Secrets of the Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas

 

Book Summary

Secrets of the Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas takes readers back to November of 1940 where a group of women have volunteered to work for The LMS Railway (The London, Midland, and Scottish Railway).  Dot Green loves her family, but she also enjoys her job transporting parcels. Her husband, Reg has volunteered as an ARP Warden which is a nice change from him sitting at the kitchen table all day.  Dot gets to know one of the men she works with and they become friends.  She needs to be careful to keep the individual in the friendship zone or Dot could derail her home life.  Dot purchases a tin of corned beef that leads the group into a covert investigation.  Joan is happy dating Bob Hubble and enjoys spending time with his large, gregarious family.  It is the type of family she wishes that she had growing up.  Then Joan loses someone close to her.  She grows intimate with someone while grieving.  When Bob leans the truth, Joan will need to make a choice.  Mabel Bradshaw is finally moving on from the death of her best friend for which she blames herself.  She lets down the walls surrounding her heart and begins dating Harry Knatchbull, an RAF pilot.  But then she overhears two women talking and it changes her perception.  She wonders if Harry truly loves her.  The bombings are devastating the town.  Homes and lives are lost.  The ladies will need each other more than ever if they are to endure the war. 

My Thoughts

Secrets of the Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas is the 2^nd tale in The Railway Girls series.  It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the books in order.  I enjoyed reading this gently paced historical novel.  I thought Secrets of the Railway Girls was well-written with friendly, relatable characters.  Dot, Joan, and Mabel are the focus of this installment.  Dot Green is the mother figure of the group.  She is such a hardworking, caring woman.  Dot has a big heart.  Joan was raised by her strict Gran who favors Joan’s sister over her.  Mabel Bradshaw was devastated when her best friend died in a motor accident with her at the wheel.  She left her home and came to volunteer for the war effort.  Dot, Joan, Mabel, Cordelia, Alison, and Persephone all work for the railroad in various positions.  They have stuck together and are there for each other.  I like how they help each other through the difficult times and how close they have become.  The war is escalating with new rules enacted each day.  Rationing has begun which causes ques at the shops.  Getting needed supplies is a challenge and cooks need to be creative.  I thought the author captured time and place beautifully.  The ladies face a variety of problems such as grief, heartache, and attitudes from men at work.  The bombings are escalating.  Lives and homes are lost.  The ladies are all trained in first aid and are out during the bombings helping the injured.  There is more drama in Secrets of the Railway Girls.  The author really brought her characters to life.  I felt I was experiencing the bombings and other events with them.  I enjoyed the mystery of who is stealing from the food bank.  I like how they worked to catch the culprit.  Secrets of the Railway Girls is charming historical novel that left me eager for the next installment.  

Secrets of the Railway Girls is available from Amazon* as well as The Railway Girls (which began the series).  For more information on the women on the LMS Railway during World War II, check out this video.  Thank you for stopping by today and reading my review.  Tomorrow I am a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Murder in Devil's Cove by Melissa Bourbon.  It is the first book in A Book Magic Mystery series.  It is available through Kindle Unlimited.  I hope that you have a merry day.  Take care, be king, and Happy Reading! 

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.

The Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas

Good Day!  There are some delightful new books coming out in June.  Some of the new releases are The Grim Reader by Kate Carlisle, A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden, Daddy's Girls by Danielle Steel, Game of Dog Bones by Laurien Berenson, A Sprinkling of Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber, Murder in the Scottish Shire by Traci Hall, Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon, and The Last Curtain Call by Juliet Blackwell.  Once again, I have managed to request too many books (40 at last count).  How can you resist requesting a book that you really want to read?  I am weak!

Female train workers during WWII

The Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas has Mabel, Joan, Dot, and other ladies volunteering to work for the railway during World War II.  Mabel is eager to escape her hometown so she can get a fresh start away from the memories and the guilt.  Joan and her sister were raised by their grandmother.  Gran praises her sister, but Joan does not live up to her grandmother’s expectations.  Joan wants to obtain a position and show what she is capable of to herself and her family.  Dot has raised two boys who are now married with children of their own.  Dot’s sons are off fighting.  She takes care of the home and her critical husband, Reg.  Dot is the mothering type and likes to be helpful.  Each of these women who are different ages and from different social classes, come together to do their bit for the war.  This group of diverse women start off as strangers, but they soon become close friends who stand by each other through thick and thin.  The Railway Girls is the first book in the Railways Girls series.  There is a great cast of characters in this historical novel.  I thought the characters were realistic and relatable.  They come from different social classes and each have a different reason for volunteering.  Dot was my favorite.  She is such a kind woman who loves her sons and their families. I could understand why she wanted to get out of her home each day.   I did feel that Dot was taken advantage of by her daughter’s in-law.  We get to follow the women through their day to day lives.  Each of them want to help the war effort and are excited to be working for the railway.  The women are assigned different jobs.  I like that we get to see the various positions people work to keep the trains running.  I could tell that the author did her research for this book.  The author took us back in time with the clothing, buildings, the various battles and war engagements, and the men’s attitudes towards women in the workplace.  Maisie Thomas’ detailed descriptions brought the scenes and characters to life.  I did wish that the pacing had been a little peppier.  The story got bogged down with the minutia of the ladies lives (a little too much detail).  I enjoyed seeing the ladies come together as a group and grow as individuals.  It was not easy living during World War II in England with bombings, rationing, and the extra work they had to take on.  The Railway Girls is an emotional story with strong women who want to support their country during trying times.

Female train porter

The Railway Girls is available from Amazon* (ebook).  Paperback version will be available September 1.  The next book in The Railway Girls series is Secrets of the Railway Girls which publishes September 17.  I appreciate you stopping by today and reading my review.  Tomorrow I am sharing Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing.  It is the premiere of A Colorado Wine Mystery series.  I hope that you have a stellar day.  Take care, stay safe and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.