The Last Train

by Sue Lawrence

At 7 p.m. on 28 December 1879, a violent storm batters the newly built iron rail bridge across the River Tay, close to the city of Dundee. Ann Craig is waiting for her husband, the owner of the largest local mill, to return home. From her window Ann sees a strange and terrible sight as the bridge collapses, and the lights of the train in which he is travelling plough down into the freezing river waters.As Ann manages the grief and expectations of family and friends, amid a town mourning its loved ones, doubt is cast on whether Robert was on the train, after all. If not, where is he, and who is the mysterious woman who is first to be washed ashore?In 2015, Fiona Craig wakes to find that her partner Pete, an Australian restaurateur, has cleared the couple's bank account before abandoning his car at the local airport and disappearing. When the police discover his car is stolen, Fiona conducts her own investigation into Pete's background, slowly uncovering dark secrets and strange parallels with the events of 1879.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Historical

Mass Market Paperback

Reviews

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 1879, a viscous storm hits Dundee, Scotland, as Anne and her two children wait at the window for the returning train bringing home their husband and father. As they watch the train cross the bridge at the river Tay, they soon see a horrific tragedy. The bridge collapses and the train descends into the river, killing all. But was Robert on that train?

In the present day Fiona living with Pete and her son by her dead husband, weakens to find Pete gone and their bank account emptied. How these two stories tie together encompasses the plot.

Very atmospheric and I actually liked both parts of this story. The historical story is very twisty as a woman must now fight form the survival of herself and her children. But Anne has a past, not known to many, and she wishes to keep it that way. The present day story had some quite likable characters. So all was well and good, reading along nicely. But, then came the ending, which I felt not only rushed but a very strange way to end this book. Not quite fitting. Still I did fond it enjoyable and the author did a good job tying the two stories together.

ARC from Netgalley.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an outstanding opening! Ann Craig and her two children, Lizzie and James, were watching the storm through the window of their home in Dundee. They were also watching for husband and father, Robert Craig’s train to arrive – due at 7pm it would travel over the River Tay on the newly built rail bridge. The storm was a vicious, violent one – the lights of the train showed its imminent arrival, when suddenly those lights dipped and vanished as the bridge collapsed…

28th December 1879 was the night of the disaster on the River Tay, when many lives were lost. Ann and her children were steeped in grief, along with the whole town – trying to come to terms with the enormity of the catastrophe encompassed them all.

2015 and Fiona Craig was shocked to discover her partner of three years had disappeared; clearing out her savings account and abandoning his car at the airport. Pete was an Australian restaurateur and it seemed the upcoming review of his restaurant had spooked him. But why? Fiona had no idea – and her son Jamie was devastated by Pete’s disappearance.

As Fiona searched for answers about Pete, she also began an investigation into the accident over the River Tay all those years before. Her interest was initially for her job but gradually she was immersed in the past. What was the connection to her family? It seemed there were secrets everywhere…

The Last Train by Sue Lawrence is an excellent read! I thoroughly enjoyed it – set in two-time frames and told by Ann in 1879 and Fiona in 2015, I was totally engrossed. Subterfuge, intrigue, mystery and deceit – all rippled through The Last Train. Ann wasn’t a nice person! But she loved her children 😊 Highly recommended.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my ARC to read and review.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sue Lawrence has set this historical mystery against the backdrop of the infamous 1879 Tay Bridge disaster when high winds caused the bridge to collapse while the northbound train to Dundee was crossing, plunging all on board to their deaths. The narrative is told in two time lines focusing on two women, linked across time, Ann Craig and Fiona Craig.

On 28th December 1879 Ann Craig is expecting her husband Robert, a wealthy owner of a jute mill, to be on the train she and her son are watching cross the bridge. They are shocked when it suddenly plunges from view, disappearing into the stormy waters below. As the bodies wash up on the beach or are pulled from the waters by divers and fisherman, Ann refuses to accept that her husband is dead until his body is found.

In 2015, Fiona Craig and her son are living with Pete her partner of three years in the country north of Dundee where he is a popular chef at a local hotel. She wakes up one morning to find that he has done a runner, taking all their savings. She has no idea why he left and suspects he has returned to his home in Australia but has no idea where to start looking for him. Forced to return to live with her parents in the Craig ancestral home in Dundee, she finds work at the museum researching the archives for an exhibition on the Tay Bridge disaster.

