Esther's husband and father are murdered during Kristallnacht. She makes the difficult decision to send her son abroad to keep him safe. She decides to have him go on the Kindertransport and promises they will be reunited. Esther is moved to a concentration camp.

This is a heartbreaking book.

Absolutely heartbreaking. I originally had a hard time getting into the book but eventually had a hard time putting it down. Beautifully and respectfully written.

I've read many Historical Fiction books from this period and this covered elements I hadn't thought of. The book follows two women, Esther and Amalie, whose lives intersect at various points. Esther is Jewish, married, and a mother to a young boy. Amalie is in Germany working in an art gallery while questioning the events going on around her. Both face different life-altering events but neither ever gives up hope. Reading about the art gallery being censored, curated very specifically, art being sold off, hidden, and needing to be recovered was insightful to learn about. One of my favorite quotes from this book is "The fighting might be done with, but the war was a long way from ending." One sentence can speak volumes to the effects of war not simply being "over".

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read The Train That Took You Away.

Author Catherine Hokin describes The Train That Took You Away as the story of “a lost child, a hidden painting, and two women from very different worlds trying to put their broken hearts back together again.” The story opens in Berlin in 1936. Esther Spielmann, thirty-four years old, has worked hard and established her reputation as one of the city’s best gallerists, recognized as adept at finding new talent and providing collectors pieces that perfectly match their tastes. Esther’s family founded the Mandelbaum bank and her husband, Caspar, will one day manage it. Esther’s father, Albert, believes that Hitler simply made “empty promises” to garner votes, but it remains unclear to what extent the Nuremberg Race Laws of 1935 will impact the daily lives of Jewish citizens. So, as Esther is sitting with her energetic six-year-old son, Sascha, for a portrait, her offer to exhibit the work of the Jewish artist — who snaps photos of the two from which he will create the painting — at her gallery is met with consternation and skepticism. He inquires if she is concerned about the gallery’s future status, given the number of Jewish businesses that have already been shuttered, not to mention the Nazi “crackdown on modern art.” Thus far, Esther and her family have not sustained significant changes to their lifestyle since the Nazis’ rise to power, and her husband and father naively believe that, given their successful businesses and social standing, Jews in their “circle” are not under threat. They are about to discover how wrong they are.

Following an interaction with a Schutzstaffel (Hitler’s personal troops) officer at a restaurant, they are denied admission into the stadium to watch an Olympic football match. Seeing her father humiliated and her disappointed son sobbing, Esther demands to know precisely why. The officer informs her a call was received from SS headquarters instructing that they be barred from attending the event because the Fuhrer will be there and “you’re not loyal Germans fit be in his presence; you’re Jews. And they don’t want the stadium polluted.”

Amalie Eden’s parents have urged her to return to safety in London, but the headstrong twenty-six-year-old has refused. She loves her work at Berlin’s National Gallery where she is helping set up a conservation department. After completing her studies, she returned to the city in which she loved to spend summers with her maternal grandparents. A stunning new painting is being hung that depicts a group of women in a park on a sunny day. The way he has captured the light leaves Amalie “spellbound.” The artist, Laurenz Kleber, and his wife, Rebecca, are unnerved and reluctant to speak in response to Amalie’s clumsy but well-intentioned inquiry about if and how the new laws and restrictions imposed upon Jews are changing their lives. Amalie’s earnest impulsiveness continues to compel her toward danger. She dares to voice her disapproval when artwork created by Jews is removed from galleries and only Nazi-approved paintings are permitted to be displayed and becomes determined to ensure that precious works of art – including Laurenz’s beautiful painting — are not destroyed or sold by the Nazis into private collections where they will never be seen in public again. By the time she next encounters Laurenz, his studio has been raided, and he has been forbidden from painting or exhibiting his work.

