Last Stop Union Station

Last Stop Union Station

By: Sarah James

Narrator: Mia Barron

Recorded Books

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Publicaiton Date: 7/15/2025

Format: Paperback

My Rating: TBR (ARC)

JUL 2025 MUST-READ BOOKS

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?

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Praise

"What do you get when you cross a WWII-era historical novel, the heyday of Hollywood, a Nazi spy ring, and a rip-roaring whodunnit? You have an engrossing story that you will not be able to tear yourself away from until the last stiletto drops. Sarah James weaves an intricate plot, with plenty of twists and turns…a juicy read, indeed."

― Tracey Enerson Wood, International and USA Today bestselling author of Katharine, the Wright Sister, The President’s Wife, The War Nurse, and The Engineer’s Wife.

"With incisive wit and intoxicating banter, Sarah James's characters discover what they have to lose in order to build the lives they want. The gin-soaked grime beneath the glamour of old Hollywood and the dangerous allure of civilian spy craft make this story impossible to put down. James invites us into a world of bar cars and back alleys, hands us a martini and a mystery, and shows us that nothing is quite as it seems, not even our hearts."

― Tony St. Clair, author of Daredevil at the Wheel: The Climb and Crash of Joan LaCosta

"Espionage, Nazi collaborators, love affairs, martinis, and a “show must go on” mentality make Last Stop Union Station, a noirish murder mystery, impossible to put down. Sarah James’s expertly woven historical details of the 1942 Hollywood Caravan―a traveling show raising money for the war effort―bring the story to life. Jacqueline Love, a washed-up actress trying to make a comeback, is acerbic, cynical, and extremely difficult, yet she is also clever, quick, and the perfect heroine; it’s impossible not to fall in love with Jackie. Anyone with a passion for Old Hollywood should rush to read this glorious and glamorous novel."

― Jennifer S. Brown, author of The Whisper Sister

"Sarah James astutely mixes glamor, murder, mystery, and espionage in this refreshing take on historical mystery set against the backdrop of Golden Age Hollywood. Down but never out, Jacqueline Love is a force to be reckoned with!"

― Julia Kelly, author of A Traitor in Whitehall and the Evelyne Redfern mysteries

"Last Stop Union Station by Sarah James features an actress trying to salvage her career by joining the Hollywood Victory Caravan in 1942. In a tale full of twists and turns, witty dialogue, and an extra dose of moxie, James once again delights with her pitch perfect knowledge of the 1940’s and her bold, exciting cast of characters who rub shoulders with the likes of Humphrey Bogart and Ginger Rogers. A must-read for lovers of historical fiction with a side of mystery."

― Julia Bryan Thomas, author of The Kennedy Girl

About the Author

Photo: Danielle Spires

Sarah James is a historical fiction author, humor writer, and public transportation enthusiast. Her debut novel THE WOMAN WITH TWO SHADOWS was an international best-seller. Her second novel, LAST NIGHT AT THE HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN, received a starred review from Booklist. Her third novel, LAST STOP UNION STATION, is forthcoming from Sourcebooks Landmark.

In addition to writing historical fiction, Sarah is a humor writer and editor of Slackjaw, Medium's largest humor publication. She has also contributed to Baseball Prospectus, Reductress, Pittsburgh City Paper, CrimeReads, and more.

Sarah is a graduate of the USC MFA Writing for Screen and Television program, and received a BA in American Studies from Fordham University. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her cat, Lucille. WEBSITE