The Perfect Historical Fiction Recipe
History. Romance. Disaster. Survival. All the makings for a perfect novel in my opinion! And Chanel Cleeton’s The Last Train to Key West has all of these elements and so much more!
Plot Overview
Cleeton brings 20th century America to life: America deep in the throes of the Great Depression and wrestling with the aftermath of World War I. Added into the mix is the horrific hurricane that barreled into Key West over Labor Day 1935. Cleeton weaves together these three events – The Great Depression, World War I, and the 1935 hurricane – with fascinating historical accuracy.
The 1935 Key West Hurricane
If you are like me, you probably don’t know much, if any, about this hurricane. It was the strongest landfalling Atlantic hurricane until 2019 when Hurricane Dorian crashed into the Bahamas.
This Labor Day storm – initially thought to bypass the Keys – caused indescribable damage, completely obliterating the town of Islamorada, overturning an 11-car evacuation train, and sweeping away multiple work camps established for WWI vets who were constructing the Overseas Highway, which is where the WWI aspect gets mixed in. Cleeton sheds light on the tragic lives of these men returning from the war to a country entirely unprepared for the number of completely traumatized and unemployed men. She also highlights the Cuban revolution and the Mob.
Too Many Elements to One Book?
If this seems like a lot of content to cover, let me assure you it doesn’t feel like it as you read.
Cleeton ties it all together by telling the stories of three young women, using each one to emphasize a piece of history. We meet Helen – a Key West resident suffering at the hands of an abusive husband; Mirta – a woman of Cuban elite, whose family’s position after the Cuban revolution leads to her arranged marriage with a New York mob boss; and Elizabeth – a reject of New York society after the Wall Street Crash, on a mysterious, personal mission to the veterans’ camps.
Each woman has a distinct story – a past they’re escaping, a present they’re wrestling with, and a future just out of reach – but they all tie together.
What I Loved
- Surprising Twists & Turns between plots and characters
- Romance as each woman faces complicated love lives
- Historical narratives
Audiobook Recommendation
I highly recommend the audiobook version of this novel. Kyla Garcia, Rachel L. Jacobs, and Karissa Vacker narrated. I loved the choice of having a different narrator for the different characters when the chapter read from their POV. It made the book so engaging and really brought it to life with their accents and personalities.
If you like historical fiction novels and are looking for audiobooks, I recommend the following:
Final Thoughts
With all the moving parts, there were a few areas that were not as fleshed out, but for the most part, Cleeton ties everything up with a nice bow. No major plot holes. Satisfying resolution for the storyline.
This novel gets a solid four stars from me and a recommendation for those who love history, mystery, tension, and romance!
Content Rating: Mild
some themes but no explicit content
Copyright Chanel Cleeton and Berkley. Image from Amazon.com.
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