Employing alternating narratives, Hokin details how the two women are impacted as Hitler’s reign of terror expands and intensifies. As Esther desperately – and futilely – tries to obtain visas so her whole family can escape, they are stripped of their businesses and most other assets. On a cold night in November 1938, Albert and Caspar go out for dinner with clients of the bank but never return home. Nazi troops destroy Jewish-owned stores and synagogues, and the raid becomes known as Kristallnacht (night of broken glass for the shards of glass left behind). Esther is later told that her father and husband died of “heart complications.” Amalie observes a synagogue burning while firefighters watch and cheer as books and prayer shawls are tossed into the flames. Her companions warn, “It’s not our place” to intervene, but Amalie’s impetuous nature and revulsion propel her to confront the soldiers. She soon finds herself in a jail cell and is deported the next day.

In December 1938, Esther makes the heart-wrenching decision to send Sascha to London to live with a family that has agreed to take in Jewish refugee children. He does not have a specific sponsor, and Esther has no idea when she will see her eight-year-old child again, but it is clear that Jews are not safe in Germany. Dispatching Sascha to England is the best way she knows to protect him.

Hokin’s tale spans the next eight years of her characters’ lives. Sascha is initially placed with a family who lost a son about his age to diphtheria and knows he is meant to serve as a replacement. His name is changed to Alex as part of his foster family’s efforts to help him become a true English boy and not miss his home or mother. But Sascha carries with him the photo that the painter snapped of him and his mother on what he now remembers as his family’s last happy day. And although it helps him remember Esther, it also causes him great pain and turmoil because, as he recalls that day, it was his behavior in the restaurant that attracted the attention of the SS officer. And thereafter, their lives began to unravel. Was he sent away as punichsment? Did his mother abandon him? He questions go unanswered.

Esther is evicted from the family home and, at first, put to work in a card factory as an illustrator. By September 1940, German bombs are bombarding London, where Amalie was lucky enough to get back her job in a research laboratory and has become an expert in art storage techniques. When she left Germany, she smuggled out key information about the Nazis’ activities pertaining to precious works of art and she is intent on eventually being part of the recovery efforts of the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives team, commonly known as the Monuments Men.

Each of the narratives is an engrossing tale in its own right. For Esther, survival becomes her only goal when her circumstances grow progressively more dire as the world goes to war and the Nazis inflict her and so many others to previously unimaginable suffering. Sascha’s memories of his mother fade and the trauma of his separation from her deeply affects him as he matures, and his self-concept is transformed. More and more with the passage of time, he thinks of himself as English, not German. Amalie throws herself into her work to find peace, but her efforts put her life in jeopardy.

When the war ends, the survivors begin the herculean task of establishing new lives for themselves. Berlin is decimated, but the National Gallery still stands, and many works of art remain intact. In what is arguably the most riveting part of the book, Hokin’s characters summon their remaining strength, courage, and resolve. For Amelie that means not just the restoration of the National Gallery and its treasures, but also the pursuit of justice. For Esther, whose own gallery has been reduced to a pile of bricks, there is nothing more urgent than finding the son with whom she lost contact so long ago. Records were destroyed, communication lines obliterated, and rebuilding is a slow process. Still, Esther is undaunted, spurred on by her devotion to her only child.

But where is Alex? Did he survive the war, given that he was perhaps in London during the Blitz? Hokin’s clever plot developments are credible and her illustration of her characters’ emotional turmoil believable. Their fears are as grounded in all that they have endured as is their resilience. And Hokin does not evade depicting their complicated feelings and the psychological impact the war has had upon all of them. Rather, she relates their story in an uncompromising and highly effective manner that is both heart-breakingly authentic and resonant.

Hokin says “nothing fascinates me more than a strong female protagonist and a quest. Hopefully, those are what you will encounter when you pick up my books.” Indeed, Esther and Amelie are strong, multi-layered, and fully developed characters – as is Sascha – and The Train That Took You Away is another compassionately crafted, educational, and deeply moving work of fiction about a period in history that must never be forgotten . . . or repeated.

The Train That Took You Away by Catherine Hokin is a thrilling novel set during World War II. Ever since the Nazis came to power, violence has spread through the city Esther Spielmann once called home. Each night she prays her family will be spared. But when her husband and father are murdered during Kristallnacht, she has no choice but to send her son, Sascha, to safety. Esther's heart breaks as she watches his thin legs trembling in the cold as he is ushered with the other crying children towards the Kindertransport. As the train leaves in a cloud of smoke, she thinks of the painting of the two of them hanging in their house. She vows that she will hold him like this once again. But has Esther made a promise she can't possibly keep?

