause for thought.

This was a pleasure to read, with an engaging array of characters, including adorable dachshund Bruno. The plot switching between the 1970s and Victorian times worked effectively and convincingly. I expect fans of time travel and romance will love this book.

[Kevin Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an unusual and intriguing story with endearing characters who draw you into their adventure.
Beware the Midnight Train is definitely a good read, the plot so different from my usual read.
I found it an interesting story, one that I highly recommend.

[Anna Faversham · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This was a gripping read - hard to put down! On one level a thriller - but a thread of redemption running through - and based on a true happening - food for thought! Highly recommended." Margaret Johnson
This is not my review of my own book! It was sent to me by someone who said she had tried to put it on Amazon but had not been allowed as she was 'ineligible'. I presume this is because of the Amazon ruling of needing to spend a certain amount before a review becomes eligible - in order to stop false reviews, I think. So very thoughtful of her to ensure I received it.

[Jane Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beware the Midnight Train was inspired by Anna Faversham's experience of living in a haunted cottage in the 1970s. The story follows Ellie, who moves to the cottage to recover from a jilted relationship. She soon finds herself confronted by ghosts of former occupants, who plead with her to help them find peace. To do so, she must travel back to the Victorian era on the midnight train to witness the tragedy that befell the family. Despite the calamities of the past, humour and romance prevail in the story. If you enjoy time-travel stories, this is the book for you.

[D. Thrush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie wants a new start after escaping her ex. She moves into an inexpensive cottage with quirky upstairs neighbors that turns out to be haunted. She hears rumors about a midnight ghost train and decides to see it for herself. This is a unique ghost story that takes us to the past for answers, with a religious theme that got a little heavy towards the end. Otherwise, Faversham delivers an intriguing story loosely based on her own experience of living in a haunted cottage.

[Lexie Conyngham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the 1970s, this involves a young, jilted woman going to live on her own in the countryside in what turns out to be a haunted cottage. Only by travelling back in time on the Midnight Train can she hope to help the ghosts and allow them to rest – but is it a trap? Funny and tragic (the upstairs neighbours are a joy), this is one of those reads where you dread the ending but have to read on.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lost the plot with vicar converting the Jewish ghosts