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Deborah Swift
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Last Train to Freedom: An emotional and heart-breaking WW2 historical fiction novel, brand-new for 2025! Kindle Edition

by Deborah Swift (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 60 ratings

'A thrilling, immersive and beautifully written historical novel that will resonate long after the last page is turned. Highly recommended' MARIUS GABRIEL

'Taut, compelling and beautifully written – I loved it!’ DAISY WOOD

'I seldom give books of this type five stars, but this one fully deserves it for bringing something new and refreshing to the genre.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A moving, page-turning story about a little-known chapter of World War II. Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Anna Stuart.

1940. As Soviet forces storm Lithuania, Zofia and her brother Jacek must flee to survive.

A lifeline appears when Japanese consul Sugihara offers them visas on one condition: they must deliver a parcel to Tokyo. Inside lies intelligence on Nazi atrocities, evidence so explosive that Nazi and Soviet agents will stop at nothing to possess it.

Pursued across Siberia on the Trans-Siberian Express, Zofia faces danger at every turn, racing to expose the truth as Japan edges closer to allying with the Nazis. With the fate of countless lives hanging in the balance, can she complete her mission before time runs out?

Readers love Last Train to Freedom:

'Tense and thought-provoking' CATHERINE LAW

'A fascinating and original read' CATHERINE HOKIN

'Real history in the raw, heart-pounding drama, bone-chilling danger, intrigue, romance, and characters to love and fear…Last Train to Freedom has it all. Don’t miss the ride!' LANCASHIRE POST

'This is the kind of book that keeps you up until the middle of the night, or that you fall asleep reading, because you just can’t put it down… One of the best books I have read this year.' Reader review

'An epic journey across the Siberian wilderness that will keep you guessing until the end. Readers interested in the less well known events of World War II will find this book captivating and unforgettable' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Ms Swift is a talented writer… Captivating and compulsive reading' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'What a fantastic read this was' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Another stunning achievement in historical fiction from Deborah Swift' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Grips you from the beginning and does not let go until the end' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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  1. Print length
    361 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    HQ Digital
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    May 8, 2025
  6. File size
    1.9 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Book Description

An emotional and heart-breaking WW2 historical fiction novel, brand-new for 2025!

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

I write historical fiction, a genre I love. I loved the Victorian classics such as Jane Eyre, Little Women, Lorna Doone and Wuthering Heights. As I child I loved to read and when I had read my own library books, I used to borrow my mother's library copies of Anya Seton and Daphne du Maurier. I have loved reading historical novels ever since; though I'm a bookaholic and I read widely – contemporary and classic fiction as well as historicals.

In the past I used to work as a set and costume designer for theatre and TV, so I enjoy the research aspect of creating historical fiction, something I loved doing as a scenographer. Each book takes about six months of research before I am ready to begin writing. More details of my research and writing process can be found on my website. I like to write about extraordinary characters set against the background of real historical events.

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DKQX5KCT
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HQ Digital
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 8, 2025
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 361 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008739683
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 60 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Deborah Swift

Deborah Swift

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

THANK YOU for visiting my author page! As you read this I'll probably be writing from my tall stone house which was once a school and built in 1902. This is a house that is "new" in English terms, as many of our local villages date back to the 1630's or even earlier.

I write historical fiction, a genre I love. I loved the Victorian classics such as Jane Eyre, Little Women, Lorna Doone and Wuthering Heights. As I child I loved to read and when I had read my own library books, I used to borrow my mother's library copies of Anya Seton and Daphne du Maurier. I have loved reading historical novels ever since; though I'm a bookaholic and I read widely - contemporary and classic fiction as well as historicals.

In the past I used to work as a set and costume designer for theatre and TV, so I enjoy the research aspect of creating historical fiction, something I loved doing as a scenographer. More details of my research and writing process can be found on my website. I like to write about extraordinary characters set against the background of real historical events.

I live in North Lancashire on the edge of the Lake District, a beautiful area made famous by the Romantic Poets such as Wordsworth and Coleridge. I love exploring the mountainous landscapes and interesting coastline near my home.

'Her characters are so real that they linger in the mind long after the book is back on the shelf. Highly recommended. ' The Historical Novels Review.

Visit my website deborahswift.com for a free story,

WW2 Books:

Past Encounters

The Occupation

The Lifeline

The Silk Code

The Italian Renaissance Series:

The Poison Keeper

The Silkworm Keeper

The Fortune Keeper

The Pepys Trilogy:

Pleasing Mr Pepys

A Plague on Mr Pepys

Entertaining Mr Pepys

17th Century Books:

The Lady's Slipper

The Gilded Lily

A Divided Inheritance

Books for Adults/Young Adults:

