The Last Train to Key West

By: Chanel Cleeton

Narrated by: Kyla Garcia, Rachel L. Jacobs, Karissa Vacker

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Instant New York Times Best Seller

One of Bustle’s Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2020

“The perfect riveting summer read!” (BookBub)

In 1935 three women are forever changed when one of the most powerful hurricanes in history barrels toward the Florida Keys.

For the tourists traveling on Henry Flagler’s legendary Overseas Railroad, Labor Day weekend is an opportunity to forget the economic depression gripping the nation. But one person’s paradise can be another’s prison, and Key West-native Helen Berner yearns to escape. 

After the Cuban Revolution of 1933 leaves Mirta Perez’s family in a precarious position, she agrees to an arranged marriage with a notorious American. Following her wedding in Havana, Mirta arrives in the Keys on her honeymoon. While she can’t deny the growing attraction to her new husband, his illicit business interests may threaten not only her relationship, but her life. 

Elizabeth Preston's trip to Key West is a chance to save her once-wealthy family from their troubles after the Wall Street crash. Her quest takes her to the camps occupied by veterans of the Great War and pairs her with an unlikely ally on a treacherous hunt of his own.

Over the course of the holiday weekend, the women’s paths cross unexpectedly, and the danger swirling around them is matched only by the terrifying force of the deadly storm threatening the Keys.

©2020 Chanel Cleeton (P)2020 Penguin Audio

need True male voices performing the book

I enjoyed the book, I enjoyed the female characters but why can't they have a real man in the male parts /why do they have a female that sounds identicle to the female characters reading the male parts, it's very uncomfortable why didn't somebody preview the audible book?

Sappy, cliche romance novel

This was a huge disappointment for me. There was very little history and a whole lot of sappy, cliche ridden romance with eye-rolling dialogue. I expected in a "historical fiction" there would me more abut the Keys, the building of the Overseas Highway, and the hurricane. Instead, I read 3 predictable stories about one dimensional women being saved by their relationships with wooden caricatures of men. This novel is really more of a historical romance than a historical fiction, and honestly, the "history" part is barely touched upon. And the narration of Mirta was beyond grating - her stilted cadence and overwrought accent led me to increase the listening speed to 1.4, something I've never done before. It looks like I'm in the minority here and most have really enjoyed this audiobook, but this just wasn't for me.

Interesting stories individually and combined

I like that different voices did the 3 women, easy to keep track of which character's story was being told.

What an incredible book

I'm a big fan of Chanel Cleeton and this story blew me away. As a native Floridian it was amazing to learn about the Labor Day Hurricane and veterans impacted. The heroines in the book were brilliantly woven in.

Great book!

I really enjoy this book, the story line was very intriguing and new. Makes for a great read.

Fell flat

I had hoped for more information on the hurricane, and maybe some tension in the build-up to the storm. The book was sadly lacking in both. It also lacked descriptive power and atmosphere, and the characters —especially the women—were annoying, pathetic, cliched, and uninteresting. It was all beyond predictable. And, of course, a woman’s world runs to bliss when a man comes along to save her. Please. As for the narration, the “men’s” voices were awful — like cartoon characters. Only the voice of Helen, among the women, was tolerable, however rendered in a “poor me” tone. Sorry I bought this one.

Another great book

Love the vivid stories and connections to the characters! Love hearing how the book connects to past true events

the best

this was by far Ms Cleeton's best work. i felt the characters were exactly like people one would meet on the street, in a coffee shop or on a beach.

Intriguing characters from the start.

At times, it was confusing to follow when the male character was speaking because the females play both voices. I think I would have preferred reading the book instead. I did enjoy the story.

Loved this book!

I loved reading this book. The plot was very easy to follow and it was a light read. It follows the story of three different women facing different situations in their lives. Their paths unknowingly intertwine with one another and I love that as the reader you are able to keep track of their stories without it becoming too overwhelming. I enjoyed the narration and found it easy to listen to.