A beautifully written, emotional read. I was gripped from the start by this tale of courage, loss and resilience. The two central female characters were interesting and had depth. Their dilemmas made them relatable and their stories were ultimately satisfying.
I felt the title of this book didn’t do it justice. It took a fresh angle on Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, and seemed very well researched. The quality of the writing was first rate and I will definitely seek out more of Catherine Hokin’s work as it’s always a joy to discover an author of historical fiction who writes with such depth of insight and expression.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an interesting read. Set in the days leading up to war being declared between Britain and Germany, German Jews must make important decisions.
Many wealthier Jews sold out and immigrated to other countries. Some Jews were convinced the troubles would settle down. At some point, their choices were taken away.
The heart wrenching decision to send a child to England is the theme of this story. Many parents believed it would only be for a short time.
While records were kept, years passed and while parents were imprisoned or died, their children were becoming English.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

I’m a huge fan of Catherine Hokin, I’ve read many of her books. The Train That Took You Away was an interesting read about art work before, during and after WW2. I enjoyed learning about the history of what happened to many valuable pieces, and the search to locate many of them. Regrettably, I didn’t feel the love stories had enough depth to them, the search for Sacha I don’t think bought anything to it and the title to me has little to do with what happens in the book. It’s really hard to write this review loving many of the authors previous releases. The novel ended beautifully. 3 stars
I would like to thank the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my free copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheTrainThatTookYouAway #NetGalley.

This chilling and utterly compelling story is one of those books which grabs your attention from the very beginning. The author has really got into her characters minds and explored the different emotions.
I love this genre and found this to be one of the best books I have read in a while. I was kept guessing throughout, never quite sure which way the story would go until the end. Absolutely brilliant read

WWII - I cannot imagine the gut wrenching and heartbreaking feeling of putting your child on a train knowing you may never see them again, and still knowing you may be saving their life. This story was well written.

I read this book over a few days and enjoyed it. It tells the story of two young women during the war. Esther who is Jewish had no choice but to send her son to another country where he would be safe. It tells her story and the heartache she had to go through.
Amalie is an art expert and tried to save and hide art that the Germans were after. These two women's paths cross which leads to quite a journey.
Lovely book, look forward to reading more..

THE TRAIN THAT TOOK YOU AWAY by CATHERINE HOKIN is a beautifully written WW11 novel in which the author has given us the story of two women, both working in the art scene in Berlin, who have been cruelly affected by the war.
Esther Spielman is a wealthy gallery owner, but she is Jewish! In order to save her eight year old son, Sascha’s life, she reluctantly sends him to England on the Kindertransport. The Nazis have stolen everything from her except for him. Will she ever see him again, and if so what would his reaction be to the mother who had sent him away?……..
Amalie Eden is half German and has happy memories of family holidays in Germany. Against her father’s wishes she moves to Berlin to work in the Berlin National Gallery to ply her trade as an art conservator. Both she and Esther are passionate aboit art and preserving things of beauty……
This is one of the best WW11 novels I have read recently. The charaters’ stories are told so compassionately and the physical and emotional toll experienced by them under the cruel hand of Hitler and his minions is heartbreaking.
There is incredible bravery, love and friendship shown against the bacdrop of war. It is also a story of hope and restoration.
I cant recommend this excellent and thought provoking read strongly enough.
I was given a copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

As a reader, I am often hesitant about holocaust and WWII novels told with a Jewish perspective, especially when I’m uncertain of the author’s heritage or their experience and understanding of families who were and still are impacted by the events that occurred both in Germany and the surrounding countries.

This book however, did seem pretty well researched and I like that it was a different kind of holocaust novel with the art at the center and the story of Esther searching for her son following the war.

I do feel like neither of the women, Esther or Amalie, were given enough depth. With the story taking part across so many years and countries, there’s a lot of both women’s stories that appear to skip and we loose some of who the women are, only hearing about their lives after the fact as recollections.

While this was a quick and easy read, it almost felt like there was too much going on within the story. The characters were connected by art and then the search for Esther’s son but the connection seemed kind of half built.
Without giving too much away, the romance element also felt quite cringe to me and a little unrealistic given the differences in the characters experiences during the time. Not impossible, but maybe a little out of place in the story.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow.

I have a particular interest in books based in this period, and I’ve read a lot of them. This is one of the best. I thought I’d be going into a story about a mother and son separated, but Amalie’s story and the way hers converged with Esther’s was a perspective that felt original and really interesting. I was so emotionally invested in Esther and Sascha’s stories, from the scene at the football match all the way through to post-war, that I shed tears when their fates were revealed (and along the way!). I loved this book, 5/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Another heartbreaking read from Ww2. It's a book that had me sobbing ..get some tissues ready !
Definitely a recommended read

Open The Train That Took You Away and experience the horrors of living in Berlin as Adolph Hitler comes into power. Feel the rejection and cruelty imparted on the Jewish citizens. Grab the tissues, this story is heartbreaking.

Much of it surrounds the art world in Berlin. Esther owns a gallery where the Nazis help themselves to her paintings. That is only beginning. Desperate times mean desperate measures are needed. To save his life, she must send him away. She knows she might never see him again, but she knows he will die if he remains.

Esther's life does not get better. Follow her as she struggles to survive. Witness her suffering, her pain. Cheer her on as she has one goal--to see her son again.

