In The Last Train Home she takes on the United States in the 1890’s, and she also attempts a classic quest story with variations all her own. The parallels are there; the opening struggle to find oneself, the series of increasingly difficult goals in a quest, the discovery and creation of allies and foes along a journey, and as this is an Uber, romance between two beautiful women, of course. The story begins excitingly, in a New York with its young vitality creating almost unbearable hardship and pain for the have-nots.

Her description of the fire that redirects young Virginia’s life and sends her to the marvellously recreated Blackwell’s Island is truly harrowing. If I have any complaint about this book, it is that soon after, the research takes a back seat to the albeit strong story line, and I can’t help but wish that the author had continued to make us feel we were in the time period through dialogue or events. It is minor carping as the writing and dialogue are excellent; just anachronistic.

Perhaps in her next story she will find the time to recreate a period as well as she did in her Cobb Island, one of my favorites. Until then, this story is definitely superior to almost anything else available online, and we can only wait to see if she will continue to test and challenge herself to write even better. Even so, I recommend this for a long late summer’s read.