From a personal point of view, I enjoyed reading this book. My family are from Dundee and Broughty Ferry (the small adjacent town where many bodies washed up after the disaster) where I spent part of my childhood in Broughty Ferry, hearing stories of the terrible disaster from my grandmother. The author has researched the disaster well to provide the background to both Ann and Fiona's narratives. Using Ann's secret past she has also woven in historical facts of the jute industries and the terrible lives many of the workers had in the mills and the slums of Dundee. There are some parallels in the two women's stories - apart from living in the same house, they have both been left by their partners with a young son - however the outcomes are very different. I did think the reason for Pete's prolonged disappearance was a bit contrived and could have been better pre-empted to be less unexpected. Overall, an interesting read that sent me looking for more historical facts. 3.5★

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.
The year is 1879. As a violent storm batters the newly built bridge across the rover Tay. Ann Craig is waiting for her husband, Robert, to come home. Robert is the owner of a large jute mill. From her window Ann sees the bridge collapse just as the train in which he is travelling is crossing it. The train plunges down into the water. Was Robert definitely on the train? If not where is he?
In 2015 Fiona Craig wakes one morning to find her partner Pete, a restaurateur originally from Australia, has gone. Not only has he disappeared but he has emptied their bank account. His car is found abandoned at the local airport. Fiona also worries about her son Jamie, who having already suffered the death of his father, had forged a bond with Pete. With no money coming in Fiona moves from Glenisla, where there is no work back to live with her parents, Dorothy and Struan at Dundee. Once Jamie is in his new school Fiona plans to find a job. Meanwhile she wants to uncover the mysteries that seem to surround Pete’s background.
The book alternates between the two time frames and the main characters of Ann and Fiona, each with a mysterious event that has disrupted their lives. It makes for interesting reading as we get to know each of the main characters and their situations. Ann is not a particularly likable character and some of her behaviour seemed a bit out of character at times, though I was still happy to keep reading. I did like Fiona as a character and her relationship with her parents.
And then I came towards the end. What was that? It not only seemed rushed but felt to me as if the author had no idea how to finish it and just plucked something out of mid-air. As far as I was concerned the ending was a complete let down. Maybe that’s just me. It will be interesting to see if others who read it feel the same. I thought it was a shame as I had been quite interested in the story and the plot and the way it fitted together until then. Summing, up a good read but the ending I found unbelievable. How you react to the ending could determine how you rate the book over all, but it pulled my rating down.

[Sally906 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opens: The storm raged on. In the pitch black, the thunder cracked as a roaring gale whipped through the narrow wynds and filthy closes of Dundee’s tenements.
(A wynd is a narrow ally – Scottish term)

Blurb: At 7 p.m. on 28 December 1879, a violent storm batters the newly built iron rail bridge across the River Tay, close to the city of Dundee. Ann Craig is waiting for her husband, the owner of the largest local mill, to return home. From her window Ann sees a strange and terrible sight as the bridge collapses, and the lights of the train in which he is travelling plough down into the freezing river waters. As Ann manages the grief and expectations of family and friends, amid a town mourning its loved ones, doubt is cast on whether Robert was on the train, after all. If not, where is he, and who is the mysterious woman who is first to be washed ashore? In 2015, Fiona Craig wakes to find that her partner Pete, an Australian restaurateur, has cleared the couple's bank account before abandoning his car at the local airport and disappearing. When the police discover his car is stolen, Fiona conducts her own investigation into Pete's background, slowly uncovering dark secrets and strange parallels with the events of 1879.


My Thoughts:
THE LAST TRAIN is my first book by Sue Lawrence, and her second fiction book, and I really, really enjoyed it. It opens in Dundee with Ann Craig and her children watching a train with her husband, Robert, on it, plunge into the icy waters of the River Tay when the bridge collapsed. The Dundee Tay Bridge disaster is a historical fact – you can read more about it here: http://taybridgedisaster.co.uk/

Shortly after this heart in mouth opening chapter, the reader is transported to 2015 to meet Fiona Craig and her son James. Fiona is having a similar problem to Ann – except instead of a train disaster her partner, Peter, has done a runner – when she went to sleep he was there – when she woke up he was gone along with the contents of their bank account; she was now destitute. Fiona moves back to her parents’ house in Dundee. Both women have lost their men and now have to fend for themselves and their fatherless children. Both women start to investigate where their men have gone, because Ann very quickly has reason to believe her husband was not on the train and, like Peter, has done a runner.

