I would like to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. It is a World War 2 Historical fiction with a twist. It is set in the United States and concerns a group of actors and actresses who, for a variety of reasons, are on a train caravan across the US, putting on shows to raise money for the War Effort. Jacqueline Love is one of those on the train. She is having difficulty getting parts, she is over 35, and has a reputation for being "difficult".Her agent convinces her to join the touring group, to be pleasant and it will repair her reputation. Ralph Holmes is also on the train. His reputation is also in need of repair, but for a more serious reason, he was accused of working with a German American group to sabotage the American War Effort. At first all goes well, but then one star is murdered and another is attacked. Everyone is a suspect. Jacquline Love joins forces with Grace , one of the police officers who are investigating the crimes, and together they make quite a team.It is an interesting storyline. The characters are well written and engaging. As I said, it is a different twist on WW2, and I like it. The book has the feel, though, as it is part of a series. I haven't seen that written anywhere, just a feel. Overall it is a good read.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of Last Stop Union Station.

Jacqueline Love, an actress seemingly past her prime in Hollywood terms, takes a spot on the Victory Caravan in hopes of revamping her career. When one of her co-stars dies on the train, Jacqueline begins to suspect that the death was not accidental. With the help of Officer Grace Sullivan, Jacqueline begins to uncover what’s truly going on.

Sarah James weaves an engaging tale of intrigue and espionage in Last Stop Union Station. The cast of characters on the Victory Caravan are a hodge podge of B and C-list stars with differing reasons for being a part of this traveling show. Oftentimes full of themselves, the cast doesn’t completely get along with each other, and they certainly have mixed feelings about the “difficult” Jacqueline Love.

James’s characterization of these cast members leads us to wonder which one of them might be a murderer. And just when you think you might have it all figured out, something else is revealed that will have you questioning everything.

A murder mystery full of twists and turns, Last Stop Union Station, will keep you scratching your head until the very end.

"Murder, movie stars, and mystery await those who climb aboard this cross-country train, inspired by the real-life history of the Hollywood Victory Caravan.

Hollywood, 1942. Jacqueline Love's acting career is flailing. Suddenly on the wrong side of 40, parts are drying up, directors are calling her "difficult," and Humphrey Bogart has definitely stopped taking her calls. Desperate to cling to stardom, Jackie takes the only gig that will have her: the Hollywood Victory Caravan, a train full of movie stars crossing the country to fundraise for the war effort. Jackie wouldn't call herself patriotic, but with her life's work on the line, she'll do anything.

When a fellow star dies on board, everyone assumes the death was a tragic accident - but Jackie isn't so sure. Stuck in Chicago's Union Station, Jackie enlists the help of Grace, one of the few women in the police force, to investigate. But "difficult" outside of a movie set is dangerous, and when the pair fall into a homegrown Nazi scheme, Jackie must ask herself what's more important: her career, or her country?"

I love the old fashioned elegance of a train station. Union Station in Chicago is a favorite of mine.

I really enjoyed this book! It is different from a lot of the books I’ve read recently. It was an engaging mystery but it also made me laugh. Jackie Love is hilarious and relatable and definitely one of a kind!

Sarah James delivers a captivating blend of classic-Hollywood glamour and suspense in Last Stop Union Station. Jacqueline Love is at her wit's end—her acting career sinking faster than the Titanic—and when she seizes the chance to join the Hollywood Victory Caravan, it feels like her last shot at stardom. But as the train rattles across the country during wartime, things take a dark turn. The death of a fellow star onboard feels suspicious from the get-go, and Jacqueline’s instincts tell her there's more than just coincidence at play. Enter Grace, a savvy woman in the police force, who quickly becomes an unlikely ally in unraveling a sinister Nazi plot lurking in the shadows of Union Station. Their partnership sparks some delightful banter amidst the tension—a perfect balance for this wartime whodunit. James captures the glitz and grit of 1942 Hollywood while weaving a tense, well-paced mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. Jackie’s inner struggle about her career versus patriotism adds depth to the story, elevating it beyond just another wartime adventure. If you love historical mysteries mixed with Hollywood charm and a dash of espionage, Last Stop Union Station is a must-read. An entertaining ride with plenty of twists—and a reminder that sometimes, the biggest stars are the ones fighting behind the scenes.

1940's Hollywood was known for there exciting pictures during the second world war to help their audience with a short time escape. However, for some people the environment of those who work there isn't cracked up to be. However, will a. life changing experience for one woman help her change her mind.
Actress Jackie Love is going through a mid life crisis when it comes to her career and although her agent works patiently to help her our nothing seems to work. Jackie reluctantly decides to join a Hollywood Caravan show that is traveling across the country to raise money for the war effort. It's a great time until one of the stars is found dead in his room which is ruled to be an accident. However Jackie thinks there is more to it and decides to team up with female police officer Grace to figure out what evil lurks in this case.
Overall I was quite impressed with this novel. While some might view. Jackie as a snob she's actually great character who is honest about her feelings. There is also some magnificent history when it comes to the war and to the lifestyle to those involved with the golden era of Hollywood.
I received this as an ARC copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

Summary: It is 1942 in Hollywood, California. War is raging on the other side of the Atlantic. Jacqueline Love is a movie star who sees roles dry up in her mid-forties, although she insists she is 35. In an effort to boost her flagging career, Jackie reluctantly accepts a spot on the Hollywood Victory Caravan at her agent’s urging. The Caravan is a special train carrying movie stars that is travelling across the country to raise money for the war effort. When one of the performers dies onboard, the train is halted in Chicago. While the police perform a perfunctory investigation, Jackie enlists the assistance of the only female police officer she encounters. The unlikely duo team up to investigate, uncovering traces of a Nazi plot on home soil.

Thoughts: When I saw that Sarah James wrote this, I grabbed it so quickly! Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen is one of my favourite historical fiction novels and I knew there was a good chance I would love this one too. Like the previous book, Last Stop is also set in Hollywood during the Golden Age of film. James really does her homework and the authenticity rings true. Jackie Love is a wonderful character. She passed the Hollywood ‘best before’ date and she knows it. In a last-ditch effort to hold on to her career and the sparkle of fame, she agrees to join the caravan. Love is tough – with a razor-sharp humour and tongue – and a reputation for being “difficult”. (Translation: a woman who has opinions and won’t do as she is told.) Her determination and persistence lead her to crack the case.

Given current events in the United States, the novel has uncanny timing and relevance to current politics. Actual quotes from WWII-era writers about the presence of fascism in the US will give you chills. I commend Sarah James on an entertaining and timely novel. Sincere thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing a digital copy to read.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to like this book but unfortunately it didn’t really work for me. I found the main character so unlikable that I just couldn’t rally behind her. I actually tend to like an unlikable main character but Jackie was so shallow and self absorbed and didn’t grow at all throughout the novel. Even with her big “epiphany” in the end, her motivations were still completely self-serving.

As for the plot, it was a very different take on a WWII novel and I enjoyed that. I liked diving a bit into the underground Nazi network in the US in the early 40s. But there were a few too many characters for me and I found myself pausing regularly to try and remember who was who, especially among the performers.

So not a favorite for me, but I would be willing to give the author another try in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. This story focuses on Jackie Love a Hollywood actress in her late thirties who is perceived to be difficult and as a result job opportunities are drying up, her agent suggests a Hollywood Train Canteen trip ( this story takes place during World War II) as a way to “ restart “ her career. Jackie goes reluctantly and ultimately gets mixed up in a murder mystery helping a young female rookie detective. I am not a real mystery reader, or perhaps my state of mind while reading this book, it was a so-so book for me.