Each day the hope of finding Sascha burns like a flame in Esther's chest. The war has taken everything from her, including the painting of her and her beloved son. Then one day the guards come. This time it is Esther who must get on a train. But unlike Sascha, Esther is not being carried to safety. She has heard whispers of the horrors of the concentration camps. But knows she must do everything in her power to survive...

When Esther hears word that her painting might have been found, hope of finding Sascha blooms once more in her chest. In the ashes of war, can she make her way back to her beloved son? And if they do meet again, will either of them be prepared for what they find?

Hokin does a wonderful job creating an inspirational story of bravery and courage during World War II. The Train That Took You Away had me turning the pages to the very end. This book is an easy 5 stars. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction.

I received a free advanced copy and all opinions are my own. I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

In this emotional and heart wrenching new World War II historical fiction novel, readers follow Esther and Sascha Spielmann, a mother and son split apart by Kristallnacht, the Kindertransport, and World War II. Following their separate lives during the war and their attempts to find each other after it ends, readers must discover if Esther’s promise to see Sascha again will be kept. Intertwined with other narratives of the Berlin art scene, the suppression of Jewish art, and the dangers of postwar Berlin, readers will be gripped by the emotional intensity and powerful relationships present throughout this novel. The characters are complex and well-written, with strong emotions and compelling backstories, and Hokin successfully navigates multiple perspectives and narratives throughout the novel. The different storylines combine very well and add a lot of nuance to the novel, while the different characters’ perspectives really develop World War II Europe and the impacts it had on families. Detailed, complex, and powerfully written, Hokin does not shy away from some of the challenges that families like the Spielmanns faced, and she handles the more challenging elements with care. A great addition to current World War II historical fiction titles, fans of similar titles will love this new release.

The Train That Took You Away is written by Catherine Hokin. This is a new to me author and I enjoyed being transported back to World War II era in this heartbreaking story.

Esther has been saddened to see the destruction that has been caused since the Nazis came to power. She’s hoping that everything will return to normal and then her husband and father are murdered she realizes that she needs to protect her young son. I can’t even imagine the heartache that she must have felt when she had to make a difficult decision.


She decides to sent Sascha on the Kindertransport to England. She knows that his chances of surviving are better this way. The author wrote Esther’s emotions so well you could feel them coming off the pages.

There’s a parallel story in here. We meet Amalie. She’s a British Art Conservator and has come to Berlin to protect the art. Esther’s had her gallery looted with precious things stolen. However it becomes apparent that Amalie can’t stay put with the worsening environment around her. This is a part of the war that you don’t think about. The loss of historical pieces.

The author has done a wonderful job in transporting readers back in time. The characters are well written. The storyline is packed full of rich historical details.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Good, emotional story that had me in tears.

This story was told in three POV's: (1) Esther, a Jewish wife and daughter of an affluent banker.; never wanting for anything in her life. She has her own successful art gallery, and owns many famous pieces of art; Picasso, etc. Her husband, Caspar, works at her family's bank with her father; both are in denial about what Hitler is going to do to the Jews. They think because they have money, that he won't touch them. That becomes their biggest mistake.
(2) Amalie, is a young, art specialist who knows how to properly protect/restore paintings, she's originally from Germany. Her family moved to London when Hitler started gaining power. She came back to the Germany she once loved as a teen because she ignored everyone's warnings and advice. She's immature at times, speaks without thinking how it will effect others, and doesn't believe that Hitler will be all that bad. She ends up becoming Esther's best friend.
(3) Sascha is Esther and Caspar's 6 year old son. Right before the Olympics in Germany, the family was having a meal and some SS soldiers saw them and asked them where they were off too. When they found out they were going to the Olympics and that they were Jewish, they had them kicked out of the restaurant and banned from the Olympics.