The two different plots of THE LAST TRAIN twist and turn and occasionally there is a modern day link to the activities in the past. I like how the author linked the events and locations from the past into the present, so questions asked in 2015 are answered for the reader in 1879. The overall feeling of the book is one of intrigue – what has happened, is happening and is going to happen? What are the hidden secrets and how will it end? The resolution is not cut and dried for either of the two women – the ending of the modern day plot felt a bit rushed and out of the blue – but when joining the dots it did make sense and fitted the overall mood of the book.

Sue Lawrence has obviously done meticulous research into the train disaster and brings it alive on the pages Dundee in 1879 is a mill town full of overcrowded company owned tenements where badly paid cold, hungry, and dirty factory workers live. This is contrasted to how the rich live – and emphasises why Ann fights to keep her comfortable life. Both of the men were utter horrors and both women deserved better. Ann was a strong character – she loves her children and their well-being is one of her motivations, but she is also vain, an utter snob, kept to herself and was a hard taskmaster to her servants. There is a reason for this however, and the reader gets to find out what that reason is. In contrast, Fiona is a bit wishy washy when compared to Ann. Ann had no one to help and had to use her wits – Fiona had parents to help her and a plethora of friends to advise and help her while she searched for Peter.

I preferred the historical parts of the story – they had more atmosphere, more mystery, and more angst for the lead lady, I could understand her motivation. I did not get as involved so much in Fiona’s story – and didn’t understand her motivation for chasing up Peter’s past – I would have just moved on.

Overall, this was one hell of a story – and as I said in my opening, I really, really enjoyed it.

With thanks to Allen and Unwin and the author for my copy to read and review.

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sue Lawrence has written a gripping story. She has done meticulous research on the Tay Bridge rail disaster of 1879 and the descriptions of it and the aftermath are superb, as is the picture of Scotland in the Victorian era. We follow two stories of two missing men in two different eras.

In a raging storm in December 1879, Ann Craig and her two children await the return of her husband, Robert, a mill owner. She watches the train fall into the river from the window. Robert appears not to have been on the train, so Ann investigates. In present day Dundee, Fiona Craig's partner, Pete who is Australian, disappears leaving behind a letter that raises more questions than it answers. Pete cleans out their bank account, and his car is left at the airport. Things about Pete are not adding up for Fiona, she starts to investigate. There are connections between the two cases and buried secrets.

A well written story that has oodles of atmosphere and intrigue. Whilst there is resolution, be prepared for the fact that it is not neat. This is a book which I very much enjoyed and found absorbing. I particularly like the way Sue Lawrence made the past come alive so skilfully. Recommended read. Thanks to Freight Books for an ARC via netgalley.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has linked 2 eras together but relationships are not revealed until the end. The main theme of this read surrounds the events of the Tay River train disaster in 1879 with the parallel story set in 2015 connecting the events that followed. Ann Craig (nee Robertson) a jute mill worker has been able to change her station in life by marrying Robert Craig, the owner. Ann has all the refineries that money can buy, household staff and two children that she loves and attends to so differently from her own unloved childhood. Fiona in 2015 is in a relationship with an Australian, Pete Gibson, a few years after the death of her husband. Fiona and her son Jamie are devastated when out of the blue Pete disappears taking all their savings with him. Whilst this side story plays little part in the overall plot, the author has included it in order for Fiona and Jamie to return to the family Craig home, an inherited home from Fiona’s father’s family. The history of the family starts to unravel after the death of Fiona’s father and connections made to events and murder by Ann Craig following the train disaster where all passengers were killed. This is a fabulous story, the author has been extremely creative in taking the reader on a journey of quiet suspense. The chapters alternate between 1879 and 2015 however given the differences in the eras it is not difficult to follow.

[Zippergirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two women, two missing men. Two stories interleaved.

In Scotland, two families share the same home overlooking the River Tay, more than a century apart. Dundee in 1879 is a mill town, its chief export is jute produced in dim factories by the women and children who inhabit the cold and overcrowded company-owned tenements nearby. It's dirty and dangerous, and it's a long way down from the manors owned by the mill owners and their families.

A well-to-do young wife watches the Tay Rail Bridge with her two children expecting her husband home soon. While the river churns and the wind pounds the tiles from the roof, she sees the train crash through the iron supports of the bridge and careen into the river. In 2015 another mother wakes to find that her partner, and surrogate dad to her young son, has up and left her, leaving a short Dear John letter explaining nothing. He's also cleared out their bank account. She must move back to the house in Dundee to live with her parents and try to reconcile this sudden turn of events. When the circumstances of both men's disappearance turn mysterious, can the women handle the truth?