Shadow on the Highway

Spirit of the Highway

Lady of the Highway

Find me on my website www.deborahswift.com

or on Twitter @swiftstory

or facebook - authordeborahswift

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
60 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Joe M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars intrigue laced with love
    Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    It was hard to put the book down and I was always eager to pick it up again. A tale if intrigue and danger, laced and underfunded with love.
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  • Sherralynne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing story
    Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this intriguing story. I didn't know much about Russia and the activities it undertook during World War Two. A story filled with many unexpected twists and turns. I highly recommend this story. Thanks Deborah, from one of your New Zealand fans.
    One person found this helpful
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  • SueQ
    3.0 out of 5 stars Hard book to get into
    Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I had a hard time getting into this book. It seemed to me that the girl heroine was constantly saying "we need to leave", we must go away, and various forms of we need to leave , over and over and over. I would put the book down, try again a few days later, still no go. I then was going to request a refund but since I ordered it differently it was a no go. So, I decided to try again to read. I found by skipping a lot of wordy stuff I could actually finish the book. I admit she had some adventures and while they were interesting, at least I got thru the book. Not a book I recommend.
    One person found this helpful
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  • HF Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening, Emotional, and Hauntingly Beautiful
    Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2025
    In Last Train to Freedom, Deborah Swift delivers a masterful and emotionally powerful historical novel that brings to light one of the most extraordinary yet overlooked acts of resistance during World War II. At its heart is Zofia, a courageous young woman whose quiet strength and fierce devotion to her younger brother propel the story with unforgettable intensity. Forced to flee Soviet-occupied Lithuania, Zofia secures forged documents and places her trust in Japanese consul Chiune Sugihara—whose real-life defiance in issuing transit visas against his government’s orders becomes the catalyst for their escape. As she travels aboard the Trans-Siberian Express toward an uncertain future, carrying a sealed parcel that could alter the course of the war, Zofia becomes both a refugee and an unwitting courier of truth, caught in the crosshairs of two totalitarian regimes. Her journey is one of sacrifice, resilience, and the moral choices that define us.
    Swift’s immersive prose and richly atmospheric world-building bring this gripping tale to life with stunning authenticity. From the icy rail stations of Russia to the tense diplomatic corridors of wartime Japan, every scene is layered with sensory detail that transports the reader entirely. This is my favourite kind of historical fiction—not only was I completely swept into Zofia’s story, but I also discovered an entire chapter of World War II history I had never known. Swift’s storytelling is both enlightening and emotionally resonant, illuminating the lives of those whose bravery shaped history in the shadows. Last Train to Freedom is a deeply human, hauntingly beautiful novel that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommend.
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  • JannAlexTX
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping, taut, 5-stars: uncovers a fascinating history to rescue Jews and expose Nazi atrocities
    Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2025
    Across the frozen tundra roars the legendary Trans-Siberian Express, carrying twins Zofia and Jacek—two brave Polish Jews—to an out-of-reach freedom from Nazi persecution in 1940. Barely escaping the Soviet forces that storm Lithuania, they are accompanied by ill-fated lovers and a potential spy on board, all of them trailed for thousands of miles by competing Soviet and Nazi assassins in pursuit of the damning parcel the twins carry. Its evidence must be delivered to allies in Japan at all costs, and the cost Zofia endures is increasingly high. As the tension rose in Deborah Swift’s Last Train to Freedom, I was turning the pages faster than the train crossed Siberia. A slow-build romance that’s woven in unexpectedly offers a ray of hope to the determined Zofia, and satisfaction to readers. Last Train to Freedom is gripping and tautly-written, a five-star novel that uncovers a fascinating untold history in the fight to rescue Jews and bring Nazi atrocities to light.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Terry Tyler
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 2, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    After a harrowing escape from the Nazis in their home country of Poland, Zofia, twin brother Jacek and their Uncle Tata have found a home in Lithuania, along with many other Jewish refugees. Alas, here they face a new danger - the Russian army, bulldozing their way through anything they deem to be anti-communist.

    Once they realise that resistance is futile, the Japanese consul is their only hope for visas to travel on the Trans-Siberian express, away from imminent danger. As well as escaping, Zofia has another mission to complete - the delivery of a secret package to officials in Tokyo. The problem is that there are others who want to put a spanner in the works; some who appear to be helpful are not what they seem.

    I was delighted to find out that Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese consul in Lithuania, was a real person who, against orders from his country, issued thousands of visas to Lithuanians and Polish refugees who would have otherwise been captured by the Russians or the Nazis.

    I loved this book from start to finish; it's utterly gripping and I could never guess what might happen next. More than anything else, it illustrates what a dark, dangerous place mainland Europe was during the first half of the 20th Century, and the bravery of so many who fought on the side of good, against the forces of evil that were intent on eliminating their existence. Highly, highly recommended - definitely my favourite of Deborah Swift's novels set in World War II.
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  • Jean Briggs
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling and Thoughtful
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is a thrilling story, the most exciting train journey you will ever take. The Jewish heroine, Zofia, is forced to leave Lithuania as the Soviets invade. She has already fled from the Nazis in Poland. She has to carry a parcel containing evidence of Nazi atrocities. Pursued by Soviet and Nazi agents, Zofia endures a nightmare journey on the Trans-Siberia railway. Her destination is Japan. However, the novel is not just a thrilling ride, Deborah Swift explores with great insight and knowledge an unusual aspect of WWII. Zofia's visa is provided by the Japanese Consul in Lithuania, a man of integrity who does all he can to help the Jewish refugees, risking the displeasure of his superiors. Zofia, too, has to summon all her courage and resourcefulness to carry the dangerous information and she has choices to make, the most painful being to leave her beloved brother behind. The novel is about courage, about whom to trust, the discovery of betrayal and divided loyalties which add complexity to the characters. The research is impressive and the historical notes testify to the authenticity of this absolutely compelling and finely written story.
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  • CAROL MCGRATH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling and Unusual WWII Novel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 14, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this novel’s premise. I never appreciated just how difficult it was for the Baltic States caught between Russia and Germany both ruthless during the early years of WWII before Operation Barbarossa. Getting a visa out of Lithuania is near impossible until Sugihara Chiune the Japanese Ambassador without permission issues visas for Jews especially to travel to Japanese territory on the Trans Siberian railway. He entrusts Zofia and her brother with a package containing vital evidence of Nazi atrocities to take to Tokyo. The train journey is thrilling and extremely well researched. I think having read all of Deborah Swift’s WWII novels this is my favourite. It is certainly a thrilling and eventful journey until finally Zofia having faced huge tragedy and loss wins through. The descriptions of the scenery travelled through on this endless journey are authentic and bleak. Of particular note besides excellent plotting that keeps a reader turning pages the character development and interactions are terrific. It’s a novel based on truth. It’s excellent , atmospheric and a very good read.
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