The Last Train Home

An emotional and totally gripping World War Two historical novel

By: Marion Kummerow

Narrated by: Madeline Pell

An emotional and totally binge-worthy World War Two historical novel

Germany, 1940. Roxy ducked behind the rusted train carriage in the darkness. She’d walked all night alone. She just needed to make it across the railyard and onto the final carriage of the train slowly pulling into the station ahead. Then she’d be safe. At least for a little while…

Cared for by her aunt and extended family since losing her parents as a little girl, RoxyPopa has always felt like an outsider. She hates to follow the strict rules her family hold her to. When the whole clan is forced from their land and their beloved, beautifully ornate caravans and treasured horses are taken away by the Nazi authorities, Roxy refuses to be broken.

Deported to a labour camp hundreds of miles from home, Roxy plans daring escape after daring escape. Each time she is thwarted or re-captured. But she never loses her courage. Then she meets Marek Wesel, drowning in grief at the loss of his young son. The fierce spark in Roxy reignites the hope in him that the war has long since snuffed out.

Reluctantly, the two form a powerful bond: a lost young girl who trusts no-one and a broken man desperate for something to believe in. Can they work together to reach the train station and save themselves?

But the worst is to come, when betrayal comes from the most unexpected and devastating place…

Fans of The Nightingale, All the Light We Cannot See and The Midwife of Auschwitz will be totally swept away by this emotional and gripping work about the experiences of Sinti and Roma people during the Holocaust.

©2026 Marion Kummerow (P)2026 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Ending left hanging

Enjoyed the history and the characters. After investing, the time reading it’s announced we don’t get a conclusion until we read another book. I would like to have known that before committing to this novel as it’s not very satisfying to know that you need to buy another book to hear the end of the story. It’s not really fair.