There is mystery and atmosphere galore in The Night He Left. The history of life in Victorian Scotland is brilliantly recreated and peopled with characters from all walks of life. The aftermath of the famous railroad disaster evokes the reality of the survivors during the long search for the dead. Well written, with strong historical elements, yet. Yet, the two stories come to an abrupt ending, like a train gone off the tracks. There is adequate resolution, but it lacks the wow factor that would make this a five star read.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

[Rebecca Boreham · Rating 1 out of 5]

The reviews for this were excellent but the book disappointed. I never got a sense of the place, the characters were not well written and the two parallel narratives lacked momentum. The modern part of the story was particularly weak and the conclusion of that story was ridiculous.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com

3.5 stars

‘We watched the train go over the bridge and then fall, tumbling into the depths.’

A bifold narrative that crosses 1879 and 2015, The Last Train is a mystery novel that encompasses intrigue, betrayal, speculation, lies, secrets and tragedy. This Scottish historical, combined with a contemporary fiction novel, links the puzzling events of two families who are separated by over one hundred years in the one gripping tale.

A terrible tragedy opens The Last Train by Sue Lawrence. In the year 1879, on a stormy winter’s night, a passenger train plunges into the icy waters of the River Tay. A new bridge constructed in the area is to blame and this engineering tragedy marks the loss of many innocent lives. At the heart of this tragedy is a woman named Ann Craig, the wife of the owner of a local mill. Ann believes her husband was on the ill-fated train. After she witnesses the train accident firsthand, Ann is haunted by grief, sadness and uncertainty. As bodies begin to surface and are pulled from the water of the River Tay, Ann is doubtful that her husband was on the train as the days pass by. The links to a mysterious woman who washes up on the shores of the river following the accident casts further suspicion on her missing husband. Moving forward in time to the year 2015, we are introduced to Fiona Craig. Fiona is haunted by the disappearance of her husband. Fiona cannot understand why her restaurateur husband would suddenly vanish without a trace, leaving his family bereft. As Fiona battles to uncover the reasons for her husband’s disappearance, she comes across a number of questionable facts and secrets that have a bearing on the tragic events that occurred in 1879.

The Last Train is a dual timeline novel that I found read as two individual stories. The ties between the 1879 and 2015 based narratives are actually quite weak and the links between the two storylines are not made until the latter stages of this novel. I enjoyed the historical component of The Last Train, much more than the contemporary element of Sue Lawrence’s book. I understand and appreciate the complexity of dual timeline based novels and although I was incredibly gripped by the historical aspect of this tale, the present day narrative seemed to pale in comparison. The Last Train is a fairly fast paced novel with short and succinct chapters that often include in a speculative cliffhanger. I found I was addicted to turning the pages of this one, despite my lessened interest in the modern day storyline.

I was immediately taken in by the horrific tragedy that unfolds in the opening sequences of The Last Train. I felt I was a cast as a bystander like Ann Craig and I watched on in complete shock as the train travelling on the newly built bridge near Dundee plunged into the depths of the icy waters of the River Tay. What a heartbreaking event and tragedy for all involved. The sadness of this incident is further extended by the lack of conclusive evidence as to how many passengers were actually on this ill-fated train and how long it took for the bodies to recovered. I was compelled to conduct my own investigations on this awful event in Scottish history while I was reading The Last Train. My online research uncovered an absolutely fascinating historical event, marred by complete tragedy. There is no doubting Sue Lawrence’s dedication to her craft in this area of her novel. We are presented with a rich and full history of this terrible sequence of events. I valued this portion of the novel very much.

In terms of the contemporary thread of The Last Train, I feel this was the novel’s weakest link. While I developed a great deal of empathy for the lead of this strand of the book, my interest waned during these acts of The Last Train. My heart went out to Fiona as her family as they struggled to understand what was happening to them. Lawrence works hard to build a level of tension, intrigue and mystery around this zone of her book. The end result was nothing too remarkable and I wasn’t taken by the very faint links to the past narrative.