After the scene at the Olympics, Esther wants to leave Germany. Caspar keeps telling her soon, but he hasn't done anything about it. So Esther stands in line everyday for visas to get her family out of the country. When she only gets one, they decide to send her mother to the United States. Her father is too stubborn to leave his precious bank, which the Germans are slowly taking over. Meanwhile, Esther's gallery has been picked apart for Hitler and his men. One night, Caspar and her father had an important business meeting with old clients from the bank, but they never came home. She called her Rabbi for help, he found out they were arrested and sent to the camps. Not long after, she received a letter and an empty urn saying that they'd died of heart failure.

After Kristallnacht occurred in 1938, Esther knows she needs to get Sascha out of Germany. The temple organized a kindertransport to England to be with a foster family to keep him safe until the war ended. He was only 7 years old at the time. She has no idea if she'll ever see him again.

Esther got sent to the camps in 1943, she spent years being treated like an animal. By the end of the war, she had enough and ran from the last camp she was in, in Poland. A nice woman took her in, fed her until she was healthy enough to make the journey back to Germany. That's where she meets Amalie. Amalie found a painting that Esther had done before the war with her and Sascha for her husband's birthday. So Amalie tracked her down at one of the housing for refugees. They become fast friends and Amalie helps her find Sascha.

Sascha is now 16 years old. He is now known as Alex, to hide his German and Jewish heritage. He hasn't received a letter from his mother in years and he doesn't even know if she's alive anymore. When she tracks him down in Kent and shows up, he's torn. He thought he did something wrong and was sent away to England as punishment. No one bothered to tell him the truth.

The two of them have a long road ahead of them, but at least they have each other.

A good read.

*I received a complimentary copy of this ARC via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Really enjoyed it and would give the book 3.5 stars. Loved how the book alternated between characters (Esther, Amalie and Sascha.) I wasn't sure how Amalie and Esther's paths would cross. They both had a passion for art but they didn't have the same circle of friends. Amalie was lucky to survive and be able to return to Great Britain. Her parents desperately warned her, But Amalie was extremely stubborn and would not listen. Esther's father and husband thought they would be safe in Germany due to their family's wealth and founding a bank. Nothing could be further from the truth since they were Jewish. One of the scariest parts of the book (there were many) was when Esther puts her scared eight year old son on a train without her. Hoping they both survive and will see each other again. When the war is finally over and Esther tries to find her son, she has no luck. Without Amalie, Esther would probably never see Sascha again or even survive what unfortunately happens at the art gallery. Esther runs into so many problems trying to find the location of Sascha. No one seems to want to help and many of the people think it's better for him not to return to his mother and to stay with the couple who are raising him as their son. The whole situation is heartbreaking. Esther survived so much and will do anything to see her son. Esther, Amalie and Laurenz work so well as a team and try to protect each other at all costs. They all work so hard to see the National Gallery up and running. Do they not understand the art gallery is located in the Soviet Union part of Berlin?

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the story, characters and writing style. It was a great historical fiction. It's hard to imagine all the suffering that happened during WWII and having to send your child to another country, hoping to see him/her again. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’ve read and enjoyed everything that Catherine Hokin has written. She’s a brilliant writer and at this stage I don’t even bother to read the blurb beforehand I just dive straight into the story. The title for this new story, The Train That Took You Away, suggested to me it would be about someone being taken away on a train perhaps to a concentration camp during World War Two or someone going away to safety. I presumed it would be something along these lines but boy did I get a lot more than I had bargained for and Catherine has written an absolute stunner of a book.

It was so brilliantly plotted and devised with superb character development throughout and I was gripped and deeply invested from the beginning right until I read the very last word. There are four distinct parts to the story with such a clear beginning, middle and end which I always tell my pupils they have to have when writing a story. Often the lines between these three parts can become blurred but here they were apparent and in a way they divided the story into the past, present and some what into the future. OK, initially I did find the part changes slightly abrupt in that they occurred and the timeline jolted forward a bit and then went back to develop some details or give a recap. I felt I didn’t want the recap as I could read between the lines and would rather the story would have pushed forward but then I realised the recaps were brief but necessary and I valued their inclusion.

