The Night Train to Berlin: An Epic Historical Novel of Heartbreaking Intensity

lbpinelli: I loved this book! It definitely came to an end way too soon, and I’d love to find out what happens next. Thankfully I have my imagination to decide how the story of two lovers ends. Thank you Melanie Hudson, for a beautiful love story. “And all shall be well.”

United States on Nov 15, 2023

Marlene Oaks: I fell in love with the characters and suffered and rejoiced with them. The horror and tragedy of war was well shared, as I was invited in to it all. It's as if it's my tragedy too, or actually the tragedy of allowing war and madmen to rule.

United States on Sep 14, 2023

Oechler: I love the story and how it took you back and forth thru time.
The only thing that disappointed me was that at the end, there was no real ending, it left me expecting more, but overall a great book. Filled with adventure, love and friendship.

Mexico on Aug 31, 2023

widowtwankie: This was such a lovely story, the past meets the present, inspirational and brave , I felt as if I was there with the character's

United Kingdom on Aug 30, 2023

Nino Levy: I liked the style of Melanie Hudson and the vivid description of the story. It kept me reading despite the fact that she was a little farfetched.

United States on Feb 26, 2023

MJ: I would have given 5 stars if the ending had not occurred so abruptly! I loved the juxtaposition of the couple from the 1940’s war torn Europe and the couple in the present time with the connection to the past. I have questions that were not answered, and, I guess now leave those to the reader to speculate. How one views the ending for both couples determines the reader’s attitude like the determining of what happened in the ending of the short story, “The Lady or the Tiger.”

However, that aside, I was impressed how Hudson described the landing at Normandy, the psychological trauma faced by soldiers, the difficulty of enough food and supplies. I truly enjoyed the novel and discussions offered by the characters. War is hell and humanity has suffered for centuries by those who seek power over us.

United States on May 10, 2022

Trose: The story was slow moving and a bit wordy. After a few chapters it didn't hold my interest.

United States on Mar 23, 2022

Deezy: Given this four stars as I was hooked, and the writing style was good. But oh dear I so hoped that the reader would know what had happened to both Eliza and Alex ….. who seemed to be under the thumb of his sister…. Not just leave it in the air….I guess I worked out that she went home to her aging husband and he ended up , well, not making it back to Cornwall. How did the clock come into Leo’s possession …. bought in a shop in Berlin? How did it get to the shop? Ok, I tied the knots myself, but I’ve literally just finished it, and feel very “down”…. Let down in a way. I know how awful the camps were…..I have so many friends whose stories of survival have stirred my admiration for the human spirit….and love helped them to survive. Sheer determination to get back to loved ones. It also sees that it’s only the women that were strong and courageous, and the men a bit wimpy, which is utterly not true. But who am I to criticise! Would I be that brave? Courageous? Plus….I’ve not even had the courage to write a book of any kind, and historical novels are tough because the writer has so much research to do, and will says get critiqued for some lack of historical...

United Kingdom on Jul 15, 2021

Isabelle de Montmorency: The story takes place in different decades. The first is set in the year 1944 - and also in this day and age. We are introduced to the four principal characters who are taking the train to Cornwall.
I must admit though, that for me personally it was not useful to know right from the beginning how the book would end! Maybe it was for that reason that I was not too happy with the story until the middle. After that my heart went out for the two main characters Alex and Eliza. I believe sincerely that the journey into our time with 'Joe and Ellie' did distract from the fascinating love story between War journalist 'Alexander Levine' and 'Lady Arbuthnot' painter.
I would have preferred to read about their lives before they met on that faithful train journey. And maybe then a sequel with the other two characters 'Ellie and Joe'. It was the first time I read a book from this author - but it will not be the last time.

France on Jun 25, 2021

C. Kirby: The story really drew me in to begin with. The dialogue was gripping and intelligent and I couldn't stop reading. However, after the first part where Alex and Eliza get to know each other it flagged for me. Instead of a story of love and unselfishness I felt cheated. The characters were generous in their courage and sacrifice. It wasn't that but more their motives. I found all the jolly hockey sticks humour annoying. It seemed the women were more interested in the excitement and proving themselves of the daring, horror and nasty side of things than real involvement as human beings. It detracted from the story for me. If it had started out differently it would have made a different sense of this, and I doubt I'd have read it at all. I kept hoping it would get better but it went on and on about battles, soldiers and women doing their bit.

I thought that Alex could have been a much stronger pro-active charater. He seemed just to be pulled along by events no matter what he did. Only the women made things happen and the ending for Alex and Eliza was, for me, disappointing and a way to prove that only women can prevail. It probably wasn't intended to do that but that was the...

United Kingdom on May 08, 2021