Ann Craig, the principal character of the historical plot of The Last Train, was a fairly prickly and unpredictable protagonist in my eyes. My opinion of Ann changed as the story progressed. Initially Ann seemed to keep the reader at arm’s length, to the point where she seemed quite distanced and disconnected from the events that unfold. I did develop a level of sympathy for Ann and I did admire her true level of protection for her children. However, I soon grew tired of Ann’s rather judgmental ways. Ann also implicated a number of innocent figures in the duplicity element of this book which I won’t delve into any further due to spoilers. I was really at odds with Ann. What I will mention in reference to Ann is that the author worked to build a strong set of characters. The Last Train features good figures and villains, but it was the innocents that I felt deeply for. In particular, I felt a great deal of concern for the offspring who would continue to wear this tragic set of events for decades to come.

All in all The Last Train was quite a divisive read for me. The historical background and the presentation of events in the past narrative did have my full attention, while the contemporary thread unfortunately paled in comparison. Overall, The Last Train was a historically enlightening read based around a truly tragic accident in Scotland’s past.

[Theresa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Train is a fast paced mystery with a loosely linked contemporary and historical timeline. My thoughts are so divided over this novel. On the one hand, I couldn’t put it down. It’s structured in a way that just keeps you hooked: short chapters with cliff-hanger endings; well developed characters; a layered plot – in both 1879/1880 and 2015 – that was absorbing yet not overly complicated; an even distribution of story time between both of these eras; and a fascinating historical incident providing the catalyst for the events portrayed. However, I didn’t like the resolution in either era for either character.

In the contemporary era, the ending was rushed and unconvincing, consequently portraying the main character Fiona as naive and a little bit stupid, which she wasn’t. Betrayed by her partner, lied to and stolen from, it didn’t wash with me that she would believe his explanations and take him back so readily, risking the emotional well-being of herself and her young son. Her actions towards the end of the story did not measure up to my expectations that had been nurtured throughout. Up until this last part, I had enjoyed the contemporary side of this story immensely, although I will point out that the connection to the historical story was so loose, that this novel really read as though it were two separate stories in one.

The historical part of this novel, Ann Craig’s story, was particularly engrossing and moving. But again, the ending was rushed and the resolution for Ann was quite disappointing. It just didn’t pan out the way I had hoped. The incident of the Tay Bridge disaster was truly fascinating, and what a horrid tragedy. And avoidable too, as evidenced from later inquiries. All of the historical sections were a great deal more atmospheric than the contemporary, adding to the overall element of mystery greatly. Ann was not an easy protagonist to like. She was vain, aloof, judgemental, and snobbish. Yet as her own personal history unfolded, I developed quite a liking for her and could view her with empathy. She loved her children fiercely, nothing was going to get in the way of their well-being, and if I didn’t always like what she did along the way, I could certainly respect her motivations and the drive that fear had unleashed in her.

I hated Ann’s husband Robert. Despised him. He seemed to me to be an opportunist, a man who viewed himself as a saviour of women from the lower classes, moving from one to the other dispassionately. He had little to do with his children and was unaffectionate, yet he still intended on taking them from their mother, who loved them immensely and was solely devoted to their care and happiness. On two occasions, he exerted his patriarchal rights over Ann:

“I am their father, you have no rights to them.”

And:

“By law they are my children, not yours.”

Her fears were rightly justified. Robert deserved what he got, but to my mind, Ann did not. But within the era, she didn’t have a leg to stand on. It seems incredible that a woman can grow a child within her own body, nurse it into existence, yet it not be considered hers. It’s appalling. Her fate devastated me, I had been nurturing a secret hope that the universe would be kinder to Ann, to women in her situation, but it was not to be.

I think I really just wanted this novel to be longer. An extra 100 pages, 50 for each era, would have allowed for these issues I had with the endings to be less rushed. I do recommend The Last Train, particularly to those who are fans of novels that are based on historical incidents. It will hook you from the outset and keep you turning the pages late into the night.

Thank is extended to Allen & Unwin for providing me with a copy of The Last Train for review.

[Kelly Van Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win an unpublished proof copy of this Allen and Unwin gem. I lived in Scotland for many years, so the setting of Dundee resonated from the offset. It’s an intricate, well-researched plot, which at it the core focuses on a disaster in 1879 where the rail bridge over the River Tay collapsed, plunging a train and its passengers into icy waters. Anne thinks her husband was on the train, until doubt is cast and she begins to unpick his movements before the tragic accident. It expertly weaves this historical story with the second plot line of Fiona, set in 2015, where her partner suddenly disappears from her life. I devoured this cover to cover in the heart of a snowy winter, while sitting on a train travelling through the UK. Packed with mystery and intrigue, I was gripped with an eeriness I couldn’t shake off until I disembarked.