The author shares another perspective through the eyes of Amalie. Against her family's wishes she is working at the National Gallery in Berlin. They want her to return to England. She refuses even after witnessing what she will never forget. The Germans make the decision for her after she can't control her opinions or actions. She will remain in England until she returns after the war.

Amalie works with others trying to find and save the great arts taken by the Germans. The reader is discovering the destruction, the continueing politics and the challenges of starting over.

The Train That Took You Away is a WWII novel, set in Berlin. Catherine Hokin tells the tale of Esther, a mother and art gallery owner in Berlin, and Amalie, a young woman from London who is trying to reclaim the art work the Nazis have taken away. As the war gets worse, Esther is faced with a decision - send her 6 year old son Sascha to safer land in London and risk never seeing him again or trying to keep him safe on her own, after losing her husband to the Nazis. Esther decides to send Sascha to England, and the story goes on to tell of his life there, her desperate search to find him, and the unwavering love between a mother and a son. While this is a story telling of the atrocities of WWII and the Nazis, it is also a story of courage, hope, family and love.
Thank you to NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Based largely in Berlin during WWII this is the story of two women. Amalie an art expert from London working in Berlin and Esther Spielmann an art gallery owner. The Nazi’s have started detaining Jewish people, taking their homes and business and killing them at will. However, non Jewish owned places are also on their radar and they are stripping art galleries of their treasures. One night Ester’s husband is one of those taken and sent to an internment camp. A lot of this book it almost seems like p are reading two separate books but gradually it becomes clear how the two lives are going to intertwine.

Briefly, after falling foul of the Nazis Amalie is sent home to England but she is determined to help the war effort from there. With her husband gone Esther and her young son Sascha are left alone. Her gallery and then their home are taken from them and Esther has a terrible decision to make. Does she send Sascha to England and safety from the threat of the concentration camps?

This is a heartbreaking read, the Spielmann family suffer unthinkable horrors at the hands of the Nazi’s - its a story everyone is aware of and this book covers so many of the atrocities of that era but I did like that they also looked at things I was less aware of in particular that they stole what was ostensibly their own art! Two very strong women, both of whom lose their husbands to war and both of whom go out and make new lives for themselves. This isn’t all sadness, cruelty and devastation, this is also a story of hope, friendships, family, love and second chances. An emotional and entertaining read.

A story of two halves. The Spielmann family are torn apart when the Nazis firstly take head of the family Albert and his son away. Esther is left not knowing what has happened to them. Then when rules are being put in place to restrict Jews. Esther is faced with the unthinkable, sending her son Sacha to another country to keep him safe, will she ever see him again.
Meanwhile, Amalie Eden is trying to prove her worth restoring precious artworks. Her father wants her to return to England,has she left it too late!

It’s a story that tells of unimaginable horrors, while at the same time the immense bravery of the women while under dreadful conditions.

I found it hard to get into Amalie’s story to begin with, however it got really interesting.
A story of giving choice and letting go.

The Train That Took You Away is a novel based in Germany during WWII and the devastating losses experienced by many in various forms. The story follows Esther, an art gallery owner in Berlin, who has become no stranger to the dangers surrounding her. And Amalie, a young woman from London, who restores art and begins the daunting task of reclaiming the pieces the Nazis have stolen. Both women have experienced the loss of their husbands, Amalie grieving the loss of what could have been, and Esther facing one of the hardest choices a mother can make; how to keep her son safe when nothing is certain.

Hokin's beautiful writing takes the reader on a journey through dehumanizing cruelty, unspeakable pain, and an unwavering hope that can only be found through the power of love. I appreciated how the author captured the reality of the war while weaving in a love story, a touch of mystery, and a lot of hope despite the sorrow. As a mother, I felt very connected with Esther and understood how difficult it must have been to send her son away with the hope that he would survive. Her perseverance despite her circumstances truly shows the depth of love a mother has for her child.

This is the first book I've read by Catherine Hokin, but it certainly won't be the last. Her writing style evokes a lot of emotion and allows the reader to put themselves in the shoes of the struggling characters in the story. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC copy.

A powerful novel! The author masterfully managed to bring together art, history and human relationships. Hence a fascinating story about stolen and recovered art during and after WWII; a very realistic and extremely moving maternal love for a child sent to England to be safe. Indeed, a traumatic experience for both mother and son. This novel touches on some very sensitive themes: What are the chances of getting reunited with a child after the war? A young child who has been sent away will have grown up through the war years: this might understandably lead to identity questions. Where does she/he belong? A great novel raising fundamental and emotional questions. Highly recommended!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

This is a WWII fiction that will tug at your heart. The story follows several people during the war. Keep the tissues handy this is definitely a tear jerker. It is one of the best WWII historical fictions I have read. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

This was my first read by Catherine Hokin and I will definitely read more, I really enjoyed it. WW2 stories can be really hard to read and this had its fair share of darkness and sorrow. With the sorrow is hope. Beautifully written, definitely made me pause and think and feel sad about the atrocities of war. Highly recommend it was very good.

This was everything that I was looking for from a World War 2 era, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed getting to know the character in this. Catherine Hokin has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

A perfect blend of sorrow and hope - of family and loved ones lost and found - and the Monuments Men at the center! Fantastic!