The Train That Took You Away is expansive in its scope and begins in August 1936. We see Hitler’s rise to power as leader of the Socialist Party and how the lives of the Jewish population were curtailed and the noose tightened around them. This first section really helped provide the background to the story that would unfold and there were several characters to become familiar with as well as becoming accustomed to the developing social, political and cultural scene at the time. Yes, there might have been a lot of detail but everything deserved its place in the story and really above all else it was interesting and fascinating and helped the reader understand the motivations, thoughts and emotions of all the characters. It also showed how the characters were forced to radically change and adapt to the horrors that were occurring around them and how their lives, personalities and family situations were altered for many years.

Esther runs an art gallery in Berlin and is married to Caspar and they have a son called Sascha. Esther is from a wealthy family as her father Albert runs the bank where her husband works. She is a woman with a head for business. She is the one person in this book along with Sascha who I felt went through the most radical and awful life experiences and all because she is Jewish. Details were given as to the laws, rules, regulations and restrictions that were enforced upon the Jewish population. The details of which I won’t go into here because there were so many and I’m sure fans of historical fiction will already be familiar with them. Suffice to say Esther and her family suffer a fall from grace and I don’t like using that expression but that is what I can liken it to. Although it is forced upon them rather than being of their own making.

Kristallnacht sees both Esther’s husband and father murdered, and it leaves her with no choice but to accept a place for Sascha on the Kindertransport offering safety in England. What a brave and courageous thing to do. Knowing that you will be all alone in a city and country where you are detested and not wanted where a deliberate separation of one group from another is occurring. With all her resources and her home taken away from her and with visa applications closing, Esther is stuck in a situation where there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Esther was a remarkable woman. She made the sacrifice to get her son to safety and how heart wrenching it must have been to send away your son not knowing would they ever be reunited. Once war broke out her situation deteriorated even further and she is taken to a concentration camp. I had never heard of the camp that she was taken to and given I read so much historical fiction at times you can become immune to reading some of the atrocities that occurred at the camps. But I was appalled to read the barracks were built over Jewish burial grounds with the headstones being used as paving stones for roads and paths. One other incident mentioned as well, I can’t even write about it was so horrific. Esther throughout shows her tenacity, grit, determination, strength, bravery and courage and it was the thoughts of her beloved Sascha that kept her going. I desperately hoped that they would be reunited.

Once the war is over there is a long path to thread in order to try and achieve this and the way the last section of the story unfolded was excellent and really tied all the strands of the story together very well. Sascha has his own chapters every now and again detailing his life in England I felt this was an essential part to the story as it provided a contrast to the life Esther was enduring in Germany. It also showed how he changed and how he viewed the situation he was in and what he thought of his mother and what she did for him. There were just the right amount of chapters from his perspective as I’ll be honest and say that I preferred reading about Esther and Amalie.

For ages, I was thinking how on earth does Amalie fit into the whole occasion. Yes, there are slight similarities between herself and Esther because they are both very interested in art. But why was she in the story? Would a link emerge between the pair and if it did how would it affect the overall plot? But I needn’t have worried because Catherine Hokin knew exactly where she was taking her characters and the links did appear in the last section and how things came together were brilliant, touching and emotional. Amalie is a worker and her passion for art shines through from every aspect of the story that she features in. She is steadfast for the most but also has an impulsive streak that could get her into trouble. At times, I felt she forgot the bigger picture as she was so hell bent on her on personal mission and in one way that wasn’t a bad thing but on the other it was leading her into very dangerous territory that could result in the worst befalling her.