[Katharine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pima vakantieboek. Sterke start, leest als een trein (pun intended), maar wel ongeloofwaardig einde, dus 2 ipv 3 sterren.

[Zed · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an intriguing story with two different mysteries unfolding. The 1879 mystery was more interesting to me as I liked the historical setting. I didn’t like the character of Ann from the beginning but her story and its resolution was the stronger of the two. Fiona’s story seemed slower with scenes where the dialogue didn’t really progress the plot. Her story was rushed in the last couple of chapters and ended abruptly.

It started off a bit slow but soon became a page turner that kept me guessing. It certainly captured my attention but the answers to the mysteries made the story disappointing to me overall.

*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways*

[Allie Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two interwoven parallel stories, one in the 1880s, one in 2015. The book starts with the Tay Bridge rail disaster, and a family whose father is believed to be on the train. In the present day, another family live in the house, but their lives have some unusual parallels.
In parts the story moves on well, and sucks you in, but I found the ending unsatisfying, and some of the dialogue and descriptions, especially of the older parts of the story, to be stilting and distracting.
A story with lots of unrealised potential.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected one incredible story and ended up with two okay stories. With the two stories running concurrently, I expected two exciting mysteries that intertwine with some kind of twist tying them together. There were some intense sections in both stories that had my attention around the half-way mark which had me excited. However, it ended as a bit of a fizzle as the stories barely tied together and there was a lack of overall mystery with predictable endings.

[Hales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this in a competition through Allen & Unwin and I am so glad I did! It was the perfect read for me. I loved the plot, it moved along so smoothly. I am definitely going to read more of Sue Lawrence’s books. 😊📖

[Angelique Simonsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It disappointed me. The two halves of the story never really seemed to knit together for me. There should have been parallels between the time periods but really the only connection is the fact that the main characters are related. Oh and the repeating train theme I guess.

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book . Historical fiction is a genre I really like and this did not disappoint . Set across 2 time frames the late 1800s and 2015. There are mysterious disappearances and strange parallels between them. Did Ann’s husband really die on the train that crashed on the River Tay bridge in 1879 and why did Fiona’s partner disappear on 2015.

[Lisa Nania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it and love a good twist in the end

[Susan Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, juxtaposing the life of a 19th century woman who ‘lost’ her husband in the 1879 Dundee rail disaster and that of a Dundee woman in 2015 who has also ‘lost’ her partner. There is a mystery about what happened to each of these women, but also as to how they are connected. The book speeds along at a great pace, and it would require a spoiler alert to indicate whether the result is another train wreck. I loved my prepublication copy, and read it in a day.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually enjoy historical mystery novels and gave this book a good 'go' but struggled to understand and follow the characters, particular the characters represented in the modern times. The ending fell flat for me. I guess I was anticipating something more epic but the ending, especially for the modern story, was so inconsequential and unsatisfying. The two-dimensional characters in this story were very hard to get to know and the minor characters were always difficult to place in the plot. I liked the story set in the 1880s so much better and felt that the protagonist was much better developed and her ending was certainly justifiable, although sad of course.

[Ian Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE LAST TRAIN by Sue Lawrence – an Allen and Unwin book
Review by Ian Smith
It all starts out so matter-of-fact, two stories revolving around the same house 135 years apart, but it so quickly turns to disaster. Two families are involved – maybe they’re related in some way?
The Tay Bridge disaster is the launch pad for the book and it’s historically correct in every way, except for the fact that the bridge was invisible the night the train crashed due to the violent storm that was partly responsible for its demise.
In differing ways the two families lose their male head but, all is not as it seems. There are sides to main protagonists of which we are initially unaware and you can expect to be surprised in the twists and turns this volume takes. There’s a bit of now-you-see-them, now-you-don’t in this tale. It leads you to thinking how bad the males are, but perhaps you might have to reconsider after what evolves.
Deviousness and malicious cunning come to the fore in totally unexpected and manipulative ways. Love, of various kinds, and tragedy befall both families but in totally different ways. The whole story revolves around 73 Magdalen Yard Road in Dundee and it has more twists and turns than a go-kart track.
There are trysts, jealousies, innocent children, mental problems and murders, none of which you suspect early on but they evolve as time goes by.
While I enjoyed the read I feel it incumbent upon me as a reviewer to mention that I felt it lacked emotion somewhat. At no time did I feel like grasping for a tissue despite the story being easy to follow, interesting and absorbing. Was that because of the characters themselves? Or, as I suspect, it might be because Sue is used to writing cookery books and there’s little you can do to conjure emotion out of, say, a carrot.
There are lots of interesting historical and medical insights along the way, none more so than how 19th century factory workers were treated in the linen mills, where jute and whale oil were combined when flax became too expensive and harder to obtain.
The links to various characters are the lifeblood of this book and though it’s 340 pages it’s really more like 290 because there are lots of half blanks in between the brief chapters. I should also mention it also comes with a “Read it, Love it – or your money back” sticker from Allen and Unwin and I don’t think there’ll be many refunds.

