The Last Train to Key West, by Chanel Cleeton

July’s book club choice was Chanel Cleeton’s third book in her series based on the Perez family, and since we had previously read Next Year in Havana and When We Left Cuba, we were very excited about the follow up. Following is the description by Amazon…

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.

I am just going to say it… I was not as thrilled with this book as I was with the others. It was a very easy read, but it felt like either some plot moments dragged on, while others could have been enhanced. We felt that the book was written in a rush and we were not able to develop a strong bond with any of the three main characters. Although their stories did entwine at the end, it would have been better if it was written as three books so we could feel the depth of each character, instead of having it given to us in such rapid fire. However, like I said, it was an easy read and it did lead each of us in our book club to research more about that era and to learn about the camps set up in Key West for the WWI Veterans.

Do not read any further if you have not read the book.

Book Club Questions ~

Helen ~ from Key West, married to Tom since 16, they had been childhood sweet hearts.

John ~ Veteran living in the WWI camp, frequent patron at restaurant that Helen works for

Mirta ~ from Havana, married Anthony because he paid her father in a poker game.

Elizabeth ~ from NYC, went to Key West to find her brother, a WWI Vet.

Tom ~ husband of Helen, fisherman, abusive.

Anthony ~ involved in mafia, owns casinos, husband of Mirta.

Sam ~ works for FBI, went down to Key West per the request of Frank to follow Elizabeth.

• What did you think of The Last Train to Key West compared to the other books in the Perez family series?
• What did you know about this book’s subject (hurricane, WWI camp) before you read the book? Did you learn anything new?
• Was there a narrative better than the others?
• Helen and John have both experienced trauma due to violence. How does it shape them and are there any similarities? What doy ou think of their relationship and how they build it?
• Mirta and Anthony’s marriage changes throughout the novel. What shifts do you see in their relationship? What roles do they take on, and how do they evolve in those roles?
• Do you think that Elizabeth flirts out of habit or because this is what helps her get what she wants? Were you surprised at finding out who Sam really was?
• Mirta and Elizabeth both come from wealthy families that have fallen on hard times. What similarities and differences do they have and how do those influence the choices they make throughout the novel?
• During the Depression, marriage rates dropped significantly. At the same time, marriage plays an important role in the characters lives. How do the heroines view on marriage change throughout the novel? Do the women find power in their relationships?
• What parallels do you see between the effects the hurricane has on the characters and that of fighting the Great War?
• Were you surprised to hear about the Veterans lives after they came home from the war and some of the challenges they faced?
• What did you like best about the book?
• What did you like least about the book?
• Which characters in the book did you like best?
• which characters did you like least?
• If you were making a movie of this book, who would you cast?
• Which character in the book would you most like to meet?
• If you could hear this same story from another person’s point of view, who would you choose?
• What questions do you still have?

Commentary ~

Helen and John seemed to have had the most organic feel to the “couples” developed within the story. Their personalities really drew us in, however it could have been because they were the first narrative in the book. They did find power in their own selves, being able to lean on each other. Mirta and Anthony’s love story didn’t ring true, probably because it was pushed too fast and you were just supposed to buy in to this sudden development. Had it been a longer book or time to develop their stories, it would have been plausible. Yet, Mirta found strength and learned to become more assertive, finally telling Anthony, “You can’t lie to me.” While we appreciated Elizabeth and her seeking of independence, we didn’t feel the overwhelming love that her and Sam all of a sudden announce. But, she did join the FBI, which says a lot for a woman of that era recognizing her own value.

I wasn’t overly thrilled with the comparison of a War and a hurricane. I live in a military community, and although I have been through a hurricane, I have heard the stories of war. But, in comparing for the book, with both, you think you can prepare and you try. You do all of this training and purchase supplies, yet you have no control over either situation. I have been through a Cat 3 hurricane and although I had “flashbacks” for about a year, I will not compare a hurricane to wartime as every day of war would be like going through a hurricane every single day, repeated trauma and constantly on edge.

Some in our book club felt that there wasn’t enough scenery to describe the locations; I did not have a problem with it. I live in Florida and my mind knew just enough to create my visions. That being said, I have never been a fan of overly descriptive locations, just give me the basics.

Aunt Ruby, now that is a character that should be developed for her own book. We were given just a glimpse of her, but we felt that she has a back story that is worth exploring

The Last Train to Key West ended like a bow put on a present… “Here, everything is tied up all nicely and everyone will live happily ever after”, it felt too orchestrated, but we did like finding the thread to what finally connected them all.

Finally, we still have questions ~ Why exactly was Elizabeth searching for her brother? I mean, we understand wanting to find your brother that took off after the war. But, there were very non-specific comments that we were never given a good reasoning. How was he supposed to save her from her marriage or what was she hoping would happen?

Like I said, it is an easy read and I do hope that Chanel Cleeton develops the characters in this book, because each one would be a great story in itself, but it just felt too rushed.