Amalie is an art conservator from England but is half German on her mother’s side and had spent summers in Germany with her grandparents. She is working at the national gallery in Berlin overhauling some of their conservation methods. As trouble brews as Hitler comes to power, Amalie had her head stuck in the clouds and wasn’t fully aware of the bigger picture or the dangers that would come with it. Once war is declared she finally heeds her parents warnings and returns to England but given she has so much knowledge of Berlin and the art world her expertise is soon required in developing a map of where the Nazi’s would have hidden all the valuable works of art that that they plundered. We see Amalie’s character develop and change as the war progresses and concludes and she too experiences trauma and heartbreak but it’s only when she can get back on German soil again that a new side to her starts to emerge. It was fascinating reading about all the artworks and masterpieces that went missing and needed to be found again. Admittedly, I find art boring but Catherine made it absorbing and interesting and Amalie’s enthusiasm became infectious. As for how she connects to Esther you’ll have to pick up this marvellous story to find out.

I know it’s very early on in the year but The Train That Took You Away is already a potential runner for one of my books of the year. It’s Catherine Hokin at her very best and I sense despite the subject matter that she thoroughly enjoyed writing this book as she has given us a story that readers won’t forget in a hurry. I was hooked throughout at the masterful storytelling and the characters that I came to deeply care for and would have no hesitation in recommending this book

The Train That Took You Away by Catherine Hokin.
I did like the cover and blurb of this book. This was a good read. I liked the story. Each chapter was either Esther or Amalie or Sascha from August 1936-april 1947. I did like Esther and Amalie. They were both very strong women. This was a story of determination and strength and bravery. This was a moving read. I did feel for Esther. I did like the ending.

The Train that Took You Away is a multi narrative, historical fiction set across three separate storylines. Esther, a wealthy Jewish gallery owner, her son Sacha and Amalie, an art restorer who is half British/half German and in Berlin in the days where the Nazis rise to power and violence in the lead up to WW2.

The first half of the book was very heavy, probably due to the subject matter of the Kindertransport and concentration camps as well as several character deaths and torture risks. Coming from a Jewish background myself, I think that the treatment of the Kristallnacht was sensitively done although I did feel like it went on very long.

The second half of the book was much faster paced and I was super into it as the pages turned. It was a story full of hope, survival and intrigue and how the human spirit can keep believing in the best. I loved how the story was framed through the lens of art and how the characters went about preserving and rescuing artistic master pieces from the Nazi plundering of the art world.

Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hokin has written a heartbreaking yet beautiful WWII historical fiction book about personal loss, the horrors that were experienced during that time, and the hope that some had when it was all over. The story is told through three different perspectives, that of Esther, her son, and Amalie, a British Citizen.

Seemingly, Esther and Amalie’s stories seem to be parallel to each other, but then they turn and intersect. I found Amalie’s later story of looking for the stolen art really fascinating. But the storyline that bring those two women together really is beautiful. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to live in Germany during that time, to have to send my child away in order to keep him safe. That had to be the hardest decision that Esther had to make. That alone made this an emotional read. Add in losing her husband and being sent to a concentration camp, and your heart just breaks for her.

There are a lot of WWII historical fiction novels out there, but this one felt different. The story flourished. It felt like there was more plot and character development. It was just so well written. Fans of historical fiction will really enjoy this one!

Absolutely brilliant and heartbreaking story in WWII
Esther is an affluent Jewish art gallery owner in Berlin, whose father and husband were murdered during Hitler's cruel rise, and now, she is scared for her eight year old son, Sascha. She very bravely sent her young son to England on a train in order to save his life. The heartache she felt in making the decision was so painful to read. The uncertainty of ever meeting him again and about both of their future as survivors was heartbreaking. Her own house and gallery were looted, and she was sent to concentration camp.

Amalie, a British, works in Berlin's National Gallery. Her family wanted her to remain in England, but she was determined to save the precious artifacts and national treasures from the Nazis. She tried so hard and struggled a lot but eventually was forced to leave. It was horrifying to read about Nazis looting the galleries, museums, and treasures to fund their war cruelties and torture.

Sascha experienced difficult and troubled times in England and was forced to change his name to remain unnoticeable. The life in England through the tough times is also described. The effects of war everywhere through different points of view were realistically shown.