[Amy Smolcic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sue Lawrence’s The Last Train weaves historical fiction with a modern-day mystery, with both perspectives occurring in Scotland. In December 1879, a storm causes a train to tragically derail, killing all those onboard the ill-fated train. Initially, Ann Craig believes that her husband is one of the deceased, however, as she investigates his disappearance, new discoveries come to light. In 2015, Fiona Craig’s partner has suddenly disappeared, clearing their joint savings account in the process. Through the use of rotating perspectives, the author shows the connection between the two women.

The author’s writing style in The Last Train will capture you from the beginning. Though each chapter is short, they leave the reader in a cloud of doubt, desperately trying to put the pieces together. One of my favourite things about the novel was that it was difficult to predict what was going to happen next. Throughout its duration, there are an array of twists and turns, and it was an enjoyable process trying to uncover the mystery of both Ann and Fiona.

Ann’s character throughout the novel was utterly intriguing. At first, you sympathise with her. She has been left a widow and now has to raise her family alone. As the mystery of her husband’s disappearance comes to light, I found my opinion of her changing. Some might argue that she’s manipulative and is caught up in maintaining her once perfect life. Others (like myself) might see Ann as a survivalist. Though she has to break a series of laws to maintain stability, I feel as if everything is justified by the motive of wanting to survive and protect her children.

When comparing the two perspectives, I found Ann’s more thrilling than Fiona’s. I wanted to uncover what happened to Robert (Ann’s husband). Pete’s disappearance initially intrigued me, but I started to care less about his story-line the more I became absorbed in Ann’s story. Part of me felt disappointed when I reached the end of Ann’s sections as I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen next.

Though I enjoyed Fiona’s perspective less, reading The Last Train was a thrilling experience. I absolutely loved that it was difficult to make predictions, and the surprises constantly kept me on my toes. I highly recommend The Last Train to anyone who is looking for a gripping mystery to read within one sitting.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

By coincidence, I have recently read several books in which the collapse of the Tay Bridge in Scotland in 1879 has played a part. It’s clearly a very traumatic and vividly remembered part of Scottish history, and here it plays a prominent part.

“The Last Train” refers to the last train to cross – or try to cross – the Tay Bridge. All aboard were killed, but it was days before bodies were recovered. Some never were. In addition, there was some uncertainty about both the number of people on the train, and who they were.

So when Ann Craig is told that her husband Robert was on the train, and is presumed dead, she initially resolutely refuses to agree. She will wait till she has proof. As the days pass, it becomes hard to maintain that position. If he wasn’t on the train, where is he? Why hasn’t he been in touch?

Ann is gradually revealed to be far more manipulative, and far more determined, than anyone has realised. But is she manipulative and determined enough?

In 2015 Fiona Craig wakes to discover her partner Pete has absconded. He’s left without a word, but with all their savings. As she tries to find what happened to him, and where he is, parallels start to emerge between her story and that of Ann.

I found this interesting and enjoyable, although not compelling. The two stories were well told, and well intertwined. As often happens, one story caught my attention more than the other: I was more engaged by Fiona’s story than Ann’s. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel that either of them was overly original. The ideas and much of the action were familiar.

Still, it is a tale well told and enjoyable to read. Crime readers may find it rather lacking; this will appeal more to those who enjoy character based fiction and aren’t attached to any particular genre.

[Moz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a book I would normally choose from the library shelves but they sent it to me with some others I'd ordered as part of their service during the pandemic. I'm more into modern crime and thrillers but I decided to give it a go and it was easy reading.

I like books set in different time frames (Kate Morton and Tess Gerritsen do it well) and mostly the chapters are much longer in order to develop each story more deeply. However, in this book the chapters alternating between the two time frames of 1880 and 2015, were very short and this was somewhat off-putting to start with. But I got used to it and I thought it worked quite well.

The story clipped along and was reasonably entertaining but the plot fell very short in both sections. Without giving too much away, the crime committed in 1880 didn't pass muster when it came to describing how the accessories were found out and charged. A lot more suspense could have been injected into the book through these characters.

In the 2015 section, the plot was hardly even there. Very strange ending indeed. The main characters were waiting for the result of a court case. What court case? If the crime the author alludes to had been committed (and even that is not clear), the perpetrator would have been handled very differently given his circumstances.

A few reviewers have said the ending was too rushed and I have to agree. It does read as if the author got sick of writing and decided to finish it off and be done with it without fully figuring out how to come to a satisfactory completion. Maybe she was past the deadline!

[Laura (thechronicbookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last Train is a gripping story from beginning to end. I was constantly trying to guess what was going to happen next. The story is told with alternate chapters in 1879 and 2015, both have a lot of parallels between the stories. The story explores the history of the Tay Bridge disaster on the 28th of December 1879. Victorian era Scotland is brought to life so wonderfully in The Last Train.

Anne was an interesting protagonist, I really struggled with her character. She constantly talks about how good looking she is and is always judging others. However, I don’t think as the story progresses Anne is a character you are supposed to like. I did really love reading from Fiona’s perspective in 2015, I loved the secondary characters such as Pa, Dot, and Martha, and how much they supported Fiona. The parallels between Anne’s son and Fiona’s son were a nice touch, and helped to demonstrate the similarities between the two mothers. I think it would’ve been interesting to read more about the other grieving families from the Tay Bridge disaster as well. I do think the ending felt rushed, and everything tied up quickly for both the timelines.

Overall, If you are looking for an interesting mystery and a historical setting The Last Train is the book for you.

Thank you to Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

At 7pm on 28 December 1879, a violent storm batters the newly built rail bridge across the River Tay, close to the city of Dundee. Ann Craig is waiting for her husband, the owner of a large local jute mill, to return home. From her window Ann sees a shocking sight as the bridge collapses, and the lights of the train in which he is travelling plough down into the freezing river waters.

As Ann manages the grief and expectations of family and friends amid a town mourning its loved ones, doubt is cast on whether Robert was on the train after all. if not, where is he? And who is the mysterious woman who is first washed ashore?

In 2015, Fiona Craig wakes to find that her partner Pete, an Australian restaurateur, has cleared out the couple's bank account before abandoning his car at the local airport and disappearing. When the police discover his car is stolen, Fiona conducts her own investigation into Pete's background, slowly uncovering dark secrets and strange parallels with the events of 1879.

[Carmelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found I was looking more forward to the chapters about Ann Craig than Fiona. The tension mounted chapter by chapter whereas the modern story didn't.
Ann Craig at first is not likable but everything she does is motivated by her past. She uses her beauty to get what she wants but then again men covert her for said beauty and it is what saved her from a life of poverty working in the jute mills.
After the disaster not only does Ann discover her husband wasn't on the train but is planning to take their children to the other side of the world along with his mistress. Ann will do anything to keep her children with her and a chain of events unfolds leading to her arrest and death sentence.
I found myself as I read each chapter hoping that Ann would get away with the murder of her husband but, of course, this was not the case.
Fiona's story on the other hand felt flat, not as much depth, tension and ending was, for me, although unexpected also unconvincing. It is hard to believe in all the time she spent with Pete she never picked anything up whereas others had.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another novel in the “Then and now” formula.
In 1879 we meet Anne, a rather arrogant, self-centered and aloof woman whose only saving grace is her love for her children. She has secrets from her past which are gradually revealed. Her wealthy husband was expected to be travelling on a train which she witnessed from her window as it crashed from a railway bridge into the icy waters of the River Tay. But suspicions arise as to whether he was actually on board.
In 2015, Fiona has her own mystery of a disappearing partner who has absconded with all their savings. As she begins her own investigations about why and where Pete might have gone, past secrets are uncovered.
Each story is interesting and engaging independent of the other. The link seems to be the house where Ann lived and which has come in to the possession of Fiona’s family.
I have to admit I was a little disappointed with the ending of Fiona’s story. It was a little abrupt.