The author does intensive research on the topic, and it shows throughout the book. The disastrous conditions in the concentration camps, the life or death situations, and Kristallnacht (comes from the shards of broken glass that littered the streets after the windows of Jewish-owned stores, buildings, and synagogues were smashed )
The pain, brutality, and the raids were brutal, but the strength to survive, compassion for others, and hope for a better future is also equally portrayed by the author.
Just loved it, emotional and impressive. Highly recommended.
Thanks to @Netgalley @Bookouture and the author for providing the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Train That Took You Away by Catherine Hokin. This is my first book by this author. This was well written and very emotional at times. This book was about the Holocaust with a different twist. It had a strong sense of art and art galleries in the book. This helped when reading about the horrors that took place to have a reprieve of colour and descriptions of works of art. This heartfelt story is a must read for fans of historical fiction. I would highly recommend this book. A 4 star rating from me. #Netgalley #Bookouture

Catherine is one of my favourite authors of this genre of fiction. I know that when I pick up one of her books it will be filled with historically accurate fiction, believable characters and that I'll need a tissue or two whilst reading. The Train That Took You Away did not disappoint.

Told as a multi POV story, from 1936-1947, The Train That Took You Away is a story of love, loss and survival. It mainly centres around Esther, who, like so many parents, sends her child away on the Kindertransport, knowing that she may never see him again. We also experience the war through the eyes of her young son, Sascha, who has the heartbreaking child like understanding of events that no child should have been through. I think Catherine did a fantastic job of capturing how it must have felt to be a German living in England at the time, the guilt at being the 'enemy' whilst also knowing that you are on England's side.

The final narrator of this story is Amalie. A half German half English art expert who just wants to protect Germany's art collection from the Nazis. And to restore it after the war. I really liked Amalie, but couldn't help to be reminded of another female art restoration expert from that time period, Ada Van Danzig. In this book Amalie returns to England to live out the war in relative safety. Ada, on the other hand, returned to Europe to try and help her family who were Jewish. Sadly she was arrested and murdered.

If you're a fan of historical fiction with a strong basis in fact, and realistic characters that you can't help but love, then you won't go wrong with Catherine's books.

Another WWII novel. Esther has to make the hardest decision of her life, to send her son away in hopes of protecting him for the German soldiers and their hatred of Jews. After losing her husband to their raids, she knows she has no choice but to let her son go. She’s sent to one of their camps after and knows she kept her son alive by doing what she did. My heart hurt for what she endured and being separated from her son.

I liked the dual POVS, although they were told within the same time period instead of two different ones like so many are. I waited a large chunk of the book waiting to see how the two women would intertwine.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.

This is an emotional, and heartbreaking historical fiction

It's 1938 in Berlin and Berlin is under Nazi rule. Esther sends her son Sascha on a train to England, where he is being kept safe from the Nazi horros while Esther suffers in silence in the concentration camps. There is also the story of the English woman as well. The story is told in the POVs of the boy Sascha, Esther and Amalia, each detailing about their lives during the WWII, aftermath of WWII and of course before WWII. The stories feel very realistic as well and is also emotional to read as well, particularly Esther's part. The author has written the story well and knows how to capture the audience with the story. The story talks about courage, strength, willingness to survive and bravery.

Overall this book is worth five stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this jawdropping book

wow this one is an emotional read... one that will fill you with anguish and fear.....

to save her son esther has to part from her son sasha.... the children are then transported to england in safe keeping..... esthers fight for survival begins when she is placed in the death camps

its a long and arduous journey but this is also about reunions and love and acceptance....

i cried at the ending...... this book is going to stay with me for a while... its a powerful story of what happened before during and after and maybe one day we will learn from it....

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Bookouture.

The story follows three characters - Esther, Amalie and Sascha. I enjoyed how the author brought each character to life, and I connected with each character in different ways. Esther was a caring mother, who loved her son more than anything, and I felt deeply for her. Amalie was a strong-minded character, and that was something I admired about her. Sascha, on the other hand, had to leave everything he knew behind, and it was interesting to see how his character developed later on.

I felt the story took me on an emotional journey with each character. I found it to be a tearjerker, though parts of it were heartwarming too. If you like historical novels in a WWII setting, you may enjoy this book.

Thank you to